10 FAQs about Construction Logistic Plans (CLP)

All construction projects, regardless of size need a Construction Logistics Plan (CLP). This document is essentially a coherent logistics plan for planning and managing construction projects safely.

This document is typically required to support planning applications. The local council will want to know how you will manage the project and whether you’ve considered issues like construction traffic and health & safety.

As a RICS accredited project management and construction consultancy practice, The Logic Group can work with you to create and submit Construction Logistics Plan (CLPs).

We’ve compiled the below set of frequently asked questions about CLPs and would be happy to answer any other questions – call us on 01622 535505 or email info@thelogicgroup.co.uk

1. What is a CLP

A Construction Logistics Plan (CLP) is a thorough planning document for managing construction projects safely. It addresses issues such as the health & safety of those working on site as well as members of the public and also looks at construction traffic and any impact on roads, neighbouring buildings and services.

2. Why do I need a CLP?

Your CLP will form a crucial part of any planning application for construction projects. Submitting your plans to a council’s planning team without this supporting document is likely to result in your planning application being turned down, resulting in wasted time and money.

3. What Does a CLP Cover?

Your CLP covers a wide range of logistical factors which the council will wish to review as part of your planning application, these include but are not limited to:

- Consideration of neighbouring buildings such as residential premises, offices, places of worship, nearby construction sites, businesses, etc.

- Traffic levels and parking

- Impact of works, personnel and deliveries on public transport and roads

- Emergency services access

- Deliveries: can these be scheduled for specific times, is a banksman required to guide deliveries, is there sufficient access for large vehicles, turning requirements, etc.

- Potential impact of construction works on nearby schools, considerations of pick-up and drop-off times, use of public footpaths, access to pavements and safe crossing points, etc.

- Consideration of hospitals, ambulance stations, police stations or fire stations nearby that could be affected by the construction works or associated traffic

- Client liaison

- Site safety

Your CLP may also include graphs such as the below to demonstrate and expand upon points made in the document. This example shows predictions of traffic during the expected peak month of the project:

4. Do I need a CLP for a residential project?

Yes, construction logistics plans are required for all construction projects, both residential and commercial.

5. Is my project a construction project?

Your project is classed as construction work if it involves the building, demolition, renovation, maintenance or repair of a structure. For this reason, interior projects with no structural changes do not require a CLP but a home extension or office expansion, for example, would.

6. When should a CLP be drawn up?

A construction logistics plan forms part of the pre-construction phase of works. It should be finalised and communicated to all parties involved in construction before a site is set up.

7. Are there generic CLP documents available?

The Construction Design and Management (CDM) regulations of 2015 require all parties involved in construction projects to assess and reduce health and safety risks throughout a construction project. These responsibilities are addressed within the construction logistics plan so do satisfy both a legal and regulatory requirement.

Principal contractors, designers, sub-contractors and client are all classified as “duty holders” under these regulations. Every duty holder is required by law to ensure excellent health & safety standards are planned and implemented at each stage of the project.

The CLP document should consider significant risks, communicate site rules and detail health & safety arrangements to everyone involved in the construction phase. Click here to read more about your duties under CDM regulations of 2015

7. Are there generic CLP documents available?

No, a CLP document has to be unique to your project so should address the specific health & safety risks and logistical challenges it presents. Your CLP should consider these risks and challenges alongside the construction programme.

CLPs are proportionate to the scale and size of the project so a larger, more complex, higher budget project will require a more lengthy CLP document than a more basic, lower budget project. eferenced from within the CLP.

10. Who can create a CLP? the scale and size of the project so a larger, more complex, higher budget project will require a more lengthy CLP document than a more basic, lower budget project.

9. Are there any direct benefits?

Having a thorough logistical plan allows you to anticipate potential problems and resolve them ahead of time. This can save time and money as well as reducing stress during the project lifespan and greatly lessen the risk of accidents and injuries on site.

10. Who can create a CLP?

The principal contractor is responsible for ensuring there is a comprehensive CLP document and that it is communicated to everyone involved in the project. However, the creation of the CLP document itself is often outsourced to a project management practice with extensive experience of drawing up these documents.

Logic PM, the project management division of The Logic Group, specialises in this type of pre-construction work and planning documents. As a RICS accredited practice, we can work with you to create a thorough CLP document that considers the specific challenges of your upcoming project alongside the construction programme.

We will write site rules and suggest ways to effectively communicate these to everyone working on site as well as visitors and members of the public. It’s important that the CLP also includes the contact details of all parties involved in the construction project, plans how to monitor site safety and how to report any accidents.

If you would like to discuss your upcoming project, ask if you require a CLP or find out more about working with The Logic Group, we offer a free 30-minute consultation. Call us on 01622 535505 to arrange or email info@thelogicgroup.co.uk with a brief description of your project.

9 Top Tips for a Successful Office Relocation

The prospect of an office move or business relocation can be a daunting one but is often needed to meet the changing needs of the company. We have compiled the 9 steps for a successful and hassle-free office move. Download our free office move plan or call us on 0203 397 7444 for further information.

