Journal

There are usually some unexpected situations to be dealt with in any project, so it is important to plan for these unknowns from the start. As with budget, where the overall time available is limited, you should allow a contingency within the programme. We refer to this as programme contingency.

If the freehold of your property is owned in part or in full by someone other than you, or your property is located within a managed site or estate with specific controls or restrictions, then you may need to seek additional approvals prior to undertaking work to your home.

In many locations there are pre-defined works to buildings that do not require permission, provided that they adhere to a strict set of rules. While planning approval is not formally required for such works in these areas, it is always recommended to seek formal confirmation of this status from the local authority in the form of a Lawful Development Certificate.

In UK construction the 'Traditional Procurement' method is generally considered the best way to provide quality of design and construction, while also controlling cost and programme. The term 'Traditional' refers to the long and established history of this form of procurement, as a tried and tested method for the design and construction of good quality buildings.

A key factor to understand and consider is the relationship between your scope and your budget, and how to avoid a mismatch between them. Understandably, it is very common that homeowners commissioning projects may not have an accurate understanding of the budget required to provide a given scope of work. The best way to manage this mismatch is to commission a cost estimate from a Quantity Surveyor (QS) during the very early stages of the project. The cost estimate can the

There are a number of steps that can be taken to reduce the overall timeframe of a project. A rigorous project planning process with excellent project management procedures should have a significant benefit in the long run. By keeping a close eye on all aspects of the project planning process, in particular costs and budget, a great deal of time can generally be saved.    

The planning system is generally concerned with any changes to the number, size, appearance, or use of a building or land. Planning rules and guidance can be set at national, regional and also local level, and are generally administered by the planning department within the local authority. Simple applications are usually processed by council staff, while larger and more complex decisions are passed to a committee of elected councillors. Depending on the nature of the plannin

A professional building contractor is a different role and skillset to that of someone who is purely a builder. You would expect a builder to have good knowledge of how to construct and work with a range of typical building materials, but a building contractor also needs to me able to manage the overall process of construction.

The Construction Cost is the cost of contracting a builder to carry out the works, and should include for all fixtures, fittings, materials, labour, supervision, and management, etc. This cost should also include the Contractor’s overheads and profit for the job, but excludes VAT. The costs of any ‘client supply’ items, or other elements of the project commissioned outside of the main building contract (i.e. joinery or landscape), should also be included within the constructi

There are a wide variety of standards, approvals, and statutory processes that can apply to a construction project, and it is important to take specific professional advice for each project. Typically private residential project will require Planning Approval, Building Control Approval, and will be subject to the Construction Design & Management (CDM) Regulations. Party Wall procedures, approvals from utility companies, and Estate and/or Freeholder approvals may also be re

The timescale and programme of each individual construction project will be unique, but a written programme, usually in the form of a Gantt chart, can be produced from the outset of the project, and reviewed and updated as the project progresses. Many projects follow typical patterns which can be predicted with a reasonable degree of accuracy.

When you commission a project for your home, you take on an important set of roles within the project process. As well as your original title of home/property owner, you will become known by various different titles during the course of the project. Your knowledge of each of these specific roles and responsibilities, and your success at performing each, can contribute greatly to the overall success of your project.