Mouchel Babcock Education (MBE) – Delivering ‘front end’ through a complex web of stakeholders
Facing the challenge of providing significantly more school places for Hackney Borough Council with limited funds, MBE proposed a unique solution.
Two school developments would include residential properties for sale, with the proceeds paying for the schools’ capital cost.
While innovative, the model faced technical, legal and political difficulties, which could only be overcome through the close collaboration of all parties involved.
DSA was commissioned to establish and sustain the scheme’s leadership team and wider collaboration, to achieve financial close of the combined £200m venture.
Remarkable results
- The Senior Leadership Team targeted and achieved front end project milestones including:
- Viability and Project Appraisal
- Design and submission of Planning RIBA Stage E design
- gaining Planning Permission
- Commercial Close, Financial Close and Start on Site
- It also developed the skills and methodologies to sustain the collective focus and multi-party collaboration throughout the construction phase
This approach gave us the opportunity to come up for air, take-stock, regroup and then press on together. The resulting team effort has been very powerful and what we achieved was remarkable. I also feel the support empowers and reinforces my leadership. I recommend this approach to any organisation looking to substantially improve project leadership.
Wayne Riley, Director, MBE
For a follow-up please read my post on LinkedIn on working with Wayne Riley