Five major West Country projects, worth over £100m, have had their considerate performance recognised in a national initiative to improve the image of construction. During the past month the five construction schemes – accommodation for health workers in Truro; education facilities in Bridgwater; a hospital extension in Taunton and offices in Bristol – were independently assessed for how considerately they were being delivered.
Each achieved at least 90 per cent of the marks on offer from the Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS). The firm behind the schemes, BAM Construction, is one of the South West’s largest contractors, and has offices in Bristol, Exeter, Cardiff, Bridgwater and Plymouth.
Regional director Steve Tapson said: ‘We are delighted our work has been scored so highly by the inspectors. How we build things is of great importance to the local community and economy as well as the quality of what we build. We try to create local jobs, orders and training and to be good neighbours. ‘The high scores reflect the pride our people take in their work across the region and the rest of the UK and the quality of the partnerships we forge with our clients.’ The Truro Residences project, where BAM is building combined student and medical staff accommodation for Plymouth University, was awarded an impressive 37 out of 40.
CCS Monitor Roger Stobbs particularly praised the site team’s awareness of public needs and respect for the adjacent hospital. He said that it was “a much systemised site in its organisation of all matters but particularly safety and care for the public, workforce and environment”. Notable measures taken on site included removing slates from a building by hand to prevent disturbing bats; education of local school children; and dissuading workers from wearing dirty site clothes on local shop visits. BAM also scored 37 for its project to build a new global headquarters for Imperial Tobacco in Bristol. Here CCS monitor Peter Smith praised the “exceptionally well presented site” and a number of goodwill gestures and charity events carried out by the team. In Taunton, BAM was awarded 36.5 points for its project to build a 112-bed ward at Musgrove Park Hospital. Notable measures taken here included provision of a six-seater buggy for transferring patients at the hospital now the site has removed parking spaces. Working hours and methods have also been adapted to minimise disruption to patients and other neighbours. Monitor Peter Kingdon said it was a “very, very good site”. In Bridgwater, BAM received 36.5 for its work on Chilton Trinity Technical College and 36 for Robert Blake Science College and Elmwood School. Monitors mentioned the “positive” and “proactive” approaches of both site teams to the CCS code of conduct.
BAM’s Western region team is currently on site at 12 projects in the South West, and a further three in South Wales.
