Shropshire specialist warns planning protocol is paramount

Shrewsbury-based CNS Planning works proactively with clients across the construction sector, as well as reactively to assist with delay analysis, forensic planning, and dispute resolution. To encourage more awareness of the importance of good planning, the company has produced a free downloadable guide which can be accessed by visiting www.cnsplanning.com and registering for free.

Ian Gunton, Director of CNS Planning, explained: “We’re committed to sharing our expertise across the construction and legal sectors, which is why we’ve produced the free guide. And we’re supporting this with a series of seminars specifically designed to showcase best practice for planning under the NEC forms of contract. The seminars for 2012 are currently being scheduled and we are inviting expressions of interest via our website or on email to ian.gunton@cnsplanning.com.”

Contractors need to make sure that every element of a project is clearly outlined before any work commences, or they risk facing significant costs if the project doesn’t go to plan. “Over 90% of our business is currently focused on advising our clients on how to deal with a dispute once it has occurred” explained Ian, “and many of these issues could have been prevented if the clients actually had more robust planning procedures in place.”

CNS Planning strongly advises that the planning programme needs to be outlined in as much detail as reasonably possible, to include the full scope of work including outline design, procurement, construction, and testing. Clear timelines outlining all key milestones, such as start dates, planned completion dates, completion dates and access dates should also be included, and the programme needs to clearly indicate the effect of any delays should they happen.

Communication is of paramount importance, and the programme should be shared with all parties, not only members of the team, but also sub-contractors and suppliers. “If effective communication is not undertaken, contractors are in danger of minimising their chances of securing extension times, or recovering costs, should the project experience setbacks” explained Ian.

“If problems or delays do occur during a project, clients need to ensure that they deal with them immediately in order to maximise the opportunities for a successful resolution. Our team here at CNS Planning is highly specialised in providing practical and achievable recovery programmes, including the provision of independent preparation of contractual claims, pleadings and information for hearings.”