Inventing the cost plan

Elemental cost analysis and cost planning were introduced by the Ministry of Education in its publication Building Bulletin No 4, Cost Study. The first edition appeared in March 1951 and was the most widely used and quoted of all the early Building Bulletins.

The introduction of the two techniques led to the presentation of tender documents by ‘elements' instead of ‘trades' and to the formation of the Building Cost Information Service by the quantity surveyors' Committee. The reason for the introduction of the techniques was to assist in the provision of two million school places by 1961.

Because resources were scarce following the end of the Second World War cost limits were set in 1950 and then reduced in 1951 and again in 1952. The cost limit was not increased until 1961.

The introduction of the techniques was not the only reason for the reduction in school building costs but their contribution was substantial.

Sources: The Story of Post-War School Building, Ministry of Education Pamphlet No. 33 (1957). Towards a Social Architecture, Andrew Saint (1987). Called to Account, Quantity Surveying 1936-1986, James Nisbet (1989)

James Nisbet