Following investigations into London’s Garden Bridge nineteen architects have written to the Chair of the GLA Oversight Committee, calling for better ‘bottom up’ enablement of public services through regulatory clarity. “There is now little motivation for design professionals to initiate and nurture projects from inception as almost invariably the original designers will be preclude as the…
Public Interest Challenge & Garden Bridge Oversight. Transcribed below is a letter submitted by Project Compass to the GLA Oversight Committee calling upon them to consider better regulatory policing by means of a Public Interest Challenge for framework procurements, in specified circumstances. “Dear Len Duvall, Further to the recent GLA Oversight Committee mtg. of 11…
‘Competition Culture in Europe 2013-2016’ is a new publication resulting from a pan-European survey executed by Project Compass CIC, Architectuur Lokaal and A10 new European Architecture Cooperative.
Design Contest Portals from thirty three European countries that announce architectural design contests and competitive opportunities are now published on Project Compass and on thefulcrum.eu . Open International contests, private contests and opportunities below OJEU thresholds and can also be found through this unique public listing. Produced as part of the four year programme ‘Competition Culture in Europe’ and issued accompanying…
After the Thames Garden Bridge debacle and in response to the Hodge Review, on 17 July TfL Board were invited to approve a series of recommendations for governance changes to increase oversight and effectiveness of their procurement activities. This follows on from a number of other previously implemented changes also made public HERE. Whilst this represents…
Good riddance to the Garden Bridge: an eye-watering waste of public funds Walter Menteth article originally published 11 May, 2017 in With one swift blow, London Mayor Sadiq Khan confounded plans to construct a leafy walkway above the River Thames. By refusing to guarantee further public funds, the mayor leaves the Garden Bridge project with…
HUGE PROBLEMS WITH QUALITY IN UK CONSTRUCTION IS APPARENT. ACTION MUST FOLLOW. (Walter Menteth article originally publish on LinkedIn pulse March 19, 2017) Over recent months significant construction issues have been reported that highlight major deficiencies in UK procurement culture. The Orchard Village Estate, Lakanal House in Southwark, The Edinburgh PFI schools programme, Catalyst Housings Portobello Square development, Solomon’s Passage in Southwark, and Bovis’s recent…
(Walter Menteth article originally published September 13, 2016 on LinkedIn Pulse) There have been significant recent revelations about the Thames Garden Bridge in London and the Garden Bridge Trusts structure and funding. These reveal the Trusts near exclusive reliance on public funding, which reputedly amounts to £30m from Transport for London, £30m from central government, along…
The Project Compass Newsletter May 2016 reports our outputs, activities and uptake, and includes some summary trends analysis along with our anticipated programme.
London’s proposed Thames Garden Bridge Walter Menteth article originally appeared in January 31, 2016 on LinkedIn Pulse) From all that is now known about the Thames Garden Bridge it has become increasingly apparent that this project represents a turning point. Its entire procurement is characterised by corruption that is tainted by nepotism and collusion. Boris…
