CHAPTER FOUR CAPITAL COSTS OF THE BASELINE DWELLINGS
Overview
4.1 Detailed cost plans were prepared for each of the baseline dwellings, based on a Quantity Surveyor's take-off from the drawings and an analysis of the specifications of the baseline projects. For the flats, a cost plan was drawn up for a four storey block of eight flats comprising 2 x one bedroom flats, 3 x 2 bedroom flats and 3 x 3 bedroom flats. The elemental costs for each flat were then apportioned on a m 2 gross floor area basis.
4.2 Where necessary, adjustments have been made to the cost plans to reflect compliance with the Scottish Building Regulations, the Scottish Government's social housing technical standards and the Housing for Varying Needs requirements. The adjustments to account for the former included increased thermal insulation levels, and for the latter, included some increased floor areas and door widths.
Cost summary
4.3 The estimated capital costs for each baseline dwelling are summarised in table 4.1 below. Elemental summaries for each dwelling type are included in Appendix A.
Table 4.1: Capital cost summary for baseline dwellings
| Gross Floor Area m 2 | Capital Cost £ | Cost £/m 2 |
|---|
2 bedroom house | 73 | £102,767 | £1407 |
|---|
3 bedroom house | 88 | £114,279 | £1298 |
|---|
1 bedroom bungalow | 56 | £101,276 | £1808 |
|---|
2 bedroom bungalow | 82 | £121,108 | £1476 |
|---|
1 bedroom flat | 56 | £74,876 | £1337 |
|---|
2 bedroom flat | 61 | £80,519 | £1320 |
|---|
3 bedroom flat | 85 | £107,609 | £1266 |
|---|
4.4 These costs are broadly in line with the cost allowances within the former Communities Scotland grants application process.
Key assumptions
4.5 Key assumptions made in the development of the cost plans and agreed with the project's steering group are outlined in table 4.2 overleaf.
Table 4.2: Key assumptions in capital cost plans
Cost base date: | 1st quarter 2008 |
Assumed location: | Central belt |
Preliminaries: | 17% |
Contingency: | 2.5% |
Design fees: | 8% (as advised by steering group) |
Scale of housing scheme: | 30 units |
Land acquisition costs: | Excluded |
Developer's management & administrative costs: | Excluded |
Impact on density of development | Excluded |
4.6 It should be noted that whilst the cost plans are based on schemes located in the central belt, the costs are equally applicable to developments in other locations within Scotland, subject to the application of the relevant Building Cost Information Service ( BCIS) or other published regional adjustment factors.