Millennium Village probed

Exclusive by Michael Gordon



Broadgate property magnate Stuart Lipton has been appointed as chairman of an independent enquiry team set up to examine the current state of construction on Greenwich Millennium Village (GMV) and the reasons behind the resignation of chief architects Hunt Thompson Associates (HTA).

Ben Derbyshire, HTA marketing director, said: "We chose to appeal to Lipton as the arbiter because he chaired the distinguished jury which appointed us, and we think he will have the insight and understanding to see through this smokescreen."

David Rock, in his last day as president of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), wrote to joint architect Ralph Erskine calling for his resignation in support of the withdrawal of HTA. Rock wrote: "The RIBA supports HTA's brave stand on the issues of quality on this major project and I would expect you to support their stand by resigning also."

With the project already well behind schedule, the firm claimed there had been a "steady process of attrition, whittling away every aspect of the winning scheme."

Bernard Hunt, senior partner, told CJ: "The Tavistock Institute ran a team workshop and did a team report on GMV with devastating conclusions. The fundamental point essentially being that learning edge project management is a crucial factor - you cannot deliver innovative projects without it. It is like trying to use the motor industry in the 60s to deliver a car in 1999 - it is impossible."

CJ was able to obtain a copy of the Tavistock Institute report which condemned the project to date. The report revealed:

l Data emerging from the workshop indicates that the project as a whole is failing to manage the ambitious level of innovation by means of established project management approaches typical of the housing sector.

l Within the workshop project participants showed high levels of uncertainty about the management processes being used in the project. This would be cause for serious concern in a moderately innovative project.

l Such a lack of understanding and implementation of management processes, if allowed to continue, would be a prime indicator of impending disaster. Something needs to be done.

Concerned HTA senior partner Benjamin Derbyshire wrote to Lipton: "The problems we face are not confined to this project - they are endemic. These are lessons for all of us in the industry. The project is drifting towards failure, and until now the clients have forced us to remain silent."

However, GMV, a joint venture between Taylor Woodrow and Countryside Properties claim HTA was dismissed following ultimatums. A GMV spokesman said: "It is ill advised, if not unprofessional, that HTA has chosen to publicise a version of the background to our decision. Suffice it to say we repudiate their arguments and conclusions. We make no further comment since the matter is now being handled by our lawyers."