Special Report - Built Environment

Sep 14 2006 North East Vision

Progress through our people

As one of the leading building services engineering companies in the UK we are able to provide multi or single discipline building services installations from initial design to complete planned and preventative maintenance programmes, says Tom McLaughlin, regional manager of Lorne Stewart.

We are fiercely proud of our reputation for being a skilled and well-run business, able to meet and exceed our customers' expectations. Our North-East operation has its regional office in Hartlepool and a branch office which opened last February in Team Valley, Gateshead, all part of the northern division.

The office was opened to develop further our key client base, enhance our relationships with clients and increase the project opportunities in the largest city in our region.

David Duffy, our branch manager, and his team are relishing the challenges set for our NewcastleGateshead office.

Our philosophy is all about teamwork. With this philosophy our business has flourished. We employ a genuine team approach, finding solutions which provide value for money, a high-quality performance and in a timely manner, within programme.

Lots of people talk about working in partnership with contractors and suppliers but those who actually do it are few and far between.

By working as a team, we can provide value for money, flexibility and sustainability, all of which are increasingly important for our customers.

This has been the foundation of increasing our workload through repeat business and negotiating future projects with our clients, who know we can perform with quality, giving them a service which offers value for money.

The progress we have made is because of our people. They are our most important resource.

All our workforce are capable and hardworking, committed to improving their quality of workmanship and are charged with achieving the highest standards of service and customer focus at all times.

Regional manager: Tom McLaughlin. Lorne Stewart plc, Philips House, Sandgate Industrial Estate, Hartlepool TS25 1UB. Tel: (01429) 268116, fax: (01429) 860244.

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Elliotts team is strengthened

Tyne and Wear-based Elliotts has a new family member with the creation of Elliott Dent, providing cost consultancy services from offices in Sunderland, with a particular expertise in regeneration and development consultancy.

The practice joins the existing construction consultancies in the Elliott Group including Elliott Associates, Elliott Projects and Elliott Holmes Johnson, between them offering a seamless development and property consultancy service.

The Group's expertise covers regeneration and master planning, to pragmatic cost consultancy and project delivery through to asset management and building surveying.

David Dent, Elliott Dent managing director, said: "Many opportunities exist within the region and the formation of Elliott Dent will allow us to develop a service delivered by talented individuals who empathise with our clients' business needs.

This combined with the strength and expertise of the Elliott Group as a whole, provides us with a tremendous platform to support our clients".

Elliott Associates' managing partner David Pearson is confident this move strengthens the overall offering of the group: "We now have greater depth and breadth of both experience and skills and working collaboratively can give clients the confidence of dealing with a really robust organisation.

"Within Elliotts we can work with clients `from the cradle to the grave'; sourcing a development, procuring and delivering it, managing its maintenance and planning its disposal."

Elliotts is active across all sectors, with an acknowledged expertise in leisure and housing, working with three of the UK's largest national housing associations and the majority of regional associations.

The new team has already won its first significant commission with its appointment as Home Group's preferred provider for construction consultancy services in the North East.

Elliott Dent handles projects that include luxury apartments in South Tyneside and Northumberland and master planning exercises for Sunderland University.

Another current scheme is the Medical Village in North Ormesby, which involves the reclamation of derelict land and construction of a one stop shop, state of the art medical facility to serve the local community.

Elliott Dent acted as Employer's Agent and Cost Consultant for the developer, including liaising with funders, consultants and the contractor.

Elliotts is working on its largest residential project on the former Sunderland Echo building on the banks of the Wear.

Elliotts is acting as employer's agent, cost consultant and planning supervisor for the £24m Echo 24 scheme which is being developed jointly by Glenrose Developments and Tolent Construction.

In addition to 179 luxury apartments for sale, the development has shops and cafes.

The first of three new hotels is nearly completed by Elliott Projects for the Aston Hotel Group.

The 71-bedroom Aston Hotel Dumfries is scheduled to open at the end of September and will be followed by similar developments in Sheffield and Neath. Elliott Projects acts as project manager, quantity surveyor, clerk of works and procures and installs the complete fit out of the hotels.

Elliott Holmes Johnson's Managing Director, Alan Holmes, is delighted with the growth of the business.

Their projects range from Derwentside District Council's preparation for a successful tenant ballot on its stock transfer to the new not-for-profit landlord, Derwentside Homes, to acting as Lead Consultant on the conversion of a large care home into six supported living apartments for Three Rivers Housing Association.