Making the right connections can deliver build projects on time

Ask any property developer what’s one of the most exasperating situations to face when aiming to finish a building project on time – and the answer’s likely to be difficulties with utility connections.

Hold-ups on site mean missed contract deadlines which, in turn, could lead to financial penalties.

So it’s no small wonder that connections for new supplies of electricity, gas and water – delivered seamlessly and efficiently – are often specified by developers as being the most common cause of delays to complete construction schemes on schedule.

That’s why detailed planning ahead is key to making sure multi-utility services meet the complex needs of property development from every perspective – commercial, technical or environmental – to prevent these delays and their additional costs to the business.

And the sooner the plans for utilities connections are put in place, the better the outcome. Architects and consultants, surveyors and contractors, builders and designers all need to factor utility provision into their projects well before construction work actually begins.

Surprisingly, the successful supply of essential utilities is often undervalued in the property development process – yet being brought in too late could have severe financial consequences.

This is where early advice on network connections, electricity, gas and water metering and even the location of infrastructure throughout the property under development can offer a greater opportunity to stay on track.

Operating as a “one-stop shop”, the Inteb team of commercial energy managers, surveyors, utility and environmental specialists can guide companies and professionals working in the built environment through the ever-changing complexities of the utility industries and the maze of regulatory compliance.

Once the “before” of the building project’s utilities’ needs are in place, the team’s role then concentrates on the “during” while the construction process gets under way and then the “after” when billing issues may arise or compliance with new energy regulations need to be addressed.

Inteb’s vital role begins at the planning stage of construction, liaising with statutory authorities, meter operators and utility suppliers to ascertain the suitability of any existing services. For the latter, there could also be work to be done here to create possible diversions and seek new supplies along with any public highways issues relating to the provision of electricity, gas, water, drainage and telecommunications.

Even the correct positioning of electricity, gas and water meters in multi-let properties can bring its own set of challenges, particularly when factoring in smart meter installation.

Ongoing throughout the whole construction process is the placing of utilities contracts – getting the best deals to keep overheads down – doing the costing, planning and management of supplies.

Nor can day-to-day liaison by one single point of contact with utility company call centres be underestimated. Using their own resources for this time-consuming task has, many developers have revealed, been one of the most frequent causes of project delays.

And where Inteb’s expert knowledge of the utilities industries really comes into play is providing property developers with renewable energy solutions at a time when property developers are facing the massive challenge of net zero carbon to tackle climate change.

Once construction projects are completed, with full utilities’ systems put in place along with metering and energy management, there’s still the ongoing regulatory compliance facing businesses from the government’s raft of legislation designed to make organisations operate in a more environmentally-friendly way.

Understanding and adhering with these energy policies can be a complex area to navigate and, with many different levies and schemes in place, can sometimes be difficult to stay compliant.

As some non-compliance can result in financial penalties, it’s yet another reason why detailed planning ahead to avoid them needs to be part of any property development programme.

Let’s get the conversation started – call us now on 0151 601 3476