Specialist Services
Beyond core cost and project management — targeted expertise for disputes, leadership gaps, and project recovery.
Fixed-Fee Adjudication Representation
Adjudication is the fastest route to resolving construction disputes. Under the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996, parties to a construction contract can refer a dispute to an adjudicator who will typically issue a binding decision within 28 days.
NorthEight provides end-to-end adjudication representation on a fixed-fee basis — whether you are referring or responding to a dispute. The fixed fee is available for disputes with a value up to £100,000 (including VAT).
Representation is led by a Chartered Quantity Surveyor who is also a Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and the Society of Construction Law — so the case is built by someone who understands both the procedure and the money, and stays current with case law rather than relying on last decade's precedent.
Referring a Matter to an Adjudicator — What's Included
- Drafting a notice of adjudication
- Drafting a referral notice
- Drafting a reply (if required)
- Reviewing up to 4 witness statements and any reports prepared by experts
- Representation at a one-day oral hearing (if required)
- Reviewing correspondence with the other party and the adjudicator
Responding to an Adjudication Referral — What's Included
- Drafting a notice of response
- Drafting a rejoinder (if required)
- Reviewing up to 4 witness statements and any reports prepared by experts
- Representation at a one-day oral hearing (if required)
- Reviewing correspondence with the other party and the adjudicator
The fixed fee is agreed upfront based on the scope of your matter. A complete copy of the terms and conditions is available on request.
Interim Commercial / Project / Construction Director
When a developer, contractor or funder needs experienced commercial leadership at short notice — through recruitment gaps, sudden departures, or periods of rapid growth — NorthEight provides interim director-level cover tailored to your organisation.
These are genuinely senior appointments: chartered through both RICS and the Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors, with a delivery track record across residential and mixed-use development. You get someone who has sat on the client's side of the board table, not a contractor's QS stepping up.
Interim Commercial Director
Strategic oversight of commercial teams, cost management functions, procurement strategy, and contract administration. Ensuring commercial governance, reporting and risk management are maintained throughout the assignment.
Interim Project Director
Leadership of complex or multi-phase development projects, coordinating project teams, managing stakeholder relationships, and driving programmes to completion. Ideal for projects that have lost momentum or need experienced direction.
Interim Construction Director
Operational construction leadership — contractor management, site oversight, quality and compliance assurance, and programme delivery. Suited to developers bringing construction management in-house or needing temporary cover.
Typical Engagements
- Recruitment gap cover (3–6 months while a permanent appointment is made)
- Project-specific appointments for a defined phase or scheme
- Post-insolvency commercial restructuring and supplier re-engagement
- Mentoring and upskilling existing commercial teams
- Establishing commercial reporting and governance frameworks
Distressed Sites & Project Recovery
The construction industry has seen a sharp rise in contractor insolvencies, leaving developers and funders with half-finished sites, uncertain cost positions, and no clear path to completion. NorthEight specialises in bringing distressed projects back to life.
This is not desk-based advice. Our recovery work draws on years spent inside live schemes — as quantity surveyor, employer's agent and, where required, interim director — which means the completion plan we hand you is one we could deliver ourselves. When a distressed project heads towards dispute or adjudication, that same dual-chartered background keeps the commercial position defensible.
Assessment & Triage
We start with a rapid, on-the-ground assessment of what has gone wrong, where the pain points are, and which issues need the most urgent attention. This includes a detailed review of the project status — planning, design, procurement, health and safety, quality, and handover documentation.
Recovery Planning
Our goal is always to achieve maximum value for the client. Depending on the situation, the recovery approach may include:
- Detailed project status report covering design, procurement, construction, and compliance positions
- Intrusive surveys to establish any derogations or workmanship issues
- Re-engaging the existing supply chain where commercially efficient, supplemented by trusted alternatives
- Identifying a programme to completion, areas of risk, and the best procurement strategy
- Reviewing all compliance and warranty issues
- Negotiating price, programme, risk, and contract terms with the client, funders, and supply chain
- Preparing a comprehensive pricing document with supporting survey reports and clarifications
- Preparing a realistic programme to complete — design, procurement, construction, and handover
De-risking & Restructuring
Where a full turnaround isn't viable, we carry out a thorough analysis of the project's assets and liabilities, identifying elements that can be sold off to generate funds and make the project more investable. We step in as Project Manager and Employer's Agent, recruiting trusted contractors to complete the works to the required standard while keeping costs under constant control.