Contract planning in Edgware
Documented building context
Harrow’s December 2013 Edgware High Street appraisal distinguishes the Whitchurch Lane parade by its narrow frontages, shared cornice line and surviving brick divisions between shop units. Its activity section records homes above retail premises on the two streets covered by the appraisal. This describes a specific historic commercial setting rather than the whole Edgware housing stock.
Edgware tender and contract decisions
For a Whitchurch Lane frontage, distinguish the individual premises from the shared cornice line and brick divisions recorded in the appraisal. Put the employer's work boundary on the elevation and identify any upper accommodation affected. A continuous visual line does not establish one ownership, one construction detail or authority to alter neighbouring fabric. Obtain the relevant documentary and access arrangements before tenderers price work across that boundary.
Where a flat sits above retail premises, show the entrance, stair and service routes alongside the proposed work. State the occupation assumptions, protection and isolation arrangements needed during construction. A shopfront replacement and a repair to the wall above it should have separate design and quantity references. If investigation reveals a different support or junction, keep the record with the designer's response and the JCT instruction. The administrator needs that evidence to assess the actual change, rather than relying on a general description of commercial refurbishment.
Identify the roof section and access point relevant to the dwelling before specifying high-level work. Inspection records should locate the component and distinguish what was visible from what remained concealed. At handover, connect outstanding items and required documents to the priced sections, with excluded premises clearly identified. A contractor's statement that the frontage is finished does not demonstrate completion of every upper-floor or roof obligation. The historic High Street account remains local context and should not be applied to all Edgware housing.
Discuss who supplies the design for the frontage, structure and services before choosing the contract form. The tender information should make those appointments and interfaces explicit, including the route for resolving missing information and authorising a changed detail.
What should the Edgware tender and completion file make clear?
Where a cornice visually continues over separate units, identify the exact start and end of the instructed repair. Obtain the appropriate advice about adjoining interfaces and record the protection needed at each limit. Tenderers should not assume that a price for one shopfront includes work across another premises. Keep the accepted boundary on the elevation used for measurement, instructions and the final outstanding-items schedule. Retain the particular shop-unit reference.
Appointment
HCS cannot act as independent contract administrator where HCS is the contractor.
Local Sources Checked
- Harrow: Edgware High Street Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Strategy, December 2013 — PDF page 14 / printed 297, paragraph 5.28, Whitchurch Lane; PDF page 18 / printed 301, continuation of paragraph 5.34, residential accommodation above retail. Cover records December 2013.
Accountability
Provider
Hampstead Chartered Surveyors & Building Consultancy — RICS Regulated Firm No. 923064
Other Edgware surveying services
- RICS Level 3 Building Survey in Edgware
- RICS Home Surveys in Edgware
- Party Wall in Edgware
- Building Pathology in Edgware
- Redacted RICS Level 3 sample reports
Need a RICS survey quote in Edgware? We confirm a fixed fee after scoping. Call 020 7101 4590, email enquiries@hampsteadcharteredsurveyors.co.uk, or inspect our redacted RICS Level 3 sample reports. Sample reports.