Every project lives or dies by strong cost control. Get it right, and you protect profit, improve cash flow and maintain confidence at every stage. Get it wrong, and the impact hits immediately. That's why cost management sits at the centre of what we do – for investors, developers and occupiers alike.
We've worked on every type of project you can imagine, from small-scale refurbishments to major infrastructure. That experience means we understand not just the numbers, but the risks and opportunities behind them.
We make sure cost certainty isn't just an aspiration – it's delivered. That means fewer surprises, better-informed decisions and projects that achieve maximum value. What some see as optional, we see as essential.
Because we combine centuries of heritage with a modern, forward-looking approach, we don't just measure and monitor – we advise, challenge and improve. Our role is to protect your investment while enabling creativity and progress.
From soaring labour costs and record insolvencies to booming data centres, tighter Building Safety Regulator oversight and rising inflation forecasts, McBains’ latest Construction Market Report reveals the risks, opportunities and game-changing shifts reshaping the industry through 2026 and beyond.
Contact: Colin McCaffrey, Director of Cost Mangement
Brighton, East Sussex
Stage 1 of the major 3Ts Redevelopment to deliver a modern, clinically-renowned and world-leading teaching hospital.
Services
Cost Management, Project Management, Clerk of Works / NEC Supervisor
Sectors
Healthcare
Culham, Oxfordshire
Extension to the existing MRF at Culham Science Campus for UKAEA to increase capacity for the processing and micro-characterisation of materials.
Services
Architecture, Building Services Engineering, Digital Engineering (BIM), Civil & Structural Engineering, Cost Management, Sustainability & ESG
Sectors
Science & Technology
Rugby, Warwickshire
McBains was appointed for Phase 1B of Symmetry Park Rugby; a 111-acre site with planning permission for 2million square feet of logistics space.
Services
Cost Management
Sectors
Industrial & Logistics
Harlow, Essex
Regeneration scheme to create new western gate-way to Harlow town centre with new arts facilities, residential homes & enhanced public realm.
Services
Architecture, Civil & Structural Engineering, Building Services Engineering, Sustainability & ESG, Cost Management, Project Management, Health & Safety, Clerk of Works / NEC Supervisor
Sectors
Civic & Government, Residential, Hotel & Leisure, Regeneration & Urban Development
Culham, Oxfordshire
Multi-disciplinary design services for a new office building for UKAEA and Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP).
Services
Architecture, Civil & Structural Engineering, Sustainability & ESG, Digital Engineering (BIM), Cost Management, Building Services Engineering, Health & Safety
Sectors
Office & Commercial, Science & Technology
Luton, Bedfordshire
Feasibility study to transform Luton Central Library into a mixed-use community hub with active frontages, aligned to town centre programme.
Services
Architecture, Civil & Structural Engineering, Cost Management
Sectors
Civic & Government, Retail
Culham, Oxfordshire
A new-build central support facility (CSF), providing c. 2,000sqm of dedicated facilities for day-to-day logistics, deliveries and engineering-related operations.
Services
Architecture, Building Services Engineering, Digital Engineering (BIM), Civil & Structural Engineering, Cost Management, Sustainability & ESG
Sectors
Science & Technology
Chiswick, Greater London
Refurbishment of the British Standards Institute’s (BSI’s) head office within Chiswick Tower, a prominent office building in West London.
Services
Cost Management, Building Services Engineering, Sustainability & ESG, Architecture, Project Management, Health & Safety
Sectors
Office & Commercial
Luton, Bedfordshire
Feasibility study for the redevelopment of land at the former Luton Library Road Car Park, aligned to the wider town centre programme.
Services
Architecture, Cost Management
Sectors
Civic & Government, Transport & Infrastructure
Culham, Oxfordshire
A new research and innovation hub for UKAEA providing modern, flexible facilities for some of the world’s most cutting-edge technologies.
