Construction Cost Planning Services for UK Projects
Clear, structured construction cost plans to help you understand likely project costs before tender stage.
Whether you are assessing project feasibility, developing a design, reviewing affordability or preparing for funding and procurement, Estimate Exact can provide a detailed cost plan based on the information available at each stage of the project.
Send us your drawings, specifications or early design information and we’ll review the project, confirm the scope and provide a fixed fee.
UNDERSTAND THE COST BEFORE YOU COMMIT
Early design decisions can have a major impact on the final construction cost.
A professional cost plan gives you a clearer understanding of where the money is being spent before the project reaches tender stage.
Estimate Exact prepares construction cost plans for developers, contractors, property professionals and private clients across the UK.
Our cost plans are designed to support practical decision-making by identifying the likely cost of the project, highlighting major cost drivers and helping the design team understand the financial impact of proposed changes.
What Is Included in Our Cost Plans?
Every cost plan is prepared around the level of design information available.
Project Review
We review the drawings, schedules, specifications and other project information supplied to understand the proposed works and level of design development
Measured Quantities
Where sufficient information is available, key elements of the project are digitally measured to improve the accuracy of the cost plan. At earlier stages, benchmark quantities and elemental allowances may also be used.
Elemental Cost Breakdown
Project costs are broken down into key building elements, helping you understand how the overall budget is allocated. This provides a clearer picture of the project cost before tender stage.
Current Construction Rates
Costs are assessed using relevant construction market information, supplier pricing, labour allowances and industry cost data where appropriate.
Preliminaries & Project Allowances
Relevant allowances can be included for preliminaries, site-related costs and other project-specific requirements depending on the scope and stage of design.
Risk & Contingency
Appropriate design development, construction risk or contingency allowances can be included depending on the stage of the project and certainty of the available information.
WHAT IS A COST PLAN?
A construction cost plan is a structured estimate of the likely cost of a project, prepared before the design is fully developed or before formal tender pricing is available.
Unlike a contractor’s tender estimate, which is usually based on detailed drawings and specifications, a cost plan can be prepared progressively as the design develops.
The aim is to help the project team understand:
Whether the current design is affordable
Which elements are driving the project cost
Where savings may be possible
How design changes affect the budget
Whether sufficient contingency has been allowed
How the cost is likely to develop before tender
A good cost plan should become more detailed and more accurate as the design progresses.
Need a Detailed Cost Plan for Your Next Project?
Send us your drawings and tender documents and we’ll review the project and provide a fixed quotation.
WHY USE A CONSTRUCTION COST PLAN?
Test Project Feasibility
Understand whether the proposed project is financially realistic before committing significant time and money.
Keep the Design Within Budget
Identify potential overspend early while there is still an opportunity to change the design.
Understand Cost Drivers
See which building elements have the greatest impact on the overall project cost.
Assess Design Changes
Understand the likely financial effect of changing materials, layouts, specifications or construction methods.
Support Funding Decisions
A structured cost plan can provide useful cost information for internal approvals, investors, lenders and other project stakeholders.
Prepare for Tender
Establish a benchmark cost before receiving contractor tenders, giving you a clearer basis for reviewing tender returns.
WHAT PROJECTS CAN WE PROVIDE A COST PLAN FOR?
We provide support across a wide range of project types.
Residential Projects
Commercial Projects
Trade Packages
How does it work
From Drawings to Completed Cost Plan in Three Simple Steps
Straightforward Fixed-Fee Pricing
Know the cost before we start. Once we’ve reviewed your drawings, we’ll confirm the scope, fixed fee and delivery date.
Domestic Project Cost Plans
ㅤDeveloper & Contractor Cost Plans
ㅤCommercial Project Cost Plans
ㅤFrequently Asked Questions
When should a cost plan be prepared?
A cost plan can be prepared from the earliest feasibility stage and updated throughout the design process.
The level of accuracy will depend on the amount and quality of design information available.
How accurate is an early-stage cost plan?
Early cost plans necessarily contain more assumptions and allowances than a detailed tender estimate.
As the design develops and more information becomes available, the cost plan can be refined and the level of uncertainty reduced.
Can you prepare a cost plan from planning drawings?
Yes.
Planning or concept drawings can often provide enough information to prepare an initial cost plan. Where elements of the design have not yet been developed, we will use clearly stated assumptions and appropriate allowances.
Can the cost plan be updated later?
Yes.
We can update the project cost as the design develops and more detailed information becomes available.
Do you include preliminaries and contingency?
Where appropriate, yes.
Relevant allowances for preliminaries, risk, contingency and other project costs can be included depending on the agreed scope.
Can you help if the project is over budget?
Yes.
We can review the cost plan and identify the major cost drivers, helping you explore potential value engineering or specification changes.
Can you prepare cost plans for developers?
Yes.
We work with developers, contractors and property professionals requiring early-stage project budgets and cost advice.
Can you prepare a pre-tender estimate?
Yes.
As the project design develops, the cost plan can be refined into a more detailed pre-tender estimate.
Do you work throughout the UK?
Yes.
Estimate Exact provides remote construction cost planning and estimating services across the UK.