Optimum Consultancy

Optimum sponsored the 4th Anniversary of Property Affiliates Network in London on 3 December 2009.

Welcome to Mike Noakes. Mike will help in developing Optimum's strategic Programme and Project management services particularly to the Transport sector.

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Carbon Trust- Marine Renewables Proving Fund- Project Management

Carbon Trust- Direct Research (DRA) and Applied Research (AR) Accelerators- Project Management

Garrick's Villa Hampton Middlesex- Cost Management Services

Transport for London- BEEP Programme- Employer's Agent and QS services

Borough Market- Procurement Support Services and Waste Management Services

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The overall assessment of the ticket office and staff accommodation by those attending the acceptance test was that the units were excellent.

Following on from the module delivery the external shell of the building and the roof, also being pre-manufactured off-site, will be erected around the modules thus forming the external elevations of the building as shown in the Architectural elevations below.

Optimum Consultancy is leading a multi-disciplinary team on behalf of client Southern Railway to develop a new component-led building solution for the replacement of small and medium sized station buildings.

The key to the design and construction methodology is in the use of off-site manufactured components that are delivered to site enabling rapid assembly on pre-prepared foundations.

This approach reduces costs and time on-site, minimising inconvenience to customers. The new station building consists of a ticket office with fully accessible ticket window, public toilet, staff accommodation with the ticket vending area forming part of a covered ticket hall with cafe, and a small veranda overlooking the Mill building and the mill stream.

The station is therefore fully compliant with the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act. The station construction work is currently on schedule for completion by February 2010.

The site at Uckfield is well known for flooding from the River Uck and the project team have worked closely with the Environment Agency to ensure the design meets their regulations.

Whilst it was not possible to raise the building fully above the October 2000 flood level without compromising disabled access the building is designed to recover quickly and with minimal damage from flood water ingress.

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National Stations Improvement Programme

Smitham Station Commencement on Site

October 2009/ November 2009

The Department for Transport Sponsored National Stations Improvement Programme (NSIP) starts in earnest in the South Central franchise area today, when contractors Bryen & Langley commence construction of the new station building at Smitham, on the Tattenham Corner line south of Croydon.

Optimum Consultancy is leading a multi-disciplinary team on behalf of client Southern Railway to develop a new component-led building solution for the replacement of small and medium sized station buildings.

The key to the design and construction methodology is in the use of off-site manufactured components that are delivered to site enabling rapid assembly on pre-prepared foundations. This approach reduces costs and time on-site, minimising inconvenience to customers.

In clearing the site at Smitham, significant difficulties have been overcome by the project team not only with asbestos removal during the demolition stage, but also with the ground conditions due to the close proximity of the underpass for the A23 Coulsdon relief road.

The new station building consists of a ticket office with fully accessible window, public toilet, staff accommodation with the ticket vending area being covered by a canopy. The station is therefore fully compliant with the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act.

The station construction work is currently on schedule for completion by February 2010.

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Optimum News

Summer 2009

We are pleased to report that we are keeping very busy, thanks to our strategic decision to specifically increase our exposure and build on our existing experience in the transportation and energy market sectors. Also and particularly encouragingly, we are experiencing a steady workload in other sectors thanks to our loyal and longstanding clients, in reverse of the general industry trend.

The highlights of the past 3 months have been with the appointment of Optimum on 2 additional frameworks, as well as securing new commissions on the Thameslink programme, the Docklands Light Railway, projects for rail stations and depots in the Southern and Southeastern regions and energy upgrade projects.

The current "credit crunch" has also given an impetus to our offering of web based system solutions for identifying and reducing unnecessary overhead expenditure in organizations and introducing process efficiency ideas in areas that include facilities and asset management.

We are approaching the end of our first year as an integrated organization. We have invested heavily in new systems, IT and training over the course of the past 12 months and will enhance our business philosophy to work effectively, efficiently and collaboratively for the benefit of our clients.

In addition our two Knowledge Transfer Partnership venture in conjunction with the University of Gloucester continues to develop benefits in IT and Telecommunications and Business Development.

We are growing and are interested in recruiting capable and highly motivated people who can make a difference within our organization. We would like to meet those who are seeking a new challenge, so please take a look at out Career Opportunities section. We are especially interested in academically qualified managers and surveyors with property, construction, rail or energy-related experience, and professionals in areas of health and safety and programming with Primavera software.