Topham Square Car Park Project Back on Track After Contractor Failure

The Topham Square Car Park project in Haringey is back on track after the previous contractor went into liquidation in December 2024. Councillor Sarah Williams, Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning, has approved the appointment of a new contractor to complete the construction works at the site, located at N17 7HL.

The decision, made at a Cabinet Member Signing meeting on Monday, aims to ensure the delivery of four new council homes, contributing to the council's wider commitment to build 3,000 new homes by 2031. Councillor Williams also delegated authority to the Delivery Director, Robbie Erbmann, to manage project contingencies. While the new contractor, referred to as Contractor A, offered the Most Economically Advantageous Tender, the specific criteria used to evaluate all tenders are detailed in the published Invitation to Tender document.

The council had initially approved construction contracts for the Topham Square Car Park developments in March 2022 and July 2023. Following the original contractor's liquidation, the council secured the site and initiated a competitive procurement process. According to the Public Reports Pack, Strategic Procurement noted that the procurement was tendered competitively via the London Construction Programme (LCP) Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) under the Minor Works category.

The report stated that:

Contractor A offered the Most Economically Advantageous Tender and demonstrated value for money to the Council.

Alternative options, such as demolishing the structures or selling the partially completed sites, were considered but ultimately rejected. The council determined that these options did not align with their commitment to delivering new council homes and would result in a significant financial loss.

The council also considered its Public Sector Equality Duty under the Equality Act 2010. The report noted that completing the construction works is likely to positively impact individuals in temporary accommodation and those vulnerable to homelessness, particularly women, young people, and BAME communities, who are over-represented in temporary accommodation. Some of the new homes will be fully accessible for wheelchair users, benefiting residents with disabilities.

The Minutes of the Meeting confirm that the Cabinet Member approved the appointment of Contractor A, the total scheme costs, and the delegation of authority to the Delivery Director. The Agenda Frontsheet provides further details on the meeting's agenda and attendees.