Fixed Fee Planning on a Major Highways Scheme

Project Planning Ltd produced the tender programme required for a Tier 1 contractor to secure the Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) phase of a major UK highways improvement scheme valued at over £60 million.

The scheme comprises improvements along an existing road corridor, including junction upgrades, dualling a section of carriageway and a new link road.  Designed to reduce congestion and support future growth, it required a programme that could be developed from the tender assumptions into a practical plan for construction.

Project Planning Ltd were retained through the ECI phase to both maintain the ECI phase programme and develop a detailed construction programme as clearer scope emerged.

Our involvement from this early stage allowed us to develop an understanding of the project and establish continuity between the tender and the subsequent construction phase.

This continuity brought a clear commercial benefit.

Having been involved from the outset, we understood the planning support required for the construction phase and were able to offer a fixed price for our services throughout the main phase.  For the contractor, this provides cost certainty for our planning appointment, alongside the reassurance of retaining a team already familiar with the project.  It also avoids the time needed to bring a new planning team up to speed at the transition into construction.

Our involvement has therefore delivered value at three key stages: helping the contractor win the ECI appointment, developing the NEC4 construction programme and providing a fixed price for the planning support needed during delivery.

The project demonstrates how early investment in specialist planning can bring benefits well beyond the tender, giving the contractor continuity, project knowledge and greater certainty when budgeting for the main works.