BIM could be at the heart of BSF replacement

Building information modelling is understood to be at the centre of the schools capital review team’s thinking on how schemes can be built at substantially lower outturn costs, according to a report in Construction News.

The magazine reported that computerised design and build techniques more familiar on the Continent will be recommended by a government commissioned taskforce to help slash the cost of schools projects.

The taskforce, led by DSG International operations director Sebastian James, was due to publish its recommendations on how to procure the next wave of school projects by the end of this year. However, this has apparently been delayed until early January.

The taskforce is understood to believe that cost-cutting measures could ensure that all the schools planned under the scrapped BSF programme could eventually be built.

A source close to the taskforce told Construction News: “In Germany and the US, you see much, much better value for money. Much better than anything that we manage. The design is better and the planning is better. You have got to build these schools on computer first. We have got to join the 21st century.”

Legislation in some states in the US, Norway and the Bavaria region in Germany requires schools and other public buildings to be built using building information modelling.

The benefit is that model can be used and manipulated by each part of the supply chain, creating greater cost certainty and collaboration in the supply chain.

The source said halving the cost of schools projects was an achievable goal.”A modern private developer could do that.”

Mervyn Richards, director of construction consultancy MR1 and a former director Laing O’Rourke director, is currently advising Crossrail on the use of BIM.

He said: “BIM means a change in the way main contractors work and the way they make profit. A lot of their money is made in the changes and the additional costs to clients. But using BIM correctly means zero defects – it fits first time,” he said.

“The value for contractors comes in using fewer resources, fewer materials, fewer people. It is about de-risking the project because you get it right first time.”

The taskforce’s apparent direction takes up the same point made in last week’s Innovation and Growth Team report on Low Carbon Construction, led by chief construction adviser Paul Morrell. The report called on government to mandate the use of BIM for all public projects worth more than £50 million.