Barton exits Regent Plaza
The construction company is no longer working on Sourced Development Group’s 525-apartment scheme in Salford, after being appointed as contractor at the end of last year.
A spokesperson for Barton Project Management, part of Barton Group Services, told Place North West: “I can confirm that Barton PM has made the decision to walk away from progressing this scheme. No further information will be provided at this time.”
The spokesperson declined to provide a reason why the contractor exited the development, but a representative from Sourced later said the contract was terminated on completion of enabling works.
Joanne Waller, operations director at Sourced, said in a statement to Place North West: “Unfortunately, Barton were not successful in meeting high expectations of Sourced Development Group for the wider tender package and their appointment was terminated upon completion of the enabling works.
“The separation was wholly amicable and we wish Barton all the best in their future projects.” Further tenders for the scheme are currently being awarded, she added.
The statement noted that “Sourced appointed Barton Group on 12 November 2019 to deliver the enabling works, including initial presence on site, management of UXO probing and the piling for Block B of our development at Regent Plaza, while negotiations were also taking place for [Barton to work on] the whole of the development. The enabling works comprised completion of demolition work, installation of piling mats for Blocks B & D, UXO probing for Blocks B & D and piling for Block B.”
Ground work for Regent Plaza began at the beginning of 2020, and a steel frame was set to be erected this month. The development was scheduled to be under construction for three years and due for completion in the first quarter of 2023.
Barton PM is headed by managing director Matthew Fawcett, the former commercial manager of Bolton-based contractor Forrest, which fell into administration in December 2018.
Sourced Development purchased the site on Regent Road in July 2019. Mount Property Group had an option on the site which had expired. Mount did not sell the site to Sourced, but gave its due diligence information to the company in order to speed up the sale.
The phased Fletcher Rae-designed development is set to deliver five blocks with a central garden. Block A would be 24-storeys, B would be 10-storeys, C would be seven-storeys, D would be 16-storeys, and E would be four-storeys, under the proposals.
Walker from Sourced added in the statement: “All pre-commencement planning conditions have now been discharged and a site presence established, we are happy to confirm groundworks on site are under way, with delivery of the steel frame due on site for 27 April 2020.
“Helix Civils have been appointed for the ground works package, which includes construction of foundations, drainage and ground floor slab, and the principal contractor, we have appointed Evadx for delivery and erection of the steel frame, with further packages being awarded at the moment.”
