Our services Quantity Surveying

Carron + Walsh's Capital Allowance Services assist our Client's in maximising returns against their capital investments through identifying Tax Relief opportunities. Many opportunities for Tax Relief exist such as relief against certain energy efficient equipment. Such opportunities are another tool which Carron + Walsh use to ensure best value development for our Clients.

Carron + Walsh offer Cost Benefit Analysis services which are economic decision making processes to establish if a project is worth developing. The process identifies if the costs of a project are outweighed by the benefits. Costs and benefits are expressed in monetary terms and are adjusted for the time value of money. This is a growing sector, especially for public sector Clients where high levels of transparency are required regarding the approval processes for development works.

Design Cost Control is a critical process to ensure that projects are delivered to budget. Carron + Walsh's in house Design Cost Control Procedures ensure that we maintain a constant role in monitoring design changes and budgeting the likely financial implications of such changes. This allows fellow design team colleagues to understand the monetary implications of their design revisions and make informed decisions together with the Client as to whether the revisions should proceed or not.


Construction Cost Control is equally important in order to maintain budget and also avoid potential disputes with contracting partners towards the latter stages of the development process. We operate a Construction Cost Control Procedure aimed at avoiding final accounts at the completion of the projects. This gives greater financial certainty to Clients in respect of the final development cost of their scheme.

Funding Authorities are increasingly cautious regarding their loan books and require stringent due diligence prior to completing contract loans and also during the terms of the loans. Carron + Walsh provide due diligence services which enables funders to make informed decisions as regards the financial security of projects which they are considering funding. Issues to be considered are :

Planning Consents
Development Budgets & Cost Analysis
Development Programme
Developer / Contractor technical and financial capability
Contractor Contracts
Cashflow Arrangements

Feasibility Studies

To determine the viability of projects it is necessary to carry out Feasibility Studies. At Carron + Walsh we not only provide development cost data to allow such studies but we also work with our Clients and the project team to determine the revenue element of the equation and thus establish a developments viability or the action necessary to bring a project back to a viable status. Comprehensive Feasibility Studies are a necessity in approaching funding parties to obtain project finance.



Cost Planning

Following a successful Feasibility Study Carron + Walsh can provide detailed cost plan models for proposed developments. These generally take the format of elemental models and assist in ensuring that project budgets are being maintained. These Plans also identify the heavy cost centres for a project which allows the Project Team to focus towards more economical design alternatives and thus deliver better value of the Client.

Public sector agencies can offer promotional grants to support certain forms of development. Carron + Walsh offer Grant Application Support services whereby we provide not only financial information supporting the grant application but also provide Application Management Services whereby we project manage the application process. This is of particular benefit where cross discipline grant applications are being made. Having an independent consultant supporting the application gives credence to the application and confidence to the awarding authority. In some cases consultancy fees may be covered within the grant funding.

Distressed developments arising from insolvency and default is a consequence of a turbulent global economic climate. This requires specific expertise to manage difficult contractual, technical and financial issues. Carron + Walsh offer our Clients a number of services in this arena such as:


Support Services to Liquidators, Accountancy Professionals and Bondsmen
Assessment of and settlement of Contractors accounts
Technical and Procurement advice in relation to completion of partially completed developments

Carron + Walsh offer extensive support services to the insurance sector through the following services:



Insurance Reinstatement Valuations : Our in depth knowledge of rebuild costs and trends assists Clients, Brokers and Underwriters to avoid potential over and under insurance valuations. This is particularly critical in times of significant building cost fluctuation such as we currently experience

Premium Negotiation : Carron + Walsh support premium negotiations on behalf of Clients through providing accurate Re Build Cost Reports. Such specialist reports support premium negotiations at a time of rising insurance costs.

Property Damage Valuations : We provide financial valuations in respect of property damage and also assessment of works requiring replacement.

Redevelopment Strategy : Following property damage, Carron + Walsh can offer advice in terms of redevelopment strategies for sites including advice in respect of fast track construction to minimise business interruption costs.

Carron + Walsh offer specialist procurement advice to Client's to ensure that the route towards engaging contractors and suppliers is most efficient and delivers best value. The selected procurement route may also ensure that the correct level of risk is transferred to contractors and suppliers. With constrained funding markets for capital expenditure many funding authorities will insist that a considered approach is taken to procurement before confirming availability of funds for development projects. We appreciate that for many Clients this is a key deliverable required within their Brief.

Carron + Walsh offer financial modelling services to bidding consortia in the Public Private Partnership arena. This includes advise in respect of operating costs over the life of the building through our Life Cycle Costing services as well as advise in respect of capital expenditure. PPP related services also include cashflow modelling and market trend analysis.

A key to the successful delivery of a development project is the control of risk, financial and otherwise. Carron + Walsh offer specific Risk Management services to the construction sector. The principles of our services revolve around identifying risk, calculating the risk impact, developing measures to mitigate and reduce risks to an acceptable level and determine a route to allow risk transfer to contractors and suppliers in a clear and unambiguous manner. We utilise specialist risk management software in undertaking our analysis.

A key tool in delivering value in building and infrastructural projects, Value Engineering, forms a cornerstone of Carron + Walsh's service model. Through the use of Value Engineering Workshops carried out early in the design process Carron + Walsh ensure that the optimum design and construction solutions are achieved for Client's projects. Together with the relevant stakeholders this process ensures that potential waste is omitted from the development process. Through having all relevant stakeholders involved, the process also ensures that the final product delivered meets with the Client goals set at the outset of the project.

Carron + Walsh's approach to cost management of building and infrastructural projects extends beyond the initial capital costs of development. We understand that the significant cost to a development may be the Life Cost of a building and in particular the operational and maintenance costs of the development. As such, better value may be derived by a greater capital spend offset by an even greater operational saving. Life Cycle Costing exercises carried out during the design stages of a project help create informed investment decisions.