Art Apartments

June 2021

The Works have been impacted throughout the construction period by performance issues in relation to the steel frame, upper floor and facade works. During 2020 this was partly in relation to the Covid-19 Pandemic, with the continued impact on progress to be assessed but only partly responsible for the ongoing limitations with progress. Following halting of the Works in Nov-20, and Ridgemere Limited's return on 01-Feb-21, progress had begun to increase however as noted above progress has again significantly reduced as of May 21st with a summary of the current position as follows.

Substructure works, including piling and foundations, are complete with the brick/blockwork to the ground floor areas also now complete ready for services connections and plant.

'Tower A' structure is complete with SFS framing installed, weatherboarding and external windows installation complete to three elevations with blockwork at floor 10 to the remaining elevation. Internal partition studwork is also complete on all floors with plasterboard to one side and first fix M&E ongoing;
floor 1 is also boarded with both sides with ceilings lined ready for plastering. The flat roof finishes are also complete with the exception of parapet cappings awaiting brickwork completion, with façade brickwork at floor 8 to all elevations.

'Tower B' and 'Tower C' both have the steel frame complete with upper floor deck and concrete complete to all floors and the roof.

Tower B/C' SFS framing currently has floors 9 and 10 outstanding, with some minor elements on lower floors, and apartment footprint stud partition generally erected up to floor 9 with plasterboard ongoing to levels 1 to 7. Spray plaster prep commencing has commenced on floor 1 with double boarding generally up to floor 2. Facing brickwork is progressing well and generally up to floor 7, with the exception of recessed areas to be completed once scaffold realignments are possible.

Below ground drainage, including attenuation and the hydrobrake, are complete with only the mains connection required. The connection works are currently being scheduled with the relevant paperwork for the required road closure, street works and connection approval in process.

February 2021

Tower A' structure is complete with SFS framing installed, weatherboarding and external windows installation complete to three elevations with blockwork nearing completion to the fourth elevation. Internal partition studwork is also complete on all floors with plasterboard to one side and first fix M&E ongoing, currently at fourth to sixth floor. The flat roof finishes are also complete with the pitched roof to commence in Marc-21, with façade brickwork continuing to all elevations.

'Tower B' and 'Tower C' both have the steel frame complete with upper floor deck and concrete complete to all floors and the roof.

Tower B/C' has progressed significantly in the period with works generally progressing by floor rather than tower. partitions have been boarded to one side on the lower floors with electrical installations progressing well ahead of second side boarding to close in the partitions due in the coming weeks. Fire lining to the primary steel is nearing completion also. The lift shaft blockwork is complete, ready for the lift to be installed once the pitched roof is complete.

Below ground drainage, including attenuation and the hydrobrake, are complete with only the mains connection required. The connection works are currently being scheduled with the relevant paperwork for the required road closure, street works and connection approval in process.

Following Ridgemere Limited's previous reduced progress due to limited operatives on site as a result of ongoing Covid-19 control measures, the number of operatives on site his risen significantly in Feb-21 and real progress is being evidenced.

Ridgemere Limited have agreed to provide a show apartment for purchaser / tenant viewing and to provide a quality benchmark for the scheme. The location and date for provision of the show apartment is still to be confirmed by Ridgemere Limited.

December 2020

Prior to the domestic delays experienced by Ridgemere Limited, in particular relating to the SFS framing design which formed a critical path activity, the Works on site were progressing well in line with the resequencing programme issued by Ridgemere Limited. Unfortunately the further steel sub-contractor issues and Covid-19 Pandemic have additional delays on site, with continued industry enforced restrictions.

Substructure works, including piling and foundations, are complete with the brick / blockwork to the ground floor areas now complete ready for services connections and plant.

Tower A' structure is complete with SFS framing installed, weatherboarding and external windows installation complete to three elevations with blockwork nearing completion to the fourth elevation. Internal partition studwork is also complete on all floors with plasterboard to one side and first fix M&E ongoing, currently at fourth to sixth floor. The flat roof finishes are also complete with the pitched roof to commence after the Christmas shutdown , with façade brickwork continuing to all elevations. 

'Tower B' and 'Tower C' both have the steel frame complete with upper floor deck and concrete complete to all floors and the roof. Tower B/C' has progressed significantly so that the works are now at a similar floor level across the entire project. The lift shaft blockwork is complete, ready for the lift to be installed in early 2021. Below ground drainage, including attenuation and the hydrobrake, are complete with only the mains connection required. The connection works are currently being scheduled with the relevant paperwork for the required road closure, street works and connection approval in process.

In the last month, Ridgemere Limited's progress has reduced due to limited operatives on site as a result of ongoing Covid-19 control measures related to the increased testing regime recently introduced in the Liverpool City Region. Ridgemere Limited have agreed to provide a show apartment for purchaser / tenant viewing and to provide a quality benchmark for the scheme. The location and date for provision of the show apartment is still to be confirmed by Ridgemere Limited.

October 2020

Tower A structure is complete with SFS framing installed, weatherboarding and external windows installation complete to three elevations with blockwork ongoing to the remaining elevation. Internal partition studwork is also complete on all floors with plasterboard to one side and first fix M&E ongoing. The flat roof finishes are also complete with the exception of parapet capping awaiting brickwork completion, with facade brickwork ongoing to all elevations.

Tower B and Tower C both have the steel frame complete with upper floor deck and concrete complete to all floors and the roof.

August 2020

Ridgemere Limited have confirmed orders for both electrical and water mains supplies have been placed and accepted by Scottish Power and United Utilities respectively.

At Site Progress Meeting on 04-Feb-20, Ridgemere Limited advised that due to a number of historic issues with domestic sub-contractors, and termination / replacement of said sub-contractors, the works had been delayed by circa 4 months from Nov-19 to Mar-20.

This was subsequently further impacted by delays experienced by the steel fabricator / erector due to sub-contractor cash flow restrictions, however this had been overcome and the frame complete prior to the meeting.
However this further delay had deferred the completion date to the end of Jul-20. Subsequently, due to the impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on the construction industry, the project has incurred further delays since Mar-20 with the ongoing restrictions placed on construction activities by the UK Government and Construction Leadership Councils' 'Site Operating Procedures' ("SOPs") the project is anticipated to incur an extended period of inefficiency; this currently ranges from 13% to 60+% across the industry. On this basis a further programme has been issued by Ridgemere Limited anticipating completion of the project before Christmas 2020.