A unique partnership between building control experts at Bristol and Birmingham City councils is helping to ensure that the UK’s latest multi-million pound city centre shopping development will be safe, accessible and energy efficient.

The two teams have come together to provide the building control advice and inspection for the £500 million Cabot Circus shopping complex being developed in Bristol by the Bristol Alliance - a partnership of Land Securities and Hammerson.

Birmingham have brought to the project their expertise from working on high profile jobs in their home city, such as the Bullring and the Rotunda, whilst Bristol have inputted their local knowledge and understanding of issues such as flood protection levels, ground conditions and drainage systems.

Birmingham’s key role has been to check the Alliance’s plans - while Bristol have carried out site visits and overseen the scheme’s structural works.

Roger Hassam, Senior Building Control Officer at Birmingham City Council, started work on the Bristol project almost three years ago. Since then he has made regular visits to the south west’s regional capital to attend design team meetings and view progress of Bristol’s largest and most important city centre regeneration programme since its post World War 2 reconstruction.

“We have worked closely with Bristol City Council Building Control on this project and our relationship is first class and one of respect for each others’ role. 

"By combining our experience of working on high profile projects with the local knowledge that the Bristol City Council Building Control have on issues such as flood protection levels, ground conditions, drainage systems etc we have created a winning combination for the client, The Bristol Alliance and in turn the people of Bristol,” said Roger.

Andrew Little, Chief Building Control Surveyor for Bristol City Council, added: "By investing in Local Authority Building Control, developers are investing in a healthy, safe and accessible environment. This partnership has provided the developers with a unique blend of experience and expertise that they and the public can have maximum confidence in.

"It is helping ensure that the scheme complies with the national regulations that are in place to protect and benefit the public.”

The development, which is due for completion in September 2008, will provide 1.5 million sq ft of high quality retail and leisure uses, apartments, affordable housing, offices and public spaces in the heart of Bristol.

“The development is a complex weave of ten blocks linked by dedicated public spaces, a 13 screen cinema, car park area, pedestrian streets and 120 shopping outlets.  My role is to check the application and to make sure that the new build is safe and meets current building regulations ready for the high numbers that are predicted to visit. I am a daily contact and advice giver to the design team and those working on the site, “ added Roger.