SERVICES › FEASIBILITY ESTIMATING › RIBA 0, 1, 2 OR 3
Feasibility Estimating
Feasibility, Budget or Indicative Cost Estimates, to determine whether a scheme is viable or to underpin a Financial Viability Assessment at planning.
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.
The cost evidence behind your viability case at planning
Robust construction cost estimates that stand up when your viability case is tested
A Financial Viability Assessment is only as strong as the build cost underneath it. The most common criticism of a viability submission is a generic build cost with no site-specific justification, and we answer it with live market data, drawn from regular contact with the supply chain and from tender returns and live site costs on our own projects.
When a scheme's viability is in question, the developer submits a Financial Viability Assessment to the local planning authority to justify the level of affordable housing or other planning obligations. Our estimate is the construction cost that assessment is built on. If the cost is not credible, the whole case is open to challenge.
WHO IT'S FOR
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Developers and Housebuilders submitting an FVA at planning
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Financial Viability Consultants who need a cost consultant's considered estimate
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Planning Consultants whose clients need a credible build cost behind a submission
49 estimates - none called in or rebutted
Since 2023, none of our Indicative Cost Estimates has been called in by a planning authority or rebutted by a Reviewer. If one ever were, we would defend the number ourselves, at an hourly rate agreed with you in advance.
Every estimate in this service
WHAT EVERY ESTIMATE INCLUDES
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Project identification and site description, with aerial photography
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Development description, accommodation area schedules and unit mix
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Estimate summary with total project costs
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Detailed cost breakdown on elemental principles
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Specification choices and quality levels explained
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Benchmarked against live market data, plus Spon's, BCIS and market testing
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Basis of estimate and a full list of exclusions
TURNAROUND
Up to 2 weeks
From fee agreement and receipt of information.
Issued in draft first. Review meeting inside the fee, then we tweak anything that needs it before we finalise.
Indicative fee range within 24 hours
A fixed fee and delivery programme are confirmed once we have received as much design information as you hold.
No juniors, no handovers
Directors do the work. A junior can measure a drawing; knowing what a Contractor will charge to build it is thirty-three years of experience. Every cost is prepared by Mark Stevens FRICS, a Chartered Quantity Surveyor, and Sarah Stevens pulls the report together.
THE THREE ESTIMATES IN THIS SERVICE
Feasibility Estimating covers RIBA Stages 0, 1, 2 or 3. Each estimate below is a separate product. Most schemes need only one.
Feasibility Cost Estimate
RIBA 0
WHAT IT CONTAINS
• A cost range across the options you are weighing up (new build, refurbishment, or different sites)
• Based on floor areas or unit numbers and benchmark data
• A realistic cost limit to test affordability
• Stated assumptions and exclusions
WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU
• The site address or location
• Rough scale: how many units, or an approximate floor area
• What options you want compared
• Any known constraints (access, ground conditions, planning history)
Budget Cost Estimate
RIBA 0, 1 OR 2
WHAT IT CONTAINS
• A first cost for the agreed scheme, built up on floor areas and unit mix
• A stated basis: base date, inflation, procurement route, programme
• Preliminaries, overheads, profit, professional fees and contingencies
• A risk allowance
• A high-level measure of different elements of work with a build rate applied
WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU
• Early Architect's drawings or design study sketches
• An accommodation schedule (areas and unit mix)
• Any structural or services (M&E) design intent, if available
• The intended procurement route, and any site information you hold
Indicative Cost Estimate
RIBA 2 OR 3
WHAT IT CONTAINS
• A considered construction cost estimate at concept design
• Written to underpin the FVA submitted to the planning authority
• Benchmarked against live market data
• Site-specific, with abnormal costs identified
WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU
• Architect's drawings
• Accommodation and area schedules
• Any site reports you hold (ground investigation, contamination, asbestos)
• Any structural, civils or services (M&E) information available at this stage
• Any known site-specific abnormal costs not obvious from the drawings
The Indicative Cost Estimate also sits within Cost Planning, because it carries a scheme from feasibility through to a planning submission.
RECENT ESTIMATES IN SUPPORT OF VIABILITY APPRAISALS
A sample of schemes we have prepared Indicative Cost Estimates for, at values a developer will recognise. Click Read more on any scheme for the detail.
£9.88m
NEW BUILD HOUSES
Canterbury, Kent
34 new houses on the former Chaucer School site, across five house types at two and two and a half storeys.
£142.2m
NEW BUILD HOUSES AND APARTMENTS
Ebbsfleet Harbour Village, Kent
563 homes in four phases on the former Northfleet Cement Works, with two community centres, a gym and a new park.
Regulation and insurance
QSetc Limited is regulated by RICS. Professional indemnity insurance is maintained in accordance with RICS requirements, and a certificate is provided with every appointment.
To date, I have worked with Mark on twelve cost estimates for Bellway, all in support of Financial Viability Assessments, across schemes of varying size and complexity. His estimates are thorough, clearly set out and turned round quickly. The figures have stood up well when tested, which gives us real confidence when appraising a site. Mark is responsive, practical and easy to work with, and I would happily recommend him to anyone needing early-stage cost advice.
Jamie MacArthur, Regional Planning Director
BELLWAY HOMES (THAMES GATEWAY & NORTH LONDON)
Feasibility Cost Estimates, Budget Cost Estimates and Indicative Cost Estimates supporting Financial Viability Assessments at planning, for developers, housebuilders, Financial Viability Consultants and Planning Consultants across the UK.