FOI request details
Request
Subject: Ashburton estate house building plans
Reference: WBC-FOI-00760
I am interested in various information relating to the homes for Wandsworth scheme's proposals for the Ashburton Estate. The first questions relate to the 'community engagement event' that took place on Saturday 26 November at Ark Putney Academy.
1. How was the event advertised?
2. When was the event advertised?
3. Why was it advertised in this way?
4. How many people attended the event? (an approximate number is acceptable if that is all that is available)
The second set of questions relate to identification of sites on the estates. The advert for the event mentioned above states 'The identified areas present prime opportunities to deliver much-needed new homes for Wandsworth residents, through the development of under-used parts of the existing estates and areas that have fallen into disrepair.'
5. What were the criteria for an area of the estate being considered 'under-used' or 'fallen into disrepair'?
6. How was it assessed that the areas identified in the initial proposals met the criteria for being under-used or fallen into disrepair?
7. What work did the council do to prevent areas of the estate from "falling into disrepair"
8. What other similar areas of the estate were considered for development which, after an assessment, did not meet the criteria?
The final questions relate to the tendering process for conducting engagement and drawing up initial plans.
9. How was the contract advertised and what subsequent communication have you had with the successful party?
10. Who else bid for the contract and why were they unsuccessful?
11. What is the value of the contract?
Response
Full Disclosure - 2 March 2023
Request for Information - WBC-FOI-00760 - Ashburton estate house building plans
I refer to your request for information received on 13 February 2023. Please see the information below in response to your request: -
1.How was the event advertised?
2.203 flyers were distributed to local addresses for the first event on 17th November 2022, and an advertisement placed in the Wandsworth Times on 24th November 2022.
2.When was the event advertised?
Please see above, plus two dedicated websites went live from 18th November 2022 containing exhibition boards for review for three weeks after the event. The event was an initial drop-in event to introduce the design team, introduce the sites selected and to hear from local residents as to how value could be added to the wider estate as part of proposals. The initial feedback deadline was 18th December. The period was extended to 9th January 2023 upon receiving feedback that various households did not receive their invitation in the post. The extended date and website links were publicised by Fleur Anderson MP in her December newsletter to 6,000 constituents.
3.Why was it advertised in this way?
Postal delivery is the primary method of communication used by the Council to contact residents, supported in this case by adverts in the Wandsworth Times and dedicated websites.
4.How many people attended the event? (an approximate number is acceptable if that is all that is available)
33 people signed the attendance log. The second set of questions relate to identification of sites on the estates. The advert for the event mentioned above states 'The identified areas present prime opportunities to deliver much-needed new homes for Wandsworth residents, through the development of under-used parts of the existing estates and areas that have fallen into disrepair.'
5.What were the criteria for an area of the estate being considered 'under-used' or 'fallen into disrepair'?
Sites were selected as having potential to add more value than their present uses - as such qualifying as under-used assets.
6.How was it assessed that the areas identified in the initial proposals met the criteria for being under-used or fallen into disrepair?
No sites were ultimately selected on grounds of disrepair; however the design team do believe value they could be better used and also improve areas beyond the initial sites. Options to re-provide existing facilities on the sites are being explored, and for which views of local residents are being sought throughout the consultation process.
7.What work did the council do to prevent areas of the estate from "falling into disrepair"
As noted above - sites were not selected on the grounds of falling into disrepair.
8.What other similar areas of the estate were considered for development which, after an assessment, did not meet the criteria?
Alternative sites for the estate included three additional areas on Hayward Gardens, two additional areas on Innes Gardens and one additional area on Cortis Road which were discounted due to the loss of valuable trees impacts on biodiversity and the loss of amenity space.
The final questions relate to the tendering process for conducting engagement and drawing up initial plans.
9.How was the contract advertised and what subsequent communication have you had with the successful party?
Pollard Thomas Edwards Architects were appointed via competitive process using the National Framework Partnership framework for architects. Stantec Planning Consultants and Farrer Huxley Landscape Architects were selected following a request for quotes process. Bidders were initially assessed on the basis of prior experience and quality; the final decision was made on price.
10.Who else bid for the contract and why were they unsuccessful?
For architectural services, bids were received from the following practices: BPTW, Levitt Bernstein and PRP Architects. The selected architects achieved the highest scores in tender evaluation.
For planning consultancy services, unsuccessful bids were received from the following practices: GL Hearn and HTA. As noted above, price was the sole determinant.
For landscape architecture services, unsuccessful bids were received from the following practices: Arup and BDP. As noted above, price was the sole determinant.
11.What is the value of the contract?
The award value for PTE's architectural services is £208,929.
The award value for Stantec's planning consultancy services is £102,250.
The award value for Farrer Huxley's landscape design services is £49,400.
I hope this information meets your needs. If you do not understand the information provided or wish to discuss anything further, please feel free to contact us.
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If you are dissatisfied with the information provided in relation to your request, you may make representations to the Information and Transparency Manager. Any such request for an internal review should be made within 40 days from today's date. Correspondence should be addressed to: FOIW@richmondandwandsworth.gov.uk
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Regards,
FOI and DPA Officer
FOIW@richmondandwandsworth.gov.uk
Please note that our responses were accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of release, and have not subsequently been updated. This information should be considered an historical record only.