Cost Planning in Construction

Anderton Gables cost planning services are trusted by property owners, investors and developers across the UK.

Our cost planning approach is practical, sensible and detailed. We provide accurate cost estimates that reflect the UK's current market and economic conditions.

As part of our service, we also talk to experts and specialists regularly so we can provide advice with absolute confidence.

Tom Hargreaves
Director

Paul Cartwright
Associate Director

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Cost Planning

Our Cost Planning service provides clients with robust financial control from project inception through to completion. Our experienced Cost Consultants take the lead in estimating construction costs and managing agreed budgets, ensuring all actual and projected expenses are closely monitored and aligned with your overall development appraisal.

We base our cost plans on current market rates and up-to-date income calculations, giving you an informed and realistic view of project viability. As the design evolves, our plans are refined and developed in detail, ensuring accuracy and relevance at every stage.

Major commercial decisions are underpinned by our cost plans, supported by expert advice from our in-house Quantity Surveyors. Our proactive approach means we continuously review and update the plan to account for design changes, market shifts and unforeseen circumstances, keeping your budget on track and your project in control.

Effective cost planning is critical to project success, and with Anderton Gables, you can be confident in every financial step of the journey.

First up, we need to establish a realistic preliminary estimate for your project using the single price method. We can then divide the budget into approximate quantities for your cost plan and solidify cost targets throughout your design.
The team come together to produce the master cost plan. We look at how the cost plan was developed, what information is needed and whether the plan fits with the client’s needs. The Quantity Surveyor needs to know what’s most important to the client and what should be the primary focus as the cost plan evolves. We will also agree on future reporting structures to keep everyone updated on changes and critical issues.
Our team knows what is achievable for different budgets. We can advise you on how much to spend for each element of your project - from agent fees to construction materials.
The broad aspects we’ll consider include the developer’s returns, project insurance and any other extraneous items. Crucially, we’ll make the budget as detailed as possible so nothing slips under the radar.
The initial cost plan includes the obvious features, and smaller details are added as the design develops. When these changes or developments are made, we can adjust the cost plan and construction schedule as needed.
Next, we evaluate the various elements of the design against your cost targets. We need to make sure your project can be constructed within these limits.
It’s time to compare the accepted tender with the final cost plan. You need to find a contractor who can adhere to the cost limit in place - with a few minor modifications if necessary.
Once construction work begins, it’s all about cost control measures. We need to keep a handle on costs - to prevent costs spiraling and passing the agreed budget.

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The Cost Planning Stages

What makes an effective Cost Plan?

Updating the Final Cost Plan

We provide consistent updates on construction costs and changing economic conditions.

Our team has regular discussions with regional contractors to find out what’s happening in the market right now. We base our cost estimates on current market conditions and the challenging economic climate.

For example, the construction industry has seen steelwork or reinforcement increases of around 35%. The soaring costs are due to the energy crisis, the Russian invasion of Ukraine and rising commodity costs.

Order periods and insurance have also increased, driving your project cost estimate up.

Due to these factors, contractors cannot fix prices for more than a week, and our cost plans reflect that. We endeavour to provide the best advice possible for this complex issue.

Easy To Understand

Our cost plans are structured in an easy to understand format. We can also tailor the presentation to your reporting methods and preferences.

Our cost plans break down every element of your project in granular detail - while building, managing and controlling costs as the design evolves. You will know exactly where your money is going throughout the construction phases.

Generally, 80% of costs go towards substructure, frame, external envelope, M&E and preliminaries. We put a lot of effort into ensuring these elements capture every aspect of the design.

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Innovative Ideas

The challenging market requires an innovative and creative approach to cost planning. There are smart engineering solutions available using graphene-enhanced products, which rely less on traditional steel reinforcement.

For instance, Concretene is a graphene-enhanced admixture for concrete. It requires little to no reinforcement and gains maximum strength in no time at all.

Net-zero carbon technologies are constantly evolving and they can provide solutions to difficult problems in today’s market.

Tracking Abnormal Costs

Large-scale projects tend to come with challenges of equal size.

Here are a few examples of abnormal costs that may need some consideration for construction projects:

Temporary accommodation
Decanting of existing buildings and relocating occupants
Historical use of the site
Disconnection of existing utilities and services

The Cost Planning Process for different types of Construction Projects

The cost planning process can be applied to a number of different projects. Sometimes, cost consultants like to separate the different areas of a project in the cost model. Let’s take a closer look at how each construction sector handles cost planning.

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Roads, footpaths and infrastructure should be identified and separated within the cost model. The costs can be divided into stages, areas or whatever the client requests. We break down the estimated cost to include surface and foul drainage, external lighting, security measures and all soft and hard landscaping within the design.
While this part of a project is usually designed by landscape architects or specialists, it can be easier to manage the different design processes when the budgets are separated.
In recent months, the UK’s energy bills have increased substantially. The jump in energy costs needs to be factored into your final project cost.
Anderton Gables challenges the norm of infrastructure and encourages green energy centres. Our cost plan will reflect these design ideas and help you manage the costs. Besides, green energy options often have significant cost savings in the long run.

The Benefits of Cost Planning in Construction

There are numerous benefits of cost planning in the construction industry. Cost management can improve building quality, maximise cost-effectiveness and identify high-cost elements early on. Anderton Gables will develop and manage a budget that encompasses every aspect of your multi-million-pound project, from the finer details to the big-ticket items. Our cost management system will keep your budget on track.

You might even spot a few issues with your project during the cost planning process. It happens. By thoroughly planning your budget, our Quantity Surveyors can make more informed decisions early in the process, resolving any challenges before they begin. All in all, cost management will help your site run smoothly and efficiently.