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Extract from WS Atkins Proposal Introduction Built in the thirteenth century, Whittington Castle was defended by a moat and furnished with a castellated gatehouse. The site is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and today, although much of the fabric is lost, it is of national as well as local importance. However, as the Castle Studies Group has recently highlighted, Whittington Castle is on the English Heritage Monuments at Risk Register. Repair and conservation is required if further deterioration is to be avoided. In addition to the remains of the castle and its attendant gatehouse, other built structures include the timber framed cottage attached to the back of the gatehouse and a modern toilet block. The site also includes the remains of the medieval earthworks which formed the moat and outer defences. Standing adjacent to one of the main routes through Whittington, the castle is a highly visible monument and has considerable potential as a visitor site as well as a local amenity. The full potential remains to be realised however. Therefore in addition to essential repairs and conservation of the fabric, pro-active, forward thinking measures need to be taken so that the experience of visiting and using the site can be enhanced. Thus issues of access, both intellectual and physical need to be addressed so that people of all abilities can get on the site or key parts of it. Once there, arrangements need to be made so that the site can be understood as an individual monument and within its setting. Conservation thinking now favours an holistic approach to the understanding and management of sites. Thus all attributes which lend the site its significance might be considered. These will include archaeological and historical importance but might also include other elements such as ecological assets, educational potential and community or amenity value. The challenge may be to reconcile the needs of competing elements but attention to the variety which the monument embodies will help to ensure that it continues to be a "living" site. The key to effective long-term conservation is to maintain a site in appropriate use. The selection of an appropriate use must be based, not only on the viability or business case but also on its ability to meet and maintain the above aspirations for the site. Moreover the identification of an appropriate use must be based on an understanding of the way the site is currently used. The vision and aspirations of various user groups, be they owners, managers, heritage specialists, tourists or local residents, must be addressed. Team Structure We have drawn together specialists to form an enduring bespoke project team. Where necessary the project, can also call on the wide range of other disciplines within WS Atkins. Within each discipline, the work will be undertaken and managed by appropriately qualified individuals. However the aim is to deliver an integrated interdisciplinary approach, which reflects the variety which is embodied within the Whittington Castle site. The users of Whittington Castle and those charged with its care must form part of the team, not least because they will have particularly relevant and local knowledge. Although they may not be involved in the day-to-day detailed work, they will play a crucial role in helping to define the scope of the Project. We applaud the appointment of a Project Co-ordinator. This "owner" of the project on the client side will be essential for its success, keeping abreast of the project and helping to maintain liaison between all parties. Within WS Atkins the project will be led by an archaeologist who is experienced in forming and managing multi-disciplinary teams as well as delivering projects which help to manage historic places. This will ensure that heritage considerations and commitment to the ethos of the Preservation Trust continue to underpin the activities of the project. General Approach As well as our technical expertise in the relevant disciplines we will bring the following qualities to our activities throughout the project:
The project team will be based at WS Atkins' head office in Epsom so that regular team meetings can be held and where in addition to the principal disciplines, related professionals will be on hand when necessary. However we have offices throughout Great Britain and we have made arrangements with our Telford office to set up a temporary project office there, if this proves necessary. Method Statement Phase 1 - Mobilisation
Deliverables of Phase 1 - Appointments for consultation. Agreement of brief and programme. Phase 2 - Intensive site survey All the team will visit site over a period of one week, with the aim of ensuring that where possible, as many team members are on site at the same time, to enable crossfertilisation of ideas and expertise and to ensure that there are no gaps left in the survey information. Consultations will take place during this time, ideally (and weather permitting!) on site, which will enrich the details of the survey information. The following tasks will be undertaken:
Deliverables of Phase 2 - Completion of all necessary survey and consultation. Phase 3 - Analysis and option study Back at our offices the survey and background information will be analysed in order to determine what is important about the site, what works are necessary to enhance or maintain that importance, and to define options for uses which would help to maintain or enhance the significance. The tasks will be directed to preparing findings and text for items within Appendix G of the Brief. All disciplines will be involved and team meetings will take place, not only to ensure consistency of approach but to make the most of "brain-storming" exercises. Towards the end of this process our project manager (Janet Miller) will meet the client team to discuss progress as well as the preliminary findings of this phase. In addition a standing invitation will be made to the client to any of the team meetings at the WS Atkins' offices. The following tasks will be undertaken.
Deliverables of Phase 3 - Preliminary site characterisation and assessment of importance, specification of urgent repairs, completion of tourism appraisal, a number of outline options. Presentation of preliminary findings to client. Phase 4 - Preparation of Scoping Study client report After agreement with the client regarding the findings of Phase 3, the Scoping Study will be prepared according to the model outlined in Appendix G of the Brief. We understand that Scoping Study will form the technical information of a Feasibility Study which is to be prepared by the Trust. A number of the items within the model therefore may be best prepared by the client. For clarity, the list of contents of the Feasibility Report is presented in Table 1 and those items to be partially or fully completed by the Trust are indicated. Three drawings will be prepared using the sketch baseplan drawing showing:
These will be augmented by selected detail sketches and photographs. Deliverables of Phase 4 - the Scoping Study and accompanying illustrations. Table 1 sets out those elements of the Architectural Heritage Fund model which will be delivered. Phase 5 - Production of final Feasibility Report and Public Exhibition Following recent telephone discussions with the project coordinator, regarding items 8 and 9 of the Consultants Brief, the Scoping Study will be presented as a client report only, in a basic and plain format. Resources will be conserved so that, having been finalised by the Trust, we will use the facilities within WS Atkins to produce an illustrated and attractive Feasibility Report on behalf of the Trust. One draft will be prepared for approval by the client before the required 12 final copies are produced. A sketch costplan of the chosen option will be prepared. The three plans prepared in Phase 4 and appropriate detail illustrations will be enlarged and mounted for public exhibition. Deliverables of Phase 5 - Feasibility Report and material for public exhibition. Sketch business plan. Programme We aim to complete the project within a short period of intense activity, in order to maintain momentum as well as to use resources most efficiently. Phase 1 - one week Mobilisation Phase 2 - one week Intensive survey Phase 3 - two weeks Analysis and option study Phase 4 - two weeks Preparation of Scoping Study client report Phase 5 - two weeks Production of Feasibility Document and Public Exhibition Assumptions within our method and fee proposal In order to make the most of the budget for the project, while ensuring that all the items which are required by the final feasibility study can be achieved, the following assumptions are made within our fee proposal:
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Last modified: May 06, 2002 |
