Quantity Surveying Services

It is essential that early in the conceptualisation of a project that realistic cost budgets are prepared to ensure the appropriate funding is made available and that the project remains viable.

Bennington Green are widely experienced in preparing early cost advice and ensuring that the costs are monitored throughout the development of the project.  We are able to utilise various data sources to ensure that we deliver current and accurate budgetary advice at all stages of a project’s development.

We are often asked to prepare:

• Feasibility studies
• NRM1 order of cost estimate
• NRM1 cost plan
• Development appraisals
• Developer funding applications

Bennington Green are able to provide the appropriate expertise to ensure that a cost model is considered and updated as the design progresses (using industry leading software where appropriate) and that costs are considered intrinsically in the design rather than as an ‘after thought’ to ensure the project delivers good value.

We are also able to offer Contractor’s and Sub-Contractor’s estimating services to suit particular needs and would invite you to contact us should you have any particular requirements.

Construction projects are capital intensive low margin ventures carrying high degrees of risk.  Bennington Green employ experienced commercial staff who can understand and manage the financial arrangements of construction projects.

The most successful projects achieve the required standard, are finished on time and are delivered in accordance with robust cost management criteria.  Successful control of a project budget ensures that appropriate decisions can be made strategically at the right time, that cash flows and funding are organised, and that any ‘warning signs’ are identified and considered.

Bennington Green ensures that appropriate cost reporting procedures are put in place and that these are maintained throughout the project duration.  We understand that late realisation of a project’s outturn cost can have disastrous consequences and hence we work hard to accurately forecast all aspects of the project.

The procurement strategy fundamentally determines the risk profile of the project and how the management and delivery of information and requirements are handled.  Bennington Green has the legal, commercial and delivery aptitude to advise and deliver the appropriate procurement startegy.

Bennington Green can advise upon the most appropriate procurement strategy in accordance with the Client’s ultimate goals, whether the Client wishes to retain a tight control upon the design and specification or whether the desire is to provide an initial performance specification and leave the Contractor to propose a solution. We are well placed to deliver the appropriate advice.

Bennington Green has extensive experience in managing the procurement of construction and engineering projects, including (but not limited to):

• Traditional re-measurement contracts (i.e. bills of quantities)
• Traditional lump sum contracts (i.e. specifications/schedule of works & drawings)
• Design and Build
• Quasi Traditional with part Contractor Design
• Management Contracting
• Specialist/Package

It is essential that an appropriate strategy is formulated early on in the conceptualisation of the project to ensure that the appropriate documentation is drafted to suit the Client’s requirements.  The procurement process will necessarily dictate the project timeline such as the periods for: document delivery; contractor tendering; contractor design (if appropriate); and construction.

Should you have any forthcoming projects we would be delighted to offer an initial free no obligation discussion, and we will provide you with a detailed quotation based upon various procurement options discussed.

Traditional Bills of Quantities still have an important part to play in construction contracts.  The time-honoured skill of breaking down a construction project into its component parts and quantifying these is as important now as it ever was.

Whether Bills of Quantities are necessary for the Client as part of its procurement strategy, or necessary by the Contractor/Sub-Contractor to enable pricing of the project, Bills of Quantities are an important tool in the costing and delivery of a project.

Bennington Green are able to prepare Bills of Quantities in a suitable format to suit the project, appropriately broken down into works area (to be agreed prior to commencement), on either specialist software with CAD take-off capability or simply manually in excel (the choice is yours).

We are experienced in preparing ‘Builders Quantities’, SMM7, NRM2 or CESMM bills or bespoke arrangements to suit our clients.  We have experience in large and small building and civil engineering projects along with various other sector works.

We act on behalf of banks and funding institutions to provide due diligence and monitoring services throughout a project lifecycle.

Our service includes the preparation of detailed development appraisals prior to the lending being approved. This process will ordinarily include a review of the planning consent, building regulations approval, warranties, contract documents, adequacy of professional team and contractors, insurances, cost review, health & safety and programme. A formal report will be prepared in a format to meet the funder’s requirements and the RICS Project Monitoring Guidance Notes.

Once the funding has been agreed our service generally includes the regular monitoring of the works on site, the reporting of progress and identification of any issues that increase risks to the funder. An assessment is made of progress achieved to sanction the draw-down of funds from the lender.

Is your property appropriately insured?  Bennington Green provide an independent valuation of the cost of the entire reinstatement of your property to ensure that you are appropriately insured.

On small residential properties often the insured can rely upon the notional valuation of a typical property in accordance with the insurer’s database. However, on properties of significant value, or of uncommon configurations, these ‘rule of thumb’ valuations are often notably imprecise. The obvious connotation is that you may be paying too much for your insurance, or at risk of being underinsured and not being covered appropriately in the event of a significant claim.

Our insurance reinstatement valuation reports are produced in accordance with the RICS guidelines and provide you, and the insurers, with (1) information about the property, its location and general construction, (2) an analysis of how we have reached our valuation recommendation, and (3) a site layout and/or photos.

In accordance with current guidelines, we recommend that properties are reassessed either every 5 years or when significant alterations have been made, whichever is the sooner.

Our reports ensure that you have ‘piece of mind’ that you are insured appropriately and that in the event of a significant claim you should recover your insured losses.

We are able to offer fixed price quotations upon request, and reduced price re-assessments if they can be undertaken on a desk study basis (i.e. there are no material alterations since the last assessment).