The Landing, Maidenhead
CLIENT ADVISER
Sarah Williams
2013 – 2019
CLIENT
Ryger Maidenhead and Smedvig
URBAN DESIGNERS
Studio Egret West
ARCHITECTS
SEW and Allies and Morrison
SERVICES PROVIDED
– Feasibility and viability support and development
– Input to enable site purchase
– Negotiations with Local Authority: height and massing
– Brief development and competition with RIBA
– Chairing, assessing and selection processes
– Selection of engineers and other consultants
– Stakeholder consultations and planning support
– Viability input at all stages
– Design review and evaluation
– Design strategies and deliverable requirements
Challenges
Why was a Client Adviser required?
The client was undertaking an analysis of whether to purchase an important site opposite Maidenhead station. The site plays an important and strategic role in Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead’s plans to reinvigorate and strengthen the town centre and is seen as a catalyst for regeneration. Previous schemes had been unsuccessful in securing planning permission and so Sarah helped firstly to determine the scale, mix, density and brief for the development in order to give assurance prior to site purchase.
Sarah then ran and chaired a high-profile RIBA competition to commission the best architects and urbanists for the project. The client also required client advisory services to commission the wider team and to provide on-going support and advice throughout the design process.
Outcomes
What value was created
Sarah worked closely with the client and Local Authority to develop a brief and a process of ensuring the best scheme possible for this important site. Sarah proposed working with RIBA to undertake a design competition and invited different stakeholders onto the judging panel. Sarah also helped secure agreement with the Local Authority prior to the site purchase by negotiating a ‘letter of comfort’ which provided assurances for the client in terms of the schemes viability.
Sarah led and chaired a two-stage design competition with high profile architects. She developed a detailed brief and inputed into the procurement process alongside the developer and Local Authority. A unanimous decision was reached by a diverse panel of judges, chaired by Sarah, on the selection of the successful architect teams. This helped cement the teams credentials and approach with the Local authority from the outset.
Sarah inputed into the stakeholder consultation process which was varied and extensive. Many workshops and meetings were undertaken including design workshops where Sarah reviewed and evaluated the designs. A three day event was the culmination of the process and helped towards securing planning approval, which was achieved in record time, despite the previous 7 years of failure to secure approval by another developer.
The development of high quality, transparent and robust proposals enabled this successful approval and the client and public confidence in the selected team and advisers was high. A transparent and inclusive process of stakeholder engagement also helped secure this approval.
Testimonials
“During the early stages of this transaction, before purchase she exhibited great architectural, commercial and diplomatic skills. This included evolving and sketching up the essence of a large scheme in front of Local Authority Officers and Councillors at large meetings. With her charming dialogue and persuasion, she achieved a general consensus and an excellent, professionally-designed development brief. Her tenacity, continuing enthusiasm, skill and energy make her a delight to work with whist adding great value to projects.”
