In the summer of 2021, Abbott Construction completed works at the Norton Knatchbull School in Ashford, Kent. This was another project of ours undertaken with the client using a JCT Design & Build Contract.
The Employers Requirements called for a state of the art new Digital Learning Centre comprising of 2no. new science classrooms with associated prep room and 3no. IT suites on the first floor with a separate teachers office.
The building is a striking modern design incorporating northlights that provide a good source of natural daylight to the 1st floor rooms. The external façade is finished with a combination of engineering face brickwork and a rainscreen cladding system.
The building was completed on time, ready for the new school summer term and was well within budget, which enabled the school to add on a few extra ‘wish list’ items upon completion. Part of this involved works undertaken during the school holidays to re-configure some existing school office areas into more usable classroom space.
Dependent on funding, this is potentially Phase 1 of a 2 phase scheme, which we are hoping to be a part of in the not too distant future.
Following the UK Governments directive on Thursday 16th April to extend the lockdown period by a further 3 weeks taking us into May, the Directors of Abbott Construction have convened via video conference call to provide an update on our construction activities and operations.
As you are aware, we temporarily closed all of our sites on the 24th March when we had already put in place several additional measures in an attempt to mitigate the risks to our Employees, Clients, Key Stakeholders, Subcontractors, Supply chain and the General Public in respect of the Coronavirus, both on our sites and in our workplaces. The directives for social distancing however, made this an untenable situation to manage on all of our construction sites. This was also made more difficult due to many of our supply chain for materials, plant and goods temporarily closing their own operations.
Since that time we have continuously monitored what has been, and continues to be, unprecedented and exceptionally difficult times for everyone.
On April 15th the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) issued Version 3 of their guidelines for Site Operating Procedures ‘Protecting Your Workforce During Coronavirus (COVID-19)’. These procedures (SOP’s) are based on Public Health England (PHE) guidance and have far reaching implications for the operations on site for everyone’s workforces during his pandemic.
The Directors of Abbott Construction remain resolute and committed in our duty of care, and aim to protect and keep safe everyone involved or associated with our business activities. For this reason, we are currently in the process of carrying out an in depth site specific review of each of our projects given the last Government directives and CLC guidelines. These reviews are being made in line with our Health & Safety advisors. Our priority is to ensure that we not only protect our workforce, but also minimise the risk of spread of infection whilst implementing the Governments social distancing recommendations.
PHE affirm that the health and safety requirements of any construction activity must not be compromised at this time. If an activity cannot be undertaken safely, it should not take place.
Once this review has been completed, which we anticipate will be by the end of this week (24th April), we will be better placed to update you further.
Until that time all of our sites will remain closed.
We would like to thank everyone for their continued support and understanding in these times of uncertainty and we hope you all continue to stay safe.
