The successful delivery of a facilities project relies on a good project brief with clear aims and objectives from the outset.
There are several distinct phases to the project life-cycle, some of which require professional input. Key areas should be discussed by the club in order to facilitate the optimal delivery of their facilities in line with the organisation’s requirements and budget.
There are eight stages to a typical facility development project. Stage One is the Project Inception and considers the client’s organisation, strategic need and justification, appointment of a project team, scoping project requirements and project programme. Stage Two covers the Feasibility Study looking at technical issues, outline plans, planning considerations and budget costings.
Stage Three is the Outline Proposal. At this stage the club can review schematic layouts and proposals for their project based on the development of earlier stages. Decisions as to building configuration and operational flow of the building need to be made. Also orientation to optimise access to pitches and to accommodate spatial requirements such as car parking are to be evaluated.
Stage Four covers the Scheme Design ascertaining the final appearance of the building for planning purposes. Stage Five considers Procurement. This stage can often be the most contentious and choosing the correct procurement route is vital in ensuring successful delivery of your project.
Stage Six is the Construction Phase. The project team, architect and quantity surveyor will take control of the construction phase. There will be regular meetings to discuss progress throughout the contract and to deal with any issues that may arise requiring the client’s input.
Stage Seven is Completion, when the project the facility will be handed over to the client. Stage Eight is the Maintenance and Management and is an important phase of the project life-cycle as it helps to retain the quality of the building. In the earlier design stages decisions are taken as to internal finishes, which have a bearing on the ease of maintenance and may well reduce refurbishment costs.
The Generic Process for Facility Development download has been prepared to help sports clubs and voluntary organisations to understand the processes and requirements for procuring quality provision for sports facilities. It highlights various stages of the process and the key stakeholders involved. Assistance is available from both The Football Association and the Football Foundation throughout the development stages of your project and these are referred to within the various stages of the process.