Services
Architecture, Building Services Engineering, Civil & Structural Engineering, Cost Management
Sectors
Science & Technology
Southwark, Central London
Mixed use development, across three towers up to 27 storeys high, within the Elephant & Castle regeneration zone.
Services
Cost Management, Building Services Engineering, Project Management, Sustainability & ESG, Architecture
Sectors
Residential, Hotel & Leisure, Retail
Eton, Berkshire
Newly constructed school complex, comprising teaching accommodation, along with Greek-inspired debating and lecture theatre.
Services
Cost Management
Sectors
Education, Heritage
Lewisham, Greater London
Upgrades and refurbishment of areas within the Brockley Rise Adult Learning Centre in Lewisham.
Services
Building Surveying, Cost Management, Project Management, Health & Safety, Architecture, Civil & Structural Engineering, Building Services Engineering
Sectors
Education, Civic & Government, Retrofit
Harlow, Essex
A coordinated programme to re establish the civic heart of Harlow with high quality public realm, sustainable transport and a renewed cultural offer.
Services
Architecture, Project Management, Cost Management, Building Services Engineering, Sustainability & ESG, Civil & Structural Engineering
Sectors
Regeneration & Urban Development, Civic & Government, Transport & Infrastructure, Hotel & Leisure, Retail, Residential, Office & Commercial
Harlow, Essex
The major regeneration of Harlow bus station and Terminus Street area to transform a run-down part of the town into a vibrant & welcoming gateway.
Services
Architecture, Project Management, Cost Management, Building Services Engineering, Sustainability & ESG, Civil & Structural Engineering, Clerk of Works / NEC Supervisor
Sectors
Transport & Infrastructure, Regeneration & Urban Development, Civic & Government
Harlow, Essex
A public realm improvement scheme to transform a pedestrian high street in Harlow, to create a safer, more welcoming town centre.
Services
Architecture, Project Management, Cost Management, Building Services Engineering, Health & Safety, Sustainability & ESG, Civil & Structural Engineering, Clerk of Works / NEC Supervisor
Sectors
Regeneration & Urban Development, Retail, Civic & Government
Harlow, Essex
A public realm improvement scheme to transform a pedestrianised square in Harlow town centre, to create a new hub for leisure and hospitality.
Services
Architecture, Project Management, Cost Management, Building Surveying, Building Services Engineering, Health & Safety, Sustainability & ESG, Civil & Structural Engineering, Clerk of Works / NEC Supervisor
Sectors
Regeneration & Urban Development, Civic & Government, Hotel & Leisure
Manchester, Greater Manchester
Extensive refurbishment across 8 floors of a high-rise office development to create a new northern headquarters for NatWest.
Services
Cost Management
Sectors
Office & Commercial, Retrofit
Tamworth, Staffordshire
Replacement of the existing TORC and Tamworth College facilities with new teaching and learning accommodation in Tamworth town centre.
Services
Building Services Engineering, Civil & Structural Engineering, Cost Management, Project Management, Sustainability & ESG
Sectors
Civic & Government, Education, Regeneration & Urban Development
Merton, Greater London
School maintenance & condition surveying programme for Merton Council across portfolio of primary schools, SEN schools & 6th form buildings.
Services
Building Surveying, Civil & Structural Engineering, Cost Management, Employer's Agent
Sectors
Education, Civic & Government
Chiswick, Greater London
A redevelopment project comprising upgrade works and new facilities, to improve the cohesion of a formerly disparate campus on a tight, urban site.
Services
Cost Management
Sectors
Education, Retrofit
Harrow, Greater London
A programme of two, interlinked, strategic re-fitting and re-stacking projects at the University of Westminster’s Harrow Campus.
Services
Project Management, Cost Management
Sectors
Education
Nationwide, UK
McBains has worked with NatWest Group since 2012 delivering cost management services to a successful programme of works nationwide.
Services
Cost Management
Sectors
Retail
Various, UK
Trusted consultant since the 1980s, providing QS, PM & EA services to the management, maintenance & development of SEGRO's property portfolio.
