PACE RAIL
Liverpool Street Station Roof Renewa
Norwich, Yarmouth & Lowestoft
MONTHS OFF PROGRAMME
~30
COST SAVINGS
SIGNIFICANT
In 2022, a strategic reassessment of the delivery approach and methodology for the Liverpool Street Station roof refurbishment was conducted. This intervention led to significant programme benefits, reducing the forecast construction timeline by approximately 30 months and generating substantial cost savings that brought the project back within its available roof budget. This outcome was achieved through challenging conventional practices, making bold decisions, and maintaining close collaboration with the Executive team. A determined mindset and belief in achieving a better value outcome were instrumental in realising these benefits.
THE PROJECT Background
The Need for Change
Liverpool Street Station - one of Britain's busiest transport hubs - faced significant challenges due to its aging roof system. Water ingress and an increasing number of cracked glass panels necessitated a comprehensive renewal project. The roof area covers two principal sections: the old roof over platforms 1-10 and the main roof transept, and the new roof covering the concourse and adjoining areas. In 2022, the project was halted and placed under review due to significant concerns about escalating costs and disruptive methodology. The original delivery approach relied on a substantial vertical scaffold access system erected from the station platforms and service road, which presented several critical issues:
• Platform Constraints:
Scaffold would severely restrict passenger flow, hinder Persons with Reduced Mobility (PRM) management, and negatively impact platform emergency evacuation times.
• Operational Disruption:
Installing and removing the scaffold was estimated to require over 4,000 hours of possession access, causing significant disruption to railway operations.
• Scope Uncertainty:
The full scope of roof work was not precisely defined before commencing scaffold work, with significant cost risk remaining. Recognising these challenges, Capital Delivery recommended a fundamental change in the project's delivery methodology and organisation - based on thorough assessment of alternatives, market testing, specialist consultation, and a return to core project management principles.
PACE
PACE Rail's Role
Name
Jonathan Fernandez
Name
Chandrashekar Nakadi
Company
PACE Rail / NR
Key Contribution
PACE Rail / NR
Role
Programme Delivery & Integration Manager
Key Contribution
Programme Planner
Key Contribution
Concept and change proposer / Programme lead
Key Contribution
Forensic and NEC expert supporting rationale
WHAT WE DID
Strategies and Innovation
Sliding Deck System
Replacing the traditional vertical scaffold approach with lightweight sliding decks that provided vertical segregation of works - meaning the majority of critical path work could progress with near-zero passenger and operational impact. The decks don't require isolation to move, and load is transferred close to columns, overcoming previous structural constraints. This single innovation delivered significant cost savings and removed over 6 months from the programme
Expedited Procurement via SCAPE Framework
The project needed rapid access to proven supply chain experience. Traditional procurement timelines were too slow given budget pressures. Using the Public Sector procurement framework SCAPE gave access to relevant suppliers within a week, while meeting compliance requirements and bringing economies of scale from a £2bn target spend framework.
Launch Jetty from Exchange Square
Rather than erecting and demobilising the sliding decks from inside the station, the team created an access and launch jetty from Exchange Square - adjoining third-party land. This dramatically reduced the scaffold access required within the station itself, with approximately 50% less isolation access needed compared to the previous approach. Escape routes to external station areas meant no impact on station evacuation plans.
Understanding the Asset Condition
A full asset condition survey using high-reach spider MEWPs and drone technology challenged what was previously considered possible. This allowed the engineering team to make informed decisions on investment value - removing structure refurbishment from scope, extending roof fabric life, and adding drainage scope with confidence. The result was a significant programme reduction
Collaboration with Property Colleagues
The team sought wider business support to negotiate a land deal for the Exchange Square access. By leveraging a larger legal agreement with the developer - who had major construction work already underway on the adjacent land the project secured a much larger space than would have been possible through a sole agreement, at a fraction of the cost.
SUCCESS FACTOR
Reimagining delivery methodology on one of Britain's busiest live stations
Reliable Expert Advice: Access to expert advice for critiquing concepts and providing alternative options was crucial.
• Change Management:
Effective stakeholder engagement, communication, and a strong value case were essential.
• Leadership Support:
Strong leadership support enabled project progression, particularly in managing cost exposure during phased implementation.
• Determination and Perseverance:
The team's resilience was vital in overcoming numerous challenges.
• Creativity and Innovation:
A creative approach was essential for undertaking assessments without scaffolding.
• Robust System Safety:
Prioritising safety and minimising risk to passengers and the operational environment was paramount.