PROJECT EXPERIENCE
M3 Smart Motorway
At a glance
Fleet, Hampshire, UK
Infrastructure
Contractor
£129m
NEC3 Option C with Z clause Amendments
Senior Consultant
Location
Sector
Client Type
Project Value
Contract Type
Role
Project Overview
John worked as a Senior Consultant on the M3 Smart Motorway project, involving conversion of approximately 23 miles of the M3 between Junctions 2 and 4a to smart motorway operation. The scheme involved substantial highway infrastructure works to increase capacity and introduce managed motorway technology. It was delivered under an amended NEC3 Option C target cost contract. John was seconded to Balfour Beatty, initially joining the commercial change team and later being retained to lead it.
Challenges
The project had accumulated a significant volume of compensation events requiring assessment and agreement. At one stage, around 180 compensation events required pricing following a series of drawing issues over approximately three months. The challenge was therefore not simply to price individual changes, but to establish a practical way for the contractor and client-side commercial teams to work through the backlog while improving the process for subsequent compensation events.
Contribution
John led the preparation and assessment of compensation event quotations, including demonstrating contractual entitlement and assessing cost in accordance with the Schedule of Cost Components. The role involved working with the client’s commercial assurance team to develop a more structured approach to processing change. This included supporting narratives, consistent electronic submission and record keeping, and collaborative measurement so that assessments could be progressed more efficiently and transparently.
Results
A structured approach was established to work through a significant compensation-event backlog, including around 180 events requiring pricing over a relatively short period. The approach improved visibility and consistency of change assessment, and the appointment was subsequently extended with John retained to lead the commercial change team.