The cost estimate your scheme needs
Independent cost estimates for developers, housebuilders, funders, financial viability consultants and planning consultants, on schemes across the UK.
From estimates that underpin a planning application through to cost plans and pre-tender estimates, undertaken by a Chartered Quantity Surveyor with thirty-three years of experience, on schemes up to £1.1bn.
33
years
As a Chartered Quantity Surveyor
91
Schemes costed since 2023
Up to
£142.2m
Development cost
£2.55bn
Combined development cost
RICS
Regulated firm
Why clients choose QSetc
The clearest sign we get it right is that clients return to us, scheme after scheme. Here is why.
You deal with the person doing the work
No juniors, no handovers. Your estimate is prepared by a Chartered Quantity Surveyor with thirty-three years of experience, on schemes up to £1.1bn.
A track record that stands up
Forty-nine estimates in support of viability appraisals since 2023, and not one called in by a planning authority or rebutted by a reviewer.
Prices that reflect the market now
Not just Spon's and BCIS. We price from live supply chain rates and from tender returns and site costs on our own projects.
A straight answer, fast
An indicative fee range within 24 hours. Once we have your design information, a fixed fee and a delivery date. No chasing, no silence.
Independent and regulated
Regulated by RICS, with every estimate prepared to hold up under scrutiny. Our job is to get the number right, whatever it shows.
Personal, and built to stay that way
Deliberately small, so every client gets a personal, high-quality service and a relationship that lasts. Many come back to us on scheme after scheme.
Six cost estimates - one cost consultant
Cost advice from first idea to final tender. Whichever stage your scheme has reached, there is one estimate that fits it - and most schemes only ever need one or two. Tell us where you are and we will advise which estimate we think will fit.
RIBA 0, 1, 2, OR 3
Feasibility, Budget, or Indicative Cost Estimates to determine whether a scheme is viable or to underpin a Financial Viability Assessment at planning.
RIBA 3 OR 4
Order of Cost Estimates, Cost Plans or Pre-Tender Estimates, depending on the design information available.
An estimate for every stage of the RIBA Plan of Work
We help you pick the one you need
RIBA 0
Strategic Definition
RIBA 1
Preparation and Briefing
RIBA 2
Concept Design
RIBA 3
Spatial Coordination
RIBA 4
Technical Design
FEASIBILITY ESTIMATING
Feasibility Cost Estimate
Budget Cost Estimate
Indicative Cost Estimate
RIBA 0
RIBA 0 to 2
RIBA 2 to 3
COST PLANNING
Order of Cost Estimate
Cost Plan
Pre-Tender Estimate
RIBA 3 to 4
RIBA 3 to 4
RIBA 4
Most schemes need one or two of the six.
We help you pick the one you need.
Six cost estimates across the RIBA Plan of Work. The most appropriate one depends on the design information available.​
​We also act as Employer's Agent, Contract Administrator, post-contract Quantity Surveyor and Independent Monitoring Surveyor on selected schemes. Our post-contract quantity surveying is live at Twyford Abbey, and coming shortly at De Rougemont in Brentwood, and at Byfleet.
We use live market data
We use live market data to inform our cost estimating, rather than relying wholly on Spon's and BCIS. We are in regular contact with the supply chain to obtain current market rates, and we draw on tender returns and live site costs from our own projects, so the prices behind your estimate reflect what materials and work are actually costing today. For specialist elements on any build, we engage with the supply chain early to ascertain indicative costs.
On site now: Twyford Abbey, a 30 apartment redevelopment, main build and fit-out, where we act as Quantity Surveyor and Contract Administrator • St John's Shopping Centre, Solihull, where we monitor and report on live build costs as Monitoring Surveyor • Seaton, 230 new build homes, where we monitor and report on live build costs as Quantity Surveyor.
​
Coming to site soon: Brentwood, new build houses and the redevelopment of a former hotel into apartments • Byfleet, redevelopment of a former office building into rental apartments
RIBA stages | Deliverable | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|
0 | Feasibility Cost Estimate | Up to 1 week |
0, 1 or 2 | Budget Cost Estimate | Up to 1 week |
2 or 3 | Indicative Cost Estimate | 1 to 2 weeks |
3 or 4 | Order of Cost Estimate | 3 to 4 weeks |
3 or 4 | Cost Plan | 4 to 5 weeks |
4 | Pre-Tender Estimate | 4 to 5 weeks |
RIBA stages | Deliverable | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|
0 | Feasibility Cost Estimate | Up to 1 week |
0, 1 or 2 | Budget Cost Estimate | Up to 1 week |
2 or 3 | Indicative Cost Estimate | 1 to 2 weeks |
3 or 4 | Order of Cost Estimate | 3 to 4 weeks |
3 or 4 | Cost Plan | 4 to 5 weeks |
4 | Pre-Tender Estimate | 4 to 5 weeks |
Turnaround runs from receipt of information available at the relevant RIBA stage and appointment/fee agreement.
