The facts
Client: Blackburn with Darwen
Borough Council
Location: Blackburn
Services: Landscape Architecture,
Clerk of Works, Quantity Surveying
Sector: Public Realm
Contract Type: JCT Intermediate
Project Value: £370,000
Start/Completion: February – July 2008
The project
Capita Symonds was commissioned by
Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council to design and implement a
gateway feature to regenerate a primary route into and out of
Blackburn from the M65 which includes a piece of public art and
extensive landscaping works.
The £145,000 construction budget was primarily
spent on the gateway roundabout art feature designed by Jem
Waygood. The low maintenance design which includes locally sourced
stone and wildflower seeding, created a feature which is both
sustainable and visually pleasing. Capita Symonds regenerated an
important traffic route from an over- grown wooded area to a much
improved, aesthetically pleasing transport route to and from the
M65.
The project required 90% completion by the end
of June 2008 in order to secure the ERDF funding which was
used on this project. The late appointment of Capita Symonds in
March 2008 meant a very short design and construction period for
the project to be completed.
This raised a series of issues, mostly in
relation to timing. These issues were addressed by rigorous
programming and quick decision making to ensure the project was
constantly moving forward.