Issue Sixteen
JPnews
Update from John Perkins Construction
£2 million
plus contract
to renovate
Underfall
Yard
John Perkins Construction beat off stiff
regional and local competition to win the
prestigious £2 million plus contract to restore
Bristol Harbourside’s Underfall Yard – a
scheduled ancient monument and home to
traditional boat building and marine crafts.
With an established reputation for
sensitive conservation management, this
latest contract win will see John Perkins
Construction join the ranks of Bristol’s
illustrious – famous engineers involved
with Underfall Yard include William Jessop,
John Ward Girdlestone and Isambard
Kingdom Brunel. For more than 200 years,
Underfall Yard was the operation centre of
the docks housing the dock sluices, hydraulic
lock systems and pump house as well as
helping shape the development of the
floating harbour.
John Perkins Construction started work
onsite on Tuesday, 2 June on the year-long
building and refurbishment programme
for the Underfall Yard Trust. Site manager,
Paul Glennon and a team of up to 30
specialists – from stone masons to roofers
– will sensitively restore and protect the
future of the external fabric of seven red
brick industrial buildings, including Grade
II* listed landmarks, the Power House and
chimney. Redundant workshop space
will be brought back into use and solar
paneling installed.
Comments Rupert Perkins, Contracts Director
for John Perkin’s Construction, “Companies
rarely have the opportunity to undertake
such an historically significant project. Our
work will safeguard Underfall Yard for future
generations of visitors, craftsmen and women.
We look forward to working closely with the
At Underfall Yard, the John Perkins Construction team works alongside
restoration specialists Alec French architects and historic buildings
conservation consultants, Philip Hughes Associates.
Underfall Yard Trust, to deliver high quality
workmanship. It is especially important
that in the European Green Capital Year,
our work will include improving this site’s
environmental credentials, including
solar paneling.”
Construction’s partnership approach to this
is really refreshing and gives us confidence in
creating the successful relationship needed
to deliver our project in a way that works for
all the stakeholders who know and love this
really special place.”
Comments Nicola Dyer, Project Director,
“John Perkins Construction were awarded
the contract because they understand the
importance of not only the buildings at
Underfall Yard, but of what happens in this
lively place on a daily basis.
John Perkins Construction has an enviable
track record for delivering results for a
growing portfolio of clients – from major
public sector works and commercial new
build through to residential and listed
buildings work on heritage sites such as
Brunel‘s ssGreat Britain and Goldney Hall as
well as for English Heritage and Bristol City
Council’s ‘B‘ Bond Warehouse.
“Balancing the needs of our tenants, who
are so vital in keeping the Yard a working
place; those of our visitors - whom we want
to involve as much as possible in the process
of bringing the whole site back into use; and
critically those of Bristol City Council whose
docks team safeguard the floating harbour
today, can be complicated. John Perkins
The company’s mix of strong management
skills and partnership working is key to its
success, backed by a reputation for operating
with strong core values of honesty, integrity,
flexibility and openness. n
New faces
Rhian Hart, Apprentice
Accounts Technician
Working alongside the company‘s
accounts manager, Rhian is
covering all aspects of the
accounts function, initially
focussing on supplier
invoices, payment processing
and payroll. Rhian has just
completed her A levels at
John Cabot Academy and
is studying for an
Association of Accounts
Technicians (AAT)
qualification at Bristol
City College.
Folami Prehaye,
HR/Office Manager
With a background in administration, human resources and
office management, Folami
joins the company from
Bristol charity,
Milestones Trust.
Already a valued
member of the team,
her varied experience
covers everything from
recruitment and training
through to running
seminars and managing
policies and procedures.
Goodbye and
thank you to…
Helen Cooke, Accounts
and Frank Conlon,
Small Works
Foreman, who
both retired
this year
after many
years of
loyal
iservice
tto the
company.
Move to new
Bristol office
With a turnover now more than £6million
and a growing order book, John Perkins
Construction, Bristol-based building and
refurbishment specialists, has moved to a
new premises in the city.
Doubling both turnover and the
management team in just four years,
the company continues to deliver results
for an expanding portfolio of clients
across Bristol and the South West – from
major public sector works through to
significant residential and commercial
new build projects.
The move is part of a planned strategy
of investment in the business, with the
new office space providing the right
environment for everything from
hosting meetings and showcasing the
company’s work through to staff
training programmes.
Comments Rob Yeandle, Managing Director,
“We’re delighted our reputation for quality
project management, best value and a
partnership approach is paying dividends as
we continue to expand, particularly in the
design and build sector and we now regularly
work with three national contractors, Kier
Group PLC, Willmott Dixon and construction
company, Graham. Achieving ISO9001 last
year underlines our quality service and has
opened up new markets for the company.
“Our new premises reflects our continuing
commitment to invest in the business and we
look forward to welcoming our clients and
suppliers over the coming months.“ n
JPnews
Luxury restoration of
historic Clevedon Hall
Clevedon Hall, a Grade II* listed Victorian
mansion set in landscaped gardens in South
West Bristol, is the latest in a line of historic
buildings to be transformed by John Perkins
Construction.
The company won a £2.2 million competitive
contract to sensitively create 25 new
bedrooms on the first and second floors of
this luxury exclusive venue for weddings,
private parties and corporate events. From
Toto toilets to roll top baths, each room is
unique with features that create a blend of
classical and modern styles in subtle, soft
colours to give a luxurious English country
house feel but which also feature state of
the art technology and ubiquitous high
bandwidth connectivity – creating a relaxing
and interesting environment for guests.
