Natex, Norton Street, Liverpool

Natex, Norton Street, Liverpool

Blacklight Capital Partners appointed Harwood Building Control to oversee regulatory compliance for Natex, Norton Street, a large-scale student accommodation project in Liverpool.

The development featured two interlinked tower blocks designed to house over 500 students in a mix of cluster flats, studio apartments, and shared amenities. Delivered across two phases, the first building welcomed students in October 2023, with Phase 2 completed in Spring 2024.

Scope of Work

Harwood’s role centred on ensuring compliance with building regulations, with particular attention to fire safety, structural stability, and life safety systems. This included:

• Conducting regular site inspections to verify adherence to safety standards and building regulations.
• Collaborating with the fire authority on fire strategy approvals, including sprinklers, smoke ventilation systems, and evacuation plans.
• Overseeing the complex phased occupation, ensuring that safety protocols for the occupied tower block were not compromised while work began on the other block.

Ensuring safety and compliance during the phased handover

As with any construction project, many challenges exist to manage and overcome. The phased handover presented unique challenges, as Adam Dodd, Operations Director (RBI Class & Classification 3H & Class 4 Technical Manager) at Harwood, explains:

“Fire safety in a partially occupied building is particularly tricky. Fires are more common during construction, so it’s crucial that those living in the completed tower block are fully protected from the risks posed by ongoing works.”

Michael Ashworth, Site Inspector (RBI Class & Classification 3H & Class 4 Technical Manager) on the project, highlights the importance of shared systems like fire alarms and ventilation and how they required careful testing to ensure they functioned seamlessly across both phases, adding:

“Harwood had to ensure that interim safety measures were effective and robust enough to manage the risks posed by shared systems. Smoke control in communal areas, such as corridors and staircases, was also a key focus to protect residents during the phased occupation.”

Another pressing issue was the tight deadlines. To address this, Harwood collaborated closely with Blacklight Capital Partners, conducting frequent site visits and maintaining a steady focus on meeting timelines without sacrificing safety. Adam adds:

“With any project, there will be complications and challenges to overcome. Throughout the project, we remained focused on compliance whilst working collaboratively to overcome these challenges. This was the case throughout the project at Natex.”

How regulations have changed

Notably, the construction of the Natex tower commenced before the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) was introduced. As Adam comments:

“The regulatory landscape has changed drastically since this project was approved. Today, a development like Natex, as it’s classed as a high-rise building (HRB) under the Building Safety Act 2022, would be subject to full designs upfront and could not proceed until Gateway Two’s approval from the BSR is achieved.”

Outcome

Despite the challenges, Natex was completed successfully, with students moving into the first tower block on time for the academic year in October 2023, and the second tower block finalised in Spring 2024.

Harwood’s expertise and collaborative approach ensured all safety requirements were met, and the phased handover was executed smoothly. Adam Dodd, who oversaw initial consultations and ensured compliance at the design stage, reflected on the team’s efforts:

“This project stands as a testament to the team’s dedication to delivering a safe and compliant outcome, even under challenging circumstances. With extensive experience across a wide range of projects, we are proud to have contributed to the success of this student accommodation development.”

For more information on how Harwood Building Control can support your projects, contact us at enquiries@harwood.uk.com or call +44 (0)1227 931 777 (Canterbury), +44 (0) 1908 012 666 (Milton Keynes)

 

If you are looking to mitigate risks in terms of delays or unexpected costs, the experience of Harwood ensures buildings are safe for their users by identifying non-compliant features and working with design teams and contractors so they can create real-world solutions to construction challenges.  With its Head Office in Kent, Harwood provides building control services for commercial construction projects across England and Wales.  Our highly professional yet approachable approach and pragmatic attitude ensures the details that matter are taken care of.