HMYOI Cookham Wood in Kent was extended with a new block of about 180 cells under the UK Ministry of Justice's early adopter programme for BIM Level 2, ahead of the government's 2016 requirement for BIM on centrally funded projects. Interserve was appointed in 2012. The project was also one of the government's trial projects for new procurement models, so BIM was combined with early contractor involvement and collaborative working.
At a glance
| Project | New houseblock at HMYOI Cookham Wood, Rochester, Kent, UK |
| Client | Ministry of Justice |
| Contractor | Interserve (appointed July 2012) |
| Scope | About 180 cells and associated facilities |
| Programme | First of four MoJ BIM Level 2 early adopter projects; a government procurement trial project |
| Practice | The UK BIM Level 2 documents of the time (PAS 1192-2, COBie) |
What was done
- BIM Level 2 requirements were set by the client, with information exchanges at set stages.
- Collaborative procurement: the contractor was selected early, worked with its supply chain and offered open-book cost proposals.
- Lessons carried forward: what was learnt was published and used on a later MoJ project, the new prison in North Wales.
What it shows
The case is a reminder that savings come from BIM and procurement together. The client set a target of cost savings between contractor selection and start on site; published case studies credit the results to early joint working with the supply chain and open-book costing as well as BIM. Reported savings figures vary between sources, so quote the government's own case study.
Often misquoted
- "BIM alone saved 20%." Accounts that report savings attribute them to the combination of procurement changes and BIM.
- "It used ISO 19650." The trial predates ISO 19650; it used the UK PAS 1192 series, which ISO 19650 later replaced.
Where to read more
The government's trial project case studies for Cookham Wood and the North Wales prison (published on GOV.UK and by Constructing Excellence); the Institution of Structural Engineers' The Structural Engineer article on Cookham Wood (2013).