Cost Plan Stage 1 Level

Question 1

RIBA stage?

Answer 1

Formal cost plan RIBA Stage
1 2: Concept Design
2 3: Spatial Coordination
3 4: Technical Design

NRM 1, pg 54:
There are several formal cost planning stages, aligned with RIBA Stages 2, 3 and 4, and contractor engagement and OGC Gateways 3A and 3B for a building project. The client should approve the cost plan on completion of each RIBA Stage before authorising commencement of the next Stage.

Formal cost plan 1 is prepared once the scope of work is fully defined and key criteria specified, but no detailed design has commenced.
Formal cost plan 1 will provide the frame of reference for formal cost plan 2.

Likewise, formal cost plan 2 will provide the frame of reference for formal cost plan 3.
Neither formal cost plans 2 nor 3 involve the preparation of a completely new elemental cost plan: they are progressions of the previous formal cost plans developed through the cost checking of cost significant components and cost targets as more design information and information about the site becomes available.

Question 2

Information required/expected?

Answer 2

The information base of the building project continues to expand during the RIBA Stages 2, 3, 4 and OGC Gateways 3A, 3B and 3C as more project and design team, main contractor and
specialist subcontractor engagement and client interaction take place.
A list of the key information to enable preparation of formal cost plans is included in Appendix C.

pg 50:
Outcome: Architectural concept approved by the client and aligned with the project brief.
The proposals should demonstrate that the spatial requirements are being achieved, along
with any adjacency requirements. Any non-briefed areas, such as cores, must be developed
sufficiently to coordinate with the architectural concept.

Tasks: The quantity surveyor/cost manager is to:
1 Prepare an initial formal cost plan (formal cost plan 1), which takes into account initial design
parameters established by the architectural concept and strategic engineering requirements,
and which includes an elemental analysis of the significant elements of cost and initial bulk
quantities of key items set out in the outline specification.

Chat GPT:
NRM 1 Appendix C - Information Requirements for Formal Cost Plans

Cost Plan 1
Project brief
Outline design drawings
Site investigation reports
Initial cost estimate
Schedule of accommodation
Preliminary construction method statement
Key project dates and timescales

Question 3

Measurement format expected? (eg GIFA, M2, Functional Unit)

Answer 3

Formal cost plan 1
– This coincides with the completion of the concept design at the point where the scope
of works is fully defined, and key criteria are specified but no detailed design has
commenced.
– Cost plan 1 will provide the frame of reference for cost plan 2.
– The key information from the client and other project and design team members to
enable preparation of formal cost plan 1 is set out in appendix C.
– For cost plan 1, a condensed list of elements is used, which will be developed into a full
list of elements, sub-elements and components as more design and other information
becomes available as the building project progresses.
– Quantities for building works should be determined in accordance with Part 4 (group
elements 1 to 8).
– Where insufficient design information is available to quantify building works in accordance
with the rules of measurement for elemental cost planning, the quantity measured should be
the GIFA.

Question 4

Level of cost estimate expected?

Answer 4

For cost plan 1, a condensed list of elements is used, which will be developed into a full
list of elements, sub-elements and components as more design and other information
becomes available as the building project progresses.

pg 72,
The tabulated measurement rules are based on four principal levels. Levels 1 to 3 in the rules
are headings under which actual work items (i.e. group element, element and sub-element) are
allocated. Level 4 is the rules of measurement for components.