Design Buy Build Issue 36 2019 | Page 93

Sometimes, there can be difficult situations on a project that require more sensitive communication skills. From the commencement of this project, it was evident that the neighbours were against the development and had banded together to bombard the Developer and the Council with complaints in the hope the development would be halted. We very much feel, on every project, that the Kisiel team become in essence ‘temporary’ neighbours in the street and a part of the local community for the duration of the works. As part of our support to our client and for the smooth running of the project, four Kisiel team senior managers held an evening meeting with the residents and listened carefully to all their concerns. Everyone was given an opportunity to ask questions and we explained, as a Chartered Building Company, how we would work with them to make the construction period as least disruptive as possible. This was the first step in communicating with the neighbours which continued both on an individual basis and through regular newsletters at each stage of the works. Having demonstrated through clear communication and our actions that we were ‘good’ neighbours, the remainder of the project passed without any problems. Concerned about the possibility of crime in this affluent part of London, the architect’s design had incorporated key requirements for the doors, windows and locks to meet the stringent requirements of the Secured by Design scheme bronze or silver award. 93