Our approach to smarter property enables you to improve service delivery and value for money. Our track record demonstrates our experience with holistic strategy development, large and small-scale projects and operational improvement.
Gen² advised Ashford Borough Council on the delivery of a town centre redevelopment scheme aimed at revitalising a changing town centre to ensure transformational change that is long term and sustainable. The scheme has involved extensive amount of stakeholder engagement and, over time it will result in start‐up workspace of some 20,000 sq ft which will be utilised by local businesses, principally in the creative sector.
Gen² undertook the market and viability assessments, a critical evaluation and a recommendation on delivery route, which achieved full Cabinet approval in April 2019. Gen² have since led the procurement of the professional team though an OJEU compliant route. A detailed planning application is now being worked up, with a start on site date estimated to be June 2021 and practical completion June 2023.
Gen² is helping this North West Kent borough respond to changing demands by providing the professional expertise required to manage its estate.
OBJECTIVES
Outsource professional estate services to a specialist organisation
Develop a responsive service that gives the Council access to advice on the full spectrum of property matters
Source a value for money service backed by local knowledge
Our on-site representative is able to draw on the resources of over 100 property consultants at Gen² HQ for the provision of strategic advice, plus specialist expertise on the full spectrum of property matters.
Gen² is working in-house to provide smarter property management
The Head of Legal Services at Dartford Borough Council selected Gen² from a shortlist of property consultancies to provide a ‘virtual' property and valuation service. We met the brief by proposing a responsive service offering value for money, supported by an established track record in the Kent and South East London areas, including Dartford.
Gen² resources this contract with a professionally qualified chartered surveyor and an experienced technical specialist with comprehensive estates experience relevant to the local authority’s needs. To increase access and further minimise cost we collocate our technical specialist in Dartford Borough Council's offices on a part-time basis. There they provide advice on a wide range of property matters, including:
valuations (residential, commercial, asset and housing stock)
acquisition and disposal of freehold and leasehold property
residential lease extensions/enfranchisement
negotiation and preparation of licences to occupy or otherwise use land owned by the Council
Landlord & Tenant (rent reviews, lease renewals and breaks, service charges)
wayleaves and easements
discounted sale valuation approvals and dilapidations
We’re helping our client generate revenue from a former Royal Mail site, to reduce project risks while they plan the site’s redevelopment.
Objectives
To deliver the successful joint acquisition of the former Royal Mail Sorting Office Site in Maidstone for two local authorities; Maidstone Borough Council and Kent County Council.
Provide project management and development consultancy for the successful provision of the short term holding strategy, masterplanning and delivery of the long term comprehensive site redevelopment.
Gen² advised and represented Kent County Council throughout the process, pulling on its detailed knowledge of the project from inception.
Gen² helped local authority partners operate commercial property effectively to minimise risk
We helped the councils acquire the 3.5 acre Sandling Road site in September 2016 based on site due diligence and validating the ambition to "unlock the potential transformation of the area". The vision is to develop an area of Maidstone that can become a role model scheme for the collocation of multiple public sector tenants.
We advise and represent Kent County Council to form a Collaboration Agreement to detail the partnership’s shared aims and responsibilities.
The site will transform a brownfield site into a high-quality development that will include retail space, new homes, offices, increased parking and an improved transport interchange.
We are implementing a strategy to mitigate holding costs during the scheme’s planning stage to ensure viability. This includes feasibility works and securing temporary lettings of the existing buildings to a number of charities and creating temporary car park space.
We helped Kent’s legal services team find suitable office space, negotiate terms; project managed the fit out and planned the move for staff from two offices into a single location.
From initial contact to staff switching on the computers on their desks took just five months.
OBJECTIVES
Collocate teams from two offices into a single purpose developed property for the best value for money.
Create a new workplace that adds value to the organisation’s transformation and improves staff wellbeing.
Project manage the fit out and office move with minimal service downtime.
An important step in transforming the Kent County Council (KCC) legal team into an alternative business structure was having a home of its own.
Invicta Law, the new legal services company established as a wholly owned trading arm of KCC chose Gen² to source, plan and manage the move from two council offices into a single location.
The Invicta Law Board and I were pleased with how the smooth the move went from a property and IT point of view. Especially, as there was a minimal service disruption.
Delivering first class legal advice depends on retaining high quality staff. While Invicta Law represents job security and career development for its 125 legal professionals, the working environment is an important hygiene factor for staff after undergoing so much change. It was critical that the firm found the right premises and moved in without any issues.
Gen² helped two teams collocate into a newly let and fitted out office.
Our first role was to shortlist suitable properties having helped the senior team develop their brief. We used the business plan to make sure we found locations that are right for today and will support the organisation’s ambitious future growth plans.
As part of our landlord negotiations, we secured fit out by the landlord and suitable break clauses. We project managed the landlord’s contractors and our team planned the office layout, sourced furniture and fittings and planned the crucial office move down to the last desk.
“Gen² have demonstrated they are great project managers through their team’s work on our move. From concept to going live, they were a pleasure to work with. Despite the obvious risks to service delivery, we never missed a day of work or impacted a single client.”
