Client Grosvenor is developing a standard approach to cost planning for its all building projects. The developer has asked four QS companies to collaborate on the initiative: Davis Langdon, Cyril Sweett, EC Harris and Gardiner & Theobald.

The firms will focus on cost management, reporting and control, plus measurement and will create a database of costs for Grosvenor. The group is now putting some of the standard approaches it is developing into practice on live projects.

Steve Brewer, project management director, Grosvenor, said: “We have asked a select group of QSs to develop cost plan models that will work across a whole range of projects.”

Brewer has set up a “working group” of senior staff from each QS firm. They have held four meetings, the first of which was in December 2005. The team of QSs is being directly overseen by Grosvenor project manager Ian Morrison.

Brewer said: “We want the QSs we have chosen as a group to understand how Grosvenor operates, what our objectives are and our business strategy.”

Grosvenor works in the retail, residential and offices sector.

The developer’s planned projects include a 300,000 sq ft residential complex next to the Tate Modern gallery on London’s south bank. The scheme is a joint venture with Clan Real Estate.

Source

QS News