Services
Cost Management, Employer's Agent, Project Management
Sectors
Office & Commercial, Industrial & Logistics
Brighton, East Sussex
Relocation of the Royal Sussex County Hospital's 165-year-old chapel as part of the Brighton 3Ts Redevelopment.
Services
Project Management, Cost Management, Clerk of Works / NEC Supervisor
Sectors
Healthcare, Heritage
Heathrow, Greater London
High-end refurbishment of the Lufthansa Business and Senator Lounges at Heathrow Airport’s Terminal 2.
Services
Cost Management, Health & Safety, Building Services Engineering
Sectors
Transport & Infrastructure
Cambridgeshire
Comprehensive decarbonisation assessments across Cambridge Housing Society’s residential estate.
Services
Building Surveying, Sustainability & ESG, Cost Management, Building Services Engineering, Architecture
Sectors
Retrofit, Residential
Harlow, Essex
Repurposing of an underused garage site to provide a new social housing scheme comprising eight two-storey, terraced homes.
Services
Cost Management, Building Services Engineering, Project Management, Sustainability & ESG, Civil & Structural Engineering, Architecture
Sectors
Residential
Harlow, Essex
Regeneration of an existing retail unit and adjacent garage site and forecourt to provide brand new council homes and new retail units.
Services
Cost Management, Building Services Engineering, Project Management, Sustainability & ESG, Civil & Structural Engineering, Architecture
Sectors
Residential
Harlow, Essex
Development of a vacant plot of land into residential to deliver a ‘later living’ development of six one-storey bungalows.
Services
Cost Management, Building Services Engineering, Project Management, Sustainability & ESG, Civil & Structural Engineering, Architecture
Sectors
Residential
Harlow, Essex
Redevelopment of a depot site to deliver a distinctive scheme of family houses, providing much-needed social housing.
Services
Cost Management, Building Services Engineering, Project Management, Sustainability & ESG, Civil & Structural Engineering, Architecture
Sectors
Residential
Harlow, Essex
Redevelopment of the former Lister Medical Centre site to provide a mix of social housing and commercial space.
Services
Cost Management, Building Services Engineering, Project Management, Sustainability & ESG, Civil & Structural Engineering, Architecture
Sectors
Residential
Islington, Central London
Refurbishment of office premises to enable the building to re-open as a state-of-the-art tech campus for high-growth start-ups.
Services
Cost Management
Sectors
Office & Commercial
Winnersh, Berkshire
Multi-million pound redevelopment of Winnersh Triangle business park, including new offices, a hotel and retail amenities.
Services
Employer's Agent, Cost Management
Sectors
Office & Commercial, Hotel & Leisure, Retail
Nationwide, UK
A capital programme of works to replace over 2,500 ATM machines at NatWest / RBS branches nationwide.
Services
Cost Management
Sectors
Retail
Caversham, Berkshire
New sixth form centre, providing an active, digital learning zone to enable students to take advantage of industry standard software and devices.
Services
Cost Management
Sectors
Education
West End, London
New concept flagship Matalan retail store on London’s Oxford Street.
Services
Cost Management, Project Management, Civil & Structural Engineering, Building Surveying, Health & Safety
Sectors
Retail
Quantity surveying today isn't just about bills of quantities – it's about shaping the financial DNA of projects. Our people work where design, delivery and strategy meet; using data, insight and collaboration to drive better outcomes. It's challenging, it's rewarding and it has real impact.
March 12, 2026
June 20, 2025
May 15, 2025
November 14, 2024
November 11, 2024
October 17, 2024
July 5, 2023
February 17, 2023
January 31, 2023
November 7, 2022
October 13, 2022
June 10, 2021
Stay informed with the latest news, insights, and stories from our team.
Get the latest insights from McBains and industry news to your inbox.
By submitting your email address you are agreeing to us storing your data for the purpose of sending you a newsletter.
