Ouseburn Mouth HIF Works

Description

Identity Consult were asked by Newcastle City Council (NCC) in November 2019 to bring together a sub-consultant design team to deliver the remedial and infrastructure works for the Ouseburn Mouth brownfield sites necessary to bring them forward as a viable development area. IC were able to arrange for the professional team to be appointed via Bloom Procurement Services in order to meet both the project timescales and the Client’s procurement requirements.

Malmo Quay, Spillers Quay, and Glasshouses sites are owned by Homes England (HE) and NCC. IC have assisted NCC as the client in applying for Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF) funding, and in reporting against financial and progress milestones since the funding was approved.

IC are leading liaison with NWL with regard to diversion of their assets, and with statutory service providers, the Coal Authority, NCC Highways Authority, HE’s Estates Managers, and the Environment Agency, who all have an interest in the sites. The programme of works is also being carefully managed by IC in order to enable development of the site within the time constraints imposed by the HIF grant funding.

The portion of land named Malmo Quay that sits between the mouth of the Ouseburn and Newcastle’s quayside has a range of constraints below ground including contaminated land, mine workings, historic and redundant services, and the remains of the mineral line terminus that served the coal staithes that previously occupied the site.

A key aspect of the planned works involve survey and stabilisation of the quay wall structure at the boundary between Malmo and Spillers Quays with the River Tyne.

Testimonial

The Ouseburn Mouth HIF project has proved to be challenging for a number of reasons and has required IC to be agile and able to co-ordinate a number of different agencies and stakeholders to keep the project on track. This has been achieved to date and IC have proved to be very professional and understanding of the Council’s requirements and also the wider context within which this specific project sits. At all times IC have been easy to contact and quick to respond when required. They have understood and been able to react quickly to the various changes of direction encountered and have provided valuable support to Council officers in terms of project delivery against a tight timetable.

Mick Firth, Senior Specialist – Major Projects, Newcastle City Council