We have made real progress in the second quarter of 2023 towards making the Church buildings watertight by commencement of phase 1 works to replace the roofs above the two vestries. Our contractor is working diligently and progressively to remove the old roofing, make good defective materials and replace them with roofs constructed to modern standards. This work is essential enabling works for the main works. By making the vestry areas weathertight now, it will allow the exposed brickwork and spaces to dry out. The works are progressing as expected at this point and it is anticipated phase 1 will be complete in the third quarter of this year.

Letting the contract for the phase 1 works made it apparent that our budget costings are out of step with current construction costs. The key reason for this divergence is post covid inflation: it has affected the cost of construction materials and labour significantly in the same way it has affected our household budgets. It’s a matter or record that the contract for the Phase 1 works was let at a figure well above our budget expectation.

With that experience in mind, Andy Patrick recently led a small team to undertake a high level review of our budget costings for the proposed main works re-ordering. On completion of this high level exercise it was quite clear that the potential cost of the main works as currently designed would substantially exceed our ability to pay for it.

Working with our Architect, a revised plan for the body of the church has subsequently been developed that, it is anticipated, will deliver substantial savings at tender compared to the current scheme whilst meeting many of the key re-ordering objectives.

This revised building plan was recently presented to the Fabric Committee and to the June meeting of the PCC. The plan was debated in both meetings and, after a show of hands, it was unanimously endorsed in principle by the PCC.

Andy, the church leaders and the PCC are mindful that our re-ordering project has taken a long time to get to this point. Understandably now, the leadership are convinced that we must take all practicable steps to progress and carry out these long anticipated works. With that in mind, a pre-construction programme is being developed with a start date for the main works envisaged in the fourth quarter of 2023. To achieve this start date though much needs to be done (see below for headlines):

Application for grants and income streams Augmenting of a main works delivery team with all the necessary skills Agree a procurement strategy (either main contractor or trade contractors) Sympathetic and appropriate disposal of the organ, pews and other fabric Investigate and secure access to other venues for the CCD congregation to attend services Development of a tender package(s) Prequalification of suitable contractors Consult with the DAC on the revised plan Tendering Return of tenders and normalisation of bids Shortlisting of bidders Negotiation on price Agreement of contract terms and main works programme Securing of project finance Instruction to proceed to the successful contractor

The list is long but, at this point, your church leadership believe that a start date in the fourth quarter of 2023 remains possible, if challenging. However, we are looking for volunteers to assist us in delivery of these tasks. If you have any experience in project procurement, management, finance or are just good at getting tasks done, please let Andy, the churchwardens or Iain Lowe know of your interest and talents.

Finally, a word about programme. It is difficult to be precise about the duration of our project at this point. We anticipate that once we are out of the church building it will take in the order of 12 months before we are able to use the modernised, flexible space. However, this estimate will be refined once we receive tenders and get to a position where we can place an order for the works with the successful contractor(s).

Further progress updates will be issued in due course.