Birmingham & West Midlands — Client-Side Project Management Construction Project Management in Birmingham
Senior, client-side project management for developers, public bodies and businesses building in Birmingham and across the West Midlands. Led personally by a chartered surveyor who knows the region, its contractors and its approvals.
Overview
Local knowledge, senior delivery
Birmingham is in one of the busiest development cycles in its history. Regeneration around Smithfield, Curzon Street and Digbeth sits alongside a steady pipeline of schools, healthcare, logistics and residential schemes across Solihull, Coventry, Wolverhampton and the Black Country. That activity brings opportunity, and real pressure on programmes, budgets and the supply chain.
October Projects is based in Sutton Coldfield, a short drive from the city centre. We act as your project manager on the client side, leading the design team, procurement and the contractor from first brief to handover, so you have one senior adviser accountable for the whole picture.
Our founder, Ollie Thompson MRICS, has 15 years’ experience in construction consultancy and contracting, most recently leading a project management team in Birmingham. We know how the region’s local authorities, utility providers and contractors work, and we use that to give you realistic programmes and fewer surprises.
Scope of Services
What we do
Project management matched to the size and stage of your scheme, from a single building to a multi-phase regeneration programme.
Brief & Feasibility
Turning your objectives into a clear brief, budget and programme, and testing viability before you commit to design fees.
Planning & Approvals
Managing the route through Birmingham City Council and neighbouring planning authorities, from pre-application advice to conditions and Section 106 obligations.
Design Team Leadership
Appointing and coordinating architects, engineers and specialists so the design is complete, coordinated and on time.
Procurement
Choosing the right route, whether traditional, design and build or two-stage, and running tenders with contractors who have a proven record in the region.
Construction Phase
Monitoring progress, quality and cost on site, managing change and keeping your stakeholders informed.
Handover & Close-out
Commissioning, building information, O&M manuals and defects, so you take over a building that works from day one.
Our Approach
How we run a project in Birmingham
Define
We confirm your objectives, budget and programme, check site constraints such as utilities, access and planning history, and set up clear project governance.
Concept & Planning Strategy
We lead the design team through concept design and agree the planning strategy, including pre-application engagement with the local authority.
Planning Application
We coordinate the application, consultee responses and conditions so a decision arrives as close to programme as possible.
Procurement
We recommend the procurement route, prepare tender packages and run a competitive tender with suitable regional and national contractors.
Construction
We manage the contractor on your behalf, with progress meetings, change control, risk management and clear monthly reporting.
Handover & Use
We manage commissioning, handover and the defects period, and stay involved after occupation to make sure the building performs.
Why October Projects
Why choose a local project manager
Senior from start to finish
The person you meet at the first meeting is the person who runs your project. There is no hand-off to a junior team once the appointment is signed.
We know the region
We know the local authorities, utility providers, contractors and consultants across the West Midlands, who delivers, and how approvals really work here.
Close to your site
Based in Sutton Coldfield, we can be on site across Birmingham, Solihull and the Black Country at short notice, which matters when decisions can’t wait.
We also manage projects across the UK. See our full Project & Programme Management service, the sectors we work in and meet the team.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Do you only work in Birmingham?
No. We’re based in the West Midlands and much of our work is in Birmingham, Solihull, Coventry, Wolverhampton and the Black Country, but we manage projects across the UK.
What size of project do you manage?
Anything from a single building to multi-phase developments and programmes. What matters is that you want senior, independent advice, not the size of the budget.
When should I appoint a project manager?
As early as possible, ideally before you appoint the design team. Early decisions on brief, budget, site and procurement have the biggest effect on cost and programme.
Can you help with planning in Birmingham?
Yes. We manage the planning process on your behalf, coordinating your planning consultant and design team, pre-application discussions with the local authority and the discharge of conditions.
Do you work under JCT and NEC contracts?
Yes. We act as Project Manager under NEC, and as Employer’s Agent or Contract Administrator under JCT, depending on the procurement route.
How much does a project manager cost?
It depends on the size, complexity and length of the project. We agree a clear fee proposal for each stage at the outset, so you know exactly what you’re paying for.
Further reading: What does an Employer’s Agent do? · JCT or NEC: which contract is right for your project?
Start a Project
Tell us
about your scheme.
We’ll bring the programme, the governance and the certainty. Get in touch to discuss your project.