Conceptual Design

Spencer Group have in-house capability to undertake conceptual design and feasibility studies prior to FEED & Detail design. The team has a wealth of experience in materials handling, heavy industrial and energy projects as well as undertaking Grip stage 2 work for rail projects including depots, stations and AFA schemes. Our disciplines cover Civil, Structural, Architectural, Mechanical, Electrical, Controls & Instrumentation and Process engineering.

We construct projects as well as designing them and as a result our conceptual design work can offer the added value of more accurate budgetary cost estimates and schedules at the earliest opportunity. Our clients don’t have to wait until a scheme is underway before involving us, we can work collaboratively with them from the outset to check if a scheme is viable or not.

At the concept stage Spencer Group will set the basis of the study with the client, including but not limited to; operational capacities, process technologies, and site and plant location options. We produce high level documentation such as Block Flow Diagrams (BFD), Process Flow Diagrams (PFD) and overall plant layout options, in addition to considering items such as power and utilities consumption.

Premises drawings are produced from ‘concept level of information’ models to show the advantages and disadvantages of the options considered. Items such as vehicle tracking, load and drive motor calculations and other high-level designs are undertaken along with project risk assessments to give not only cost benefit analysis but risk analysis.

We can look at the circular economy from concept and influence BREEAM credits at the pre-assessment stage by being involved at the earliest opportunity. Spencer Group always look to re-use materials on site as opposed to disposal as this gives the best value for the client and the lowest tender value for ourselves. For example, we look at preparing the best geotechnical investigation specifications and offering ground improvement where possible. This value engineering and reduction of carbon footprint is in our design DNA from feasibility to detailed design, working with Spencer Group as early as possible enables us to help our clients realise these benefits earlier. Value engineering at such an early stage can be the difference between a project being viable or not.

Spencer Group regularly engage with clients for ‘ECI’ stages (Early Contractor Involvement) where we can establish costs and schedules for Capex submissions that are tighter than many consulting engineers. As we build these projects, we have the construction input available at concept design for better cost certainty. This often happens after the conceptual design has been undertaken, but we believe the best results for the client can be realised when ECI happens at the concept stage.