Redeveloping the iconic Leicester Square in preparation for the 2012 London Olympics
The Project
NRP were appointed through West One Infrastructure Services as Project Manager, Supervisor and Quantity Surveyor under the NEC Contract to represent the Employer (Westminster City Council) for the complete redevelopment of London’s most iconic West End venue. Based on site for 18 months NRP managed the project to a successful completion and were responsible for programme and financial delivery whilst facing the very real challenges of keeping the Square “open for business” as usual.
The works were completed in July 2012 and formally opened by Boris Johnson, Mayor of London. Overall project value was approximately £18m and was jointly funded by local stakeholders and the City Council.
Key Challenges
Leicester Square is an iconic location attracting thousands of visitors everyday. It’s many cinemas, bar’s, restaurants and other tourist attractions had to remain operational throughout the delivery of the works. The “open for business” including facilitation large premières such as Harry Potter (including the largest red carpet ever), and the London Film Festival.
With all business’s being open it resulted in the works being delivered in many small phases which meant setting out of the works to maintain horizontal and vertical alignments around the site. The existence of many above and below ground structures also resulted in the drainage design being very complicated requiring regular scrutiny by the Project Management team – supported by the designers.
The site being very constricted by its borders as well as below ground structures and utilities resulted in some commercial issues with the principal contractor and the onward supply-chain. Direct intervention and in some cases local mediation by the project team enabled the project to be completed on time and on budget – just in time for the London 2012 Olympics.
