The Franklin Project Playbook

Build or renovate your home with confidence

Get the benefit of expert project setup and assurance for your residential development, to bring clarity, confidence and control to your building journey.


Why has Franklin created a Playbook for Project setup?

We have created a Playbook product to clearly show how Franklin can foolproof the vital pre build RIBA stages 1-4, delivering projects on budget and on time, identifying spend priorities and upholding the quality we are renowned for.

Who is the Project Playbook for?

The Franklin Project Playbook is specifically designed for small-to-medium residential projects under £500k. It delivers a structured approach which protects homeowners, supports designers and contractors, and minimises risk from early project decisions.

What does the Project Playbook deliver?

Our comprehensive playbook ensures your project begins with clarity and confidence. From design review through to contract selection, we guide you through every critical setup phase with professional expertise and practical wisdom gained from 25 years of UK construction experience.

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The Franklin Project Playbook

Project Foundations Review

Assess the feasibility of your project

What is the project budget and what are the potential risks?

What might be the best outcome for your project

Building projects can be daunting, especially if you have never renovated or built before. Before drawings, tenders or builders, we carry out a short structured review to ensure the project makes sense and expectations are aligned before time and money are committed.


The Franklin Project Playbook

Step 1: Design Information and Contractor Review

Drawing Review

Comprehensive review of drawings and specifications to identify gaps, inconsistencies or areas requiring clarification before tender.

Draft Cost Plan

Early cost planning ensures your budget aligns with design aspirations and provides a benchmark for tender evaluation.

Tender Analysis

Detailed tender review and comparison, helping you understand pricing variations and make informed contractor selection decisions.

Once the project is defined and deemed viable, we begin. Our thorough front-end review tools identify potential issues before they become costly problems, giving you the assurance that your project foundations are solid and your documentation is contractor-ready.

Step 2: Contractor Due Diligence and Statutory Steps

Contractor Verification

Not all contractors are equal. Our due diligence vets financial stability, insurance, trade memberships, and past performance. We verify credentials, check references, and assess capability to deliver your project. This rigorous vetting protects you, ensuring your chosen builder has the resources, experience, and professionalism for a successful outcome.

Statutory Compliance

Navigating planning conditions, Building Control, and statutory obligations can be daunting. We provide clear, practical advice for compliance from day one. From planning conditions to Building Regulations approval, we guide you through the administrative complexities, letting you focus on your vision.

Step 3: Contract Selection and Setup

01

Contract Assessment

We evaluate your project requirements and recommend the most appropriate building contract framework for your circumstances.

02

Document Preparation

Clear contract documentation protects all parties and establishes professional working relationships from the outset.

03

Terms Explanation

We demystify contract terminology and ensure you understand your rights, obligations and the mechanisms for managing variations.

04

Setup Support

Complete contract setup including schedules, appendices and all supporting documentation for a watertight agreement.

The right contract framework provides structure, clarity and protection throughout your build. Whether it's a JCT Minor Works, Homeowner Contract or bespoke agreement, we ensure your legal foundations match your project needs perfectly.

Step 4: Cost Planning and Budget Control

Detailed Cost Breakdown

Our draft cost plans provide granular visibility of where your budget will be allocated, from preliminaries and groundworks through to internal finishes and external works.

  • Element-by-element cost analysis
  • Allowances for fixtures, fittings and equipment
  • Contingency recommendations
  • VAT and fee considerations

Benchmark Pricing

We provide realistic cost expectations based on current UK market rates, helping you understand whether your budget aligns with your design ambitions before committing to contracts.

  • Regional cost variations considered
  • Material specification impact
  • Programme implications on cost

Meet Nicholas Handslip

Founder at Franklin PM

Nicholas Handslip is a Chartered Surveyor and Project Manager with over 20 years’ experience delivering complex residential, hospitality and commercial projects.

He has worked on high-end and super-prime developments across London and the South of England, advising clients on cost, risk and project setup from the earliest stages.

Nicholas holds an MBA in Construction and Real Estate and is a Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). Franklin Project Management is a RICS-regulated practice.

Through the Franklin Project Playbook, Nicholas brings the same structured thinking and commercial discipline used on large projects to smaller residential schemes, helping clients make informed decisions and avoid costly mistakes before work begins on site.

Sophie Morton

Senior Project Manager

A trusted and proven Senior Project Manager, Sophie is known for bringing structure and calm to complex builds. Sophie has a talent for making meetings feel effortless while ensuring every action, detail and deadline is firmly under control. She keeps teams aligned, communication clear and progress steady from first briefing to completion. Sophie is a Franklin Project Setup Playbook lead, working alongside Nicholas for over ten years.

Get in touch with Sophie

The Franklin Project Playbook delivers:

Review of Drawings & Specifications

Thorough examination of architectural, structural and M&E documentation to identify coordination issues, specification gaps or buildability concerns before tender.

Draft Cost Plan

Element-based cost plan providing realistic budget expectations and forming the basis for tender evaluation and value engineering discussions.

Tender Review & Comparison

Detailed analysis of contractor submissions, normalising pricing for accurate comparison and highlighting clarifications required before appointment.

Contractor Due Diligence

Comprehensive vetting including financial checks, insurance verification, reference validation and assessment of capability to deliver your specific project.

Statutory Advice

Guidance on planning conditions discharge, Building Control compliance, party wall matters and other regulatory requirements affecting your project.

Contract Selection & Setup

Recommendation of appropriate contract framework and complete preparation of contract documentation for signature, ensuring legal protection from day one.

The Franklin Project Playbook payment structure

Fixed Fee

£8,000

+ VAT

Payment Terms:

  • 50% on commencement
  • 50% on completion of deliverables

What This Investment Delivers

For a fixed fee of £8,000 plus VAT, you receive comprehensive project setup and assurance that typically prevents issues costing many times this amount. Our service protects your larger investment by ensuring your project begins with robust foundations.

This transparent, fixed-price approach means no surprises—you know exactly what you're investing from the outset. The 50/50 payment structure aligns with project milestones, with the first payment securing our engagement and the second released upon delivery of all agreed

"The small upfront investment in proper project setup consistently saves our clients tens of thousands in variations, disputes and delays during construction."

Ready to Start Your Project with Confidence?

The Franklin Project Setup Playbook provides the professional foundation your project deserves. Whether you're a homeowner embarking on your first extension, a small developer juggling multiple projects or a designer seeking project setup assurance for your clients, the Franklin Project Setup Playbook is dedicated to delivering clarity and confidence from day one.

Protect Your Investment

Professional project setup prevents costly variations, disputes and delays during construction, typically saving many times the service fee.

Access Expert Guidance

Benefit from decades of UK residential construction expertise without the commitment of full project management engagement.

Start with Confidence

Begin construction knowing your contracts, costs and compliance requirements are properly established and professionally managed.

Get in Touch

Contact us today to discuss how the Franklin Project Setup Playbook can provide the professional foundations your project needs. We're here to ensure your residential or commercial development begins with clarity, confidence and complete peace of mind.


The Franklin Project Playbook

Build or renovate your home with confidence

Get the benefit of expert project setup and assurance for your residential development, to bring clarity, confidence and control to your building journey.