Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012 (London: HM Government, 2012).

P-DfMA identifies commonality across entire sectors in the built environment to define the ‘kit of parts’ of components and processes that we can use to deliver a wide variety of built assets.(You can read more about P-DfMA.

The step change achievable with P-DfMA is in bringing the benefits of standardisation across all services and to the entire building – and adding value at every stage.P-DfMA sees the project as a whole, understanding the positive and negative effect of each design decision on as many other aspects of the project as possible; seeking shared efficiencies between all elements of the building.This is unlike traditional design and build, where a project is often more like a linear series of separate tasks, where consequences can be passed down the chain..

So unlike in standard construction, M&E system requirements – initial and on-going – are factored in from the start, in minute detail, as an integral part of the design.We include routing and fixings in the design of the fabric of the building, with precision, so as to minimise on-site adjustment and facilitate installation.

We maximise the use of off-site pre-fabrication, and share elements across M&E services as much as is practicable..

This approach means that, for M&E services, as well as across the whole project, we reduce cost, time, materials and waste, while increasing quality, worker safety and overall efficiency..noise, vibration, fumes), and this may still require demonstration via CFD or noise modelling.

Appointment of a Planning Consultant and application for a Certificate of Lawfulness is often advisable..Furthermore, new external chillers, AHUs (air-handling units), stacks and fans, louvres, waste stores, external access, and other material changes to the office building may still result in the need for Planning Permission.

This can add many unexpected weeks or even months to a project and introduces an element of risk.In the fast-moving life science industry this is particularly frustrating and removes much of the benefit of converting an office in the first place.