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Redrawing the map: Why you won’t find measured survey ‘Lots’ on construction frameworks

Measured surveys are an intrinsic part of the construction and planning process, but they are often taken for granted and marginalised.

It is often the case that measured surveys do not have their own identified ‘lot’. Survey companies do not have the opportunity to sit within a procurement framework, distinct from other elements, or as a dedicated framework by itself. Instead, multidisciplinary contractors are expected to provide this service as part of the range of services that they offer. However, as surveying is a discipline requiring specialist knowledge from surveyors with years of experience, this work will generally be subcontracted to a specialist measured survey company. This type of work is often carried out as an afterthought, without the adequate planning given to it that it requires. Further, if multi-disciplinary companies outsource crucial survey work ‘on the hop’, to survey companies that haven’t been vetted in a framework environment, then the quality of work could be called into question.

Time and space

The site data provided by a measured survey is invariably crucial to the success of the final construction – whether it’s a new commercial building, a highway or a residential scheme for private or public clients. However, many measured surveys are requested at the last minute, even though they are an integral requirement when building, developing or refurbishing a site. Is it time to change how the industry views measured survey providers?

If survey companies were provided with a separate lot within a framework, the successful company would then be able to liaise with the various teams within the framework that need measured surveys. This would allow them the time and space to plan the work in accordingly, enabling them to be able to get it done in advance of the next phase of work, whilst continuing to provide a quality product.

Lucy Powers, director at Powers UK explains: “More and more frequently, we are working in a digital environment, and it is time that every company or local authority with built assets or a large estate should have a measured survey framework in place. This will enable them to maintain up-to-date information on all their assets, so that when projects are given the green light, they have the right information immediately to hand.”

Lengthening the pipeline

Quality survey companies like Powers UK, who have been around for over 50 years, pride themselves on the accuracy and level of service they provide. However, this is offset against a backdrop of, quite often, only a five-week pipeline of work. Generally, survey companies are asked to jump onto a job within two weeks of a project being given the go ahead, despite the client knowing they wouldn’t be able to proceed without a survey for some time. By recognising the importance of quality survey work – and planning in the timescale to get the surveys completed in advance of the project – this would result in the work not having to be completed in such a last minute, hectic manner. It also means the client gets a quality job carried out for a competitive price.

In addition, clients would have a greater choice of which survey company they chose to work with, rather than having to use whoever was available at the time, given the short notice of lead-in times and tight schedules. With this in mind, it’s time to encourage a change in how we view measured surveys – not just as an afterthought, but as a crucial part of the planning and pre-, during and post-construction phases. Providing a more defined place for measured surveying within procurement frameworks (by giving measured surveys their own framework or ‘lot’) and throughout the construction project planning process will benefit everyone in the long run.

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