Our strategic approach to planning covers the entire project lifecycle. Early planning involves selecting the right technology and construction methodology, identifying work tasks and estimating the resources required. We then review how those tasks interact with one another and plan the duration of each activity.

Our in-house estimators and quantity surveyors handle the cost management side of project planning. Ballpark estimates (BPEs) are sometimes used in the early stages; these are less precise but give a useful general overview. High-level estimates (HLEs) are prepared during conceptual design and early documentation, and are considerably more accurate – generally within +/- 15–25%. As the level of detail and specification increases, we produce a detailed estimate (DE). We always aim for a high degree of cost transparency and granularity, targeting a margin of variation within +/- 5% wherever possible.

Factors affecting cost accuracy include general project assumptions, documentation constraints, unknowns and other limitations.

Once the project's work activities are established, they are organised into stages and then carefully planned and implemented. Effective time management is one of the key factors in meeting demanding schedules and budgets. Cost overruns most often stem from poor management of the time allocated and an ineffective response to unexpected events, so Westlay Homes draws on its resources and experience to deliver a realistic, carefully prepared construction timeline.

Every work task should be clearly understood during the planning stage. As part of this service, each task and task group is allocated in advance, and we use optimisation tools to determine the most efficient way to share the work.

Our experts also manage the interrelationships between tasks, liaison with local authorities, client approval processes, incident handling, meeting coordination, material delivery delays and other factors affecting the construction timeline, including the management of “float”.

Quality assurance (QA), also known as quality control (QC), is an ongoing process of continuous improvement. A typical QA/QC plan involves:

• Examining the quality of ongoing and completed work
• Ensuring all materials used meet the project's quality standards
• Protecting finished work from harm or damage
• Conducting project and construction review processes

Our contract administration service involves managing your contracts to ensure all parties comply with and fulfil the agreed conditions. Our team uses a range of tools, including contract calendars, cost adjustment forms, documentation checklists and contractor cost verification systems that align progress payments with the original quotation.

Westlay Homes' safety management service puts in place the systems that allow a project to be completed safely. The approach is a continuous cycle:

• Plan. A safety policy and set of procedures is defined, and resources are allocated.
• Do. The procedures are put into practice on site.
• Check. Safety and ongoing performance are measured.
• Act. Remedial measures or improvements are identified, feeding back into the planning stage to restart the cycle.

Our wider safety programs include identifying every hazard relating to the project and its tasks, applying risk management procedures, and monitoring continuously with regular evaluation of safety performance. Our experience spans long-duration builds, short-turnaround jobs and consulting projects on an as-needed basis.