Logistical constraints negating the successful completion of live city-centre building refurbishment projects: a case for management skills probity

Purpose: This study undertakes to examine the perceived barriers to effective management of live city-centre building refurbishment projects in the UK. Currently a school of thought posits that refurbishment projects are more unpredictable than new builds. The aim of the study is to identify how, against myriad logistical constraints of city-centre refurbishment projects, managers endeavour to complete their projects on time.

Design/methodology/approach: A total of 38 project managers responsible for large and medium-scale city-centre refurbishment projects in Manchester, Preston, Liverpool, Leeds, Sheffield and Nottingham were targeted as participants for the study. The projects were selected on the basis of location. Only live and active projects within a busy shopping centre of a city were targeted. 

Findings: The study identified, using SPSS and non-parametric statistical techniques, that the chance of success of planning for live city-centre projects (LCCP) is impacted by economics, micro traffic flow, the experience of project managers, the share scale of the building form, the availability of specialist refurbishment trades, and how the project itself is linked to the feeder routes to and from the main active shopping areas (MASA). The study concludes that auxiliary skills remain critical to successful project completion; among these is the relationship between local authority agencies and the project team. 

Originality/value: The study is unique as it seeks to identify which refurbishment dimensions and challenges are relevant and exclusive to live city-centre refurbishment projects.