1. Assessment and objectives

Assess your current business needs as well as your expected future needs. What do you need from a business premises now, what do you hope to need in 1, 3, 5, 10 or even 20 years. Be clear about the reasons behind your office relocation (these could include the expiry of your lease, planned expansion or contraction, reduction in overheads, etc.) and think about both the long and short terms needs of your company to effectively map out the appropriate office move plan.

It can be surprising how soon in the process big decisions must be made so it’s imperative to know your objectives to ensure you are going to achieve them. At this stage, it’s also wise to gather all the relevant facts including the details of the existing lease and notice period and your current obligations and liabilities which will form the basis of the subsequent planning process.

2. Proper planning

In order to plan an office move effectively, a consensus should be reached by the decision makers about the reasons behind the office move and the overall aims of the project. Key questions to ask at this stage include:

• Where do you want to move to?

• How much space do you need?

• When you need to be in by?

• What key features you need your new office to have?

• What are the planned business objectives (including growth plan) that the move needs to satisfy

• What length and type of lease do you want?

• What is your budget?

3. Team building

Putting together the right team of people to manage an office move is a vital step in the process. It’s unlikely that any one member of your staff has the skills, time and experience to manage an office relocation project alone.

Any office move, even for a relatively small office, is a major undertaking and a team effort is essential for a successful outcome. A good team should include people who will help facilitate all aspects of the move, this includes both internal and external members.

One tip is to appoint a project leader within the company at the beginning of the move process who can act as a single point of contact for external parties and keep all internal stakeholders in the loop. This person should be appointed as soon as possible after the decision to move office has been made and he/she should possess skills and qualities including:

• Strong communication skills; they should be able to communicate effectively with both internal and external members and keep all stakeholders informed throughout the process.

• Time; project leader should be readily available on phone and email and should have enough time to dedicate to the office move project.

• Trust; the appointed person should have the trust of senior management and the authority to act and make decisions on behalf of the company.

• Organisation; need to be a good organizer of people and processes, ideally a person with proven management experience who has experience of setting goals and working within budgets.

4. Don’t delay

There’s a lot involved in an office move so the sooner you start, the better your chances of achieving a smooth and successful move. We recommend that you should start reviewing your options 9-18 months prior to your lease expiration, whether you are considering relocation, renewing, or renegotiating. It is crucial that you allow plenty of lead-time to properly assess the various options and consider the amount of leverage and competition between each. This can result in being able to source better premises for the same cost or result in substantial savings in renegotiations.

5. Budget

Once the project leader has been appointed, work should commence and one of the first tasks is to create a budget. An accredited project manager with experience in office move management, such as Logic PM, can be invaluable when drawing up a realistic budget. A budget is a critical planning tool that will help you assess your costs, plan your finances and manage your expenditure throughout the process. Budgets can also help you to gauge the success of your project and measure it against your business objectives.

6. Work with professionals

Appoint the right office move professionals for your project. An office relocation can be complex, stressful and time-consuming, particularly if you have not done it before. Second to staff costs, property costs are typically the next biggest expenditure of a business. The decisions you make now will have an impact on the profitability of your company long into the future.

Working with the right professionals is our biggest ‘top tip’ for any business looking to move office. An experienced project manager will guide you through the process, minimising the stress and will typically save you time and money in the long run through effective planning and ensuring that you avoid any critical mistakes.

7. Think before you sign…

We recommend that you do not sign any lease documents without the proper legal advice. Your solicitors should be able to negotiate the detail of the lease document to minimise your exposure to potential liabilities. They should also advise you on the implications of the more detailed terms in the final lease documents to ensure you are fully aware of your ongoing responsibilities.

8. Communication is key

Communication: people inherently dislike change. It’s uncomfortable and unsettling. However, an office move is a fantastic opportunity to affect positive change within your business. The move may result in improved business performance, better facilities and increased staff morale. The key to achieving this lies in communication. Be upfront with your staff about your planned office move and keep them informed and engaged throughout the process. Hold regular meetings on the plans and listen to your employees as they may come up with some excellent ideas that you could implement.

9. Clear out and move on

Take advantage of the opportunity that an office move presents. Clear out old files and rid all storage areas of unwanted items prior to the move. Also, consider scanning documents no longer needed in hard copy and upgrading any out-dated equipment, furniture and computers.

For further information and advice about your upcoming office move, please contact us on 01622 535505 or email info@thelogicgroup.co.uk

Our Guide to Building Information Modelling (BIM)

Building Information Modelling (BIM) is the creation of a building in the virtual world. By generating 3D models of buildings that do not exist, it allows us to understand the complexities surrounding the project and learn from those before they happen.

The data created within the model is then used positively for the build of the actual project in the real world.

Described as a shared knowledge resource, the model of the building can be utilised as a reliable source of information throughout the lifecycle of the project, i.e. from the project conception to its demolition many years from now. Whilst the idea of using one resource throughout the life of a building is a new concept, the potential of this change will lead to savings through the lifecycle of the building.

Download our free guide to BIM to find out more and contact us on 01622 535505 / info@thelogicgroup.co.uk