1. Mason and Marlowe Cost and Commercial Management offer a total cost management service from the earliest stages of planning right through to the handover. We deliver effective project controls using our integrated approach and technical expertise which ensures that your budget is safeguarded and that risk is minimized, whilst still delivering the optimum design solution within the planned timescale and budget. We provide commercial advice and cost management expertise throughout the entire project lifecycle to aid decision-making and ensure that we meet your requirements at every stage of development.

   Desire: Our team has over 20 years’ experience working on projects across all sectors including education, healthcare, residential & mixed use developments as well as retail schemes. With an extensive knowledge base built up over many years we are able to manage costs effectively with confidence knowing they will be controlled throughout each phase of construction until completion. This allows us to work closely with clients ensuring budgets are met without compromising quality or performance standards while also providing value engineering options where appropriate so you can make informed decisions about how best to achieve your goals within a realistic timeframe/budget framework.

1. Cost management and commercial team to ensure that the best solution is delivered within timescale and budget.
2. Cost forecasting to monitor performance and highlight trends. Key benefits here are an early warning of potential overruns, which allows sufficient time for corrective action to be taken without jeopardizing delivery date or incurring unnecessary costs. This enables you to make informed decisions on changes to the project scope before it becomes critical.
3. We provide regular updates on costs including budget forecast variance analysis, forecasted expenditure against baseline schedule, understanding why forecasts have changed from previous reports. This helps you plan ahead with confidence based on accurate data rather than guesswork.
4. Assistance in reviewing contract financial provisions including advice on claims prevention and the preparation of claims documentation.
5. In order to make proper cost projections, we work with you as early as possible in the design process, giving us an insight into your project, helping us develop a detailed plan and accurate budgets allowing smooth commercial handovers. This ultimately helps you avoid any budget overruns on-site and gives you peace of mind about your project’s progress at all times.
6. We manage change through a combination of regular reporting on programme and financial performance, claim management and commercial negotiations where scope changes have required that impact upon cost or time.
7. We provide timely advice on risk management strategies including contract administration which help minimize costs, control risks and maximize contractor performance through effective risk identification and mitigation plans.

The purpose of cost planning is to deliver the best possible design solution that the budget will allow. The process provides the client with the cost advice to underpin decisions about how best to spend their money.

The purpose of cost control is to monitor performance and highlight trends giving you early warning on potential overruns, allowing sufficient time for corrective action without jeopardizing delivery date or incurring unnecessary costs. This enables you to make informed decisions on changes before they become critical.

It takes around three months if we work closely with your team during the early stages of design. If not, it can take six months; after this point, significant changes in scope may invalidate any previous plans.

The cost planner’s role is to provide advice on how to spend your budget. They take responsibility for ensuring that their plans are ‘fit for purpose’ and they will advise you of changes in scope or design that would render them obsolete, requiring further work. They act as a consultant; it is up to you whether you choose to take their advice or not, but it’s important to be aware of what your options are before making any decision.

1. Help identify cost-saving opportunities
2. Reduce project risk
3. Avoid overspend/cost overruns
4. Ensure you get the best value for money by controlling costs during the project.
5. Savings are realized earlier in the construction process, rather than after contract completion or handover to the client
6. You have established a comprehensive budget before works commence so there are no surprises at a later stage which could put deadlines and budgets in jeopardy
7. We can provide regular updates on costs helping you plan ahead with confidence based on accurate data rather than guesswork
8. Encourage cooperation between design and cost control teams increases the effectiveness of advice and ensures projects run smoothly from start to finish
9. Understanding the true cost of a project from the outset helps you make more informed decisions
10. Potential savings identified early enough can provide headroom to increase contract value or scope, which could generate additional profits for your business