Contract planning in Harrow on the Hill
Documented building context
Harrow’s village appraisal describes variation in the High Street from cottage rows at 25A–35 to larger civic buildings around The Green. Its Architectural Qualities section also identifies buildings whose earlier fabric is not immediately evident behind later frontages, including 48–52 High Street. This is a streetscape and development account for named buildings within the village conservation setting.
Existing-building records for the tender
Where an older home has a later external face, ask for records identifying the original range and subsequent alterations. Mark changed doors, windows and openings on the current plan and photographs. Separate a frontage repair account from documents addressing floors, stairs or the internal supporting structure.
Ask which roof slope, chimney or covering was included in an earlier maintenance account. Locate the corresponding rooms and accessible loft spaces on the current layout. For a converted upper floor, identify changes to the stair, roof openings and internal linings with their project dates.
Harrow on the Hill tender and contract decisions
A High Street cottage row and a larger building around The Green need distinct tender scopes. Harrow's appraisal also identifies earlier fabric behind later frontages, making the building's actual development sequence important to a proposed repair. Ask the survey and design team to locate the original range, subsequent work and uncertain connections. The street elevation alone is not enough to price a complete intervention or establish the materials behind it.
For frontage repairs, separate the visible finish from supporting wall or frame work. Define the extent of investigation and the decision required before concealed fabric is altered. Tenderers should price the same protection, access and making-good assumptions. If the findings require a different detail, keep the evidence with the designer's response and the JCT instruction. The value or time assessment must follow the executed contract and documented change, not a broad assumption about village construction.
A cottage's rear range should have its own plan, roof reference and delivery route. Confirm how occupied rooms remain accessible and whether the proposed working area depends on a separate agreement. Programme inspections before key weatherproofing or structural connections are covered. At completion, use the same references for accepted details, tests, guarantees and outstanding work. A general roof invoice or historic streetscape account cannot demonstrate that every element of the present package was completed.
What should the Harrow on the Hill tender and completion file make clear?
Before selecting the JCT form, clarify who supplies the design and who must resolve the uncertain interface behind the frontage. Keep that responsibility, the tender information release and any specialist package explicit in the appointments and contract documents.
Appointment
HCS cannot act as independent contract administrator where HCS is the contractor.
Local Sources Checked
- Harrow: Harrow on the Hill Village Conservation Area Appraisal, Area Number 9 — PDF / printed page 13, Architectural Qualities, paragraphs 8.2–8.3; 25A–35 and 48–52 High Street. No edition date inferred from the download URL.
Accountability
Provider
Hampstead Chartered Surveyors & Building Consultancy — RICS Regulated Firm No. 923064
Other Harrow on the Hill surveying services
- RICS Level 3 Building Survey in Harrow on the Hill
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- Redacted RICS Level 3 sample reports
Need a RICS survey quote in Harrow on the Hill? 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.