Rupert Perkins, John Perkins Contracts
Director comments “The spirit of partnership
was key to ensuring the design brief given
by Jane Clayton & Company, the interior
designers, became a reality. We had the
constraints of listed buildings regulations
and the need to ensure that the venue
could continue with functions throughout
the year-long project. Our role was also to
communicate clearly with contractors and
the neighbouring community to minimise
the impact of the project on the ecology of
the area as the site is home to wildlife such as
herons and wild deer making it vital to ensure
working areas were safely fenced.”
There is no generic design for the 25 rooms,
with each one individually styled to help
highlight different architectural features such
as window seats, quirky attic shapes and big
bay windows on the first floor, overlooking
the lake and grounds.
There are five categories of room determined
by size, views and finishings, with some of
the larger rooms benefiting from private
meeting/dining rooms.
Peter McCarthy, Managing Director of
Clevedon Hall, said “We knew there would
be many challenges in bringing our plans to
fruition. John Perkins not only handled these
well but also found solutions to problems that
we inevitably encountered in creating new
rooms in a Victorian Mansion of over 4,000
square metres.” n
John Perkins Construction worked in partnership with
architects, Childs and Sulzman Partnership as well as
cost consultants, MDA Partnerships, and consultant
mechanical and electrical engineers, Jones King.
contracts update contracts update contracts update contracts update
Back to school
A £3million negotiated contract to complete
the final two phases of a four-phase, design
and build development programme for St
Bonaventure’s School in Bishopston, saw
the John Perkins team project managing
in a challenging environment – with 420
children on site – to create a new school hall,
staffroom, kitchen and office areas as well as
a range of external works.
“Working on an occupied school site is a
challenge and requires a high degree of trust
and we’re grateful to Site Manager, Paul
Glennon, for his regular briefings and talks
in assembly to keep both staff and school
children in the picture. We are all very proud
of our new buildings and although it is good
the school is no longer a building site, it has
been an enjoyable experience and we will
miss the team!”
Effective management
Winning a £600,000 design and build
competitive contract to create a new Sixth
Form Centre for St Bede’s Catholic College in
Laurence Weston, Bristol, saw John Perkins
Construction deliver on time for the start of
the new academic year.
Adding value
Following a recommendation from Richard
Pedlar Architects, John Perkins created a
second nursery for the Red Bus Nursery &
Pre-School in Grade II listed Wendover House
in Downend, Bristol, on time and to budget.
Featuring open book negotiation,
transparency and collaborative working,
the £850,000 negotiated contract saw the
John Perkins team’s skills and listed
building experience utilised at the early
stages of the project to ensure the best
value engineering options.
Comments Liz Hogarth, Owner, Red Bus
Nursery & Pre-School, “John Perkins proved
without doubt to be a trusted partner on
this project, working tirelessly to meet our
expectations and goals, prepared to go the
extra mile to deliver a stunning result. Such
professionals working hand in hand with
the Red Bus team.”
From the outset, the John Perkins team
helped shape the design and offered value
engineering solutions to meet programme
and cost constraints. Paul Glennon,
Site Manager for all four phases, was
instrumental in keeping the project running
smoothly and on time for the autumn term
opening. The final testament to the project’s
success was when the same team was asked
back once again to create a multi-use games
arena for the school.
Comments Tony Nelson, Governor managing
the rebuild project at St Bonaventure’s, “It has
been wonderful to have the continuity of the
same team throughout our nearly seven year
association with John Perkins Construction.
The company has always been honest and
upfront, presenting us with solutions to
problems and worked with us as a team to
create better outcomes – on time and to budget
and to very high standards of workmanship.
Garden room for
St Peter’s Hospice
John Perkins won a £240,000 competitive
contract to build a garden room extension
for St Peter’s Hospice in Brentry. Funded by
a Department of Health grant, the charity’s
garden room was officially opened by
Bristol’s Lord Mayor Alistair Watson.
The Garden Rooms will be home to the
Psychological, Social and Spiritual (PSS) team
at the hospice and will provide a relaxing
space for patients to enjoy and allow staff to
provide more creative therapies.
The design of the building has been
carefully planned to maximise peace and
relaxation for patients and their families. The
oak-framed structure features large windows
to allow natural light in and so patients
can look out on to the award-winning
landscaped gardens at the hospice.
Comments Catherine Hughes, Principal at St
Bede’s, “I would be very happy to recommend
John Perkins Construction. The company
recently completed for us a sixth form building
of eight classrooms, a cafeteria and common
room. The building was delivered to us on time
and the whole project was managed effectively
and efficiently. A very good company who will
be on our list for future works.”
John Perkins Construction Limited, 22 Dragon Court, Crofts End Road, Bristol BS5 7XX.
T: 0117 965 3970 F: 0117 965 3980 E: enquiries@johnperkins.co.uk www.johnperkins.co.uk
Comments Simon Caraffi, Chief Executive,
St Peter’s Hospice, “We decided to use John
Perkins because of the trust and confidence
we have in them after many years of working
together. The whole team was very committed
to making the build a success and I am
extremely grateful for their hard work. The
result is great and the subject of numerous
compliments from patients and families.” n