A FURTHER SERVICE
Funder Information Management
For borrowers on a funded scheme, we gather, check and issue the information your funder's Monitoring Surveyor requires, from facility set-up to building control sign-off. On most schemes that is around ninety documents held by fifteen or more parties, and it usually falls to the borrower to produce them. We hold the schedule, chase what is outstanding, and issue everything in a form the Monitoring Surveyor will accept, so drawdowns stay on time.
Why QSetc
What sets this apart is that we have sat on the funder's side of the table. We know what a Monitoring Surveyor will accept, and nothing is issued without a Chartered Quantity Surveyor checking it first. Fewer rejections, and no surprises when the money is due.
Four phases, from facility set-up to completion. Take the ones you need. Funder Information Management ›
Mark has acted as Monitoring Surveyor for
Homes England / The National Housing Bank • Fairfield Real Estate Finance Services Limited • Arbuthnot Latham & Co. Limited • NatWest PLC • Julian Hodge • BLG Development Finance Limited • Roundshield LLP • Close Brothers Property Finance PLC
On the lender's side, on schemes up to £100m, which is why we know what a Monitoring Surveyor will accept on yours.
Meet the directors
Mark Stevens FRICS
Managing Director • Chartered Quantity Surveyor
Mark has been a Quantity Surveyor for 33 years. With a BSc (Hons) from the University of Reading, he began his career at Gardiner & Theobald in London, advising on prime residential and mixed-use masterplans including Paddington Basin and Broadgate. He spent 15 years as a Partner at a mixed discipline practice, GSSArchitecture, specialising in the education sector and building its Bristol office from nothing, then joined Gleeds in London as a Director leading the residential team on schemes from £10m to over £1.1bn. At Ward Williams he was a Partner, establishing the Salisbury office and working on projects from £100k to £150m. Having built and led large teams at GSSArchitecture and Ward Williams, Mark founded QSetc in February 2023 to work differently. It is deliberately small - a personal, high-quality service where the person you speak to is the person doing the work - and that is how his clients come to rely on him and return time and time again.
Sarah Stevens
Director
In London, corporate communications and investor relations at the Burton Group and Ratners plc, then financial PR at Brunswick and Hudson Sandler, advising FTSE 100 clients including Persimmon, McCarthy & Stone and Bourne End Properties (Leo Noe). Then KPMG in Bristol, through the privatisation of the national railways, and South West Marketing Manager for Strutt & Parker in Salisbury. Back in Wiltshire, she ran her own marketing consultancy for ten years, then built and ran a pet care business with a team of 25. Leads finance, marketing, research and company secretarial matters, obtains current market rate prices from suppliers and contractors and monitors live on site costs, and writes the reports that accompany Mark's estimates. Outside the business, she and Mark support the Kukaya Kwithu Foundation, a home for girls in Malawi, which they visited in November 2024 and are helping to establish as a registered charity.
Apex Capital Partners • Aster • Backhouse Housing • BBA Architects • Bellway Homes • Broad St. Ltd • Bugler Group • Captiva • Citygate Commercial • Cleanslate • Enzo Design Studio • Etude • Galliard Homes • Ground Construction • Herriard Estate • Hodge Bank • Hogarth Design & Build • Hornstar • Iceni Projects • Kingspan • Landevo • M & D Enterprises • Macar Developments • MAMCapital • Miller Homes • Pelham Associates • Penton Grafton Parish Council • Persimmon Homes • Picture Property Developments • Porter Planning • Real World Properties • Rosedale Property Holdings • Rother Council • St Edward's & Holy Cross Churches • Stonewood Homes • Thackeray Estates • Three Dragons • Trevellyan • Ward Williams • Westcoast Developments
What clients say
Mark carried out a detailed costing for a complicated affordable housing project that involved allowing for unusual site factors and understanding a non-standard quality specification. The costing then enabled completion of a Viability Report for the site. The accuracy of the costing was afterwards confirmed by the builders' estimates, and the work was done quickly and efficiently.
John Jervoise, Co-Founder
CATALYST SPACE
Mark's advice is sensible and proactive, which gives team members and stakeholders the confidence they need. He is someone I would always be happy to take guidance from. I am working with Mark currently, and I would happily work with him again on future projects.
Tom Larkin, formerly Managing Surveyor
TELFORD HOMES
I have worked with Mark for several years, most recently on a member of the House of Lords' residence, and would not hesitate to recommend Mark for QS and cost management services.
Martin Ayliffe, Managing Director
AYLIFFE ASSOCIATES
Not sure which estimate you need?
Tell us about your scheme and send whatever information you have. We will recommend the estimate that fits, and give you an indicative fee range within 24 hours. Once we have received as much design information as you hold, we confirm a fixed fee and tell you how long it will take.
What happens next
Email us with your scheme. Within 24 hours you will have our recommended estimate and an indicative fee range. Once we have received as much design information as you hold, we confirm a fixed fee.
QSetc Limited provides independent construction cost estimates for developers, housebuilders, funders and Financial Viability Consultants on schemes across the UK.