What is project monitoring in construction?

Investing in construction projects is an inherently risky business. Inevitably, you want to control those risks as much as possible, and to do that, you need a project monitor.

Project monitoring is often confused with project management and construction monitoring, but it is a distinct function that requires specific experience and expertise. Here we explain what project monitoring is, the role of a project monitor and the different stages involved in the process. 

What is project monitoring? 

Project monitoring in construction is the process of assessing a development project to identify and advise on the risks and ensure everything is going to plan. Project monitors gather data at every stage of the project to make sure it’s on budget, on time and completed to a high standard to protect the interests of the client.

Independent monitoring gives clients who do not have direct control of a project, such as banks, lenders and proposed long-term tenants, valuable insight and objective project oversight. They use the data and analysis the project monitor provides to inform their decisions about the project, with a strong focus on risk management and investment protection.

What is the role of a project monitor?

Project monitoring surveyors oversee every aspect of the construction process. They report on the progress in fine detail and work to identify potential issues and act before they become a problem.

By constantly assessing and reviewing the progression of the development work, they act as an early warning system for the client and add value to the developer by enhancing their decision-making.

The exact role of a project monitor depends on the nature of the instruction, but their work typically includes:

• Anticipating and advising on issues - Identifying potential problems that could affect the project, such as statutory consents, land acquisition and construction agreements, and advising on how to resolve them.
• Monitoring compliance - Ensuring the project complies with all the relevant planning requirements, building regulations, industry standards and contractual obligations.
• Tracking progress - Regularly assessing the project’s progress and creating reports that coincide with key milestones.
• Controlling quality - Checking that the workforce and equipment are suitable for the project and verifying the standard of workmanship and materials.  
• Monitoring budget - Monitoring the project’s costs to ensure spending stays in line with the allocated budget.
• Monitoring safety - Ensuring all safety protocols are followed to manage and mitigate safety-related risks.
• Liaising with stakeholders - Sharing information with all the relevant stakeholders throughout the development process.

What to look for when appointing a project monitor

Project monitors in construction usually have a background in surveying or project management. Although the specific competencies they need will depend on the nature of the project, you should look for someone with extensive experience in construction and development schemes and a comprehensive understanding of the risks.

Appointing a project monitor who is accredited by a professional organisation such as the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) ensures their work meets strict quality standards. It also gives you the peace of mind that they have the knowledge and experience to protect your investment at every stage.

What are the different stages of project monitoring?

We work with our clients to monitor the progress of their developments from the pre-contract stage to completion. We provide a service to manage the risks and safeguard their financial interests.  

Pre-contract phase

We can work with you to establish the goals of your project, refine the budget, consider all relevant compliance procedures and advise on the procurement of contractors.

Initial project review

Once you have a contractor in place, we conduct due diligence to ensure they fully understand and have properly planned every aspect of the project. We ensure they have prepared appropriate design drawings, undertaken the necessary investigations, secured the required consents and have a robust cost plan in place. We produce a report highlighting compliance issues or shortcomings that must be addressed.

Construction

We conduct regular site visits throughout the construction process to assess the project’s progress and ensure build quality and compliance. We also monitor costs against the budget to ensure financial control. We then prepare reports of our findings that provide details of any issues and explain how we plan to resolve them.  

Completion

We undertake a final review to ensure the project meets the contractual requirements. We also confirm the final cost and make sure there are no delays in the receipt of the statutory authority completion certification that could impact the timeline of a sale or occupation.

Securing your construction project investment

At Eddisons, our project monitoring Surveyors work with a range of clients to mitigate the risks in their construction investments. Our RICS-accredited teams are located throughout the UK and have a proven record of monitoring corporate, education, health, retail, leisure, transport and public sector projects. Find out more about our project management and building surveying services and get in touch to discuss your requirements with our team.