Assessment of partnering arrangements: West Bay coastal defence and harbour improvements scheme
Research investigating the partnering process during the £18 million reconstruction of Bridport Harbour, West Bay in Dorset, and its associated flood and coastal defences.
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Details
This project reviews the procurement, and contract management process on the £18 million reconstruction of Bridport Harbour, West Bay in Dorset. This also includes its associated flood and coastal defences. The project was managed using an ECC (Engineering and Construction Contract) Design and Construct contract (Option C) with target price formulation and inbuilt partnering arrangements.
Some major physical problems were encountered during the project, which tested the contractual and working arrangements. Completion of the project cost around 50% more than the original tender, and the project took 11 months longer than planned. Despite this, the working relationship with the contractors was effective. The ECC Option C provided a fairer and less contentious basis for the high-risk design and construct project than more traditional forms of contract.
Various aspects of the approach were shown to be invaluable to the success of the project, including:
- open book accounting
- regular meetings of partners
- joint working
- continuous monitoring
It’s hoped that this approach to partnering will be applied to the Environment Agency and its consultants and contractors when managing similar projects in the future.
This research project ran from 2000 to 2006.