Process
From brief to handover.
Every stage answers the same questions: what VSN does, what the client sees, which decisions are needed, who manages the stage and which documents are produced. Nothing important is left to interpretation.
Phase — Define
Stage 1: Consultation
What VSN does
Meets the client to understand the project, its drivers and its constraints: site, budget range, programme expectations, funding and approvals status.
- What the client sees
- A senior VSN contact from the first meeting, and a written record of what was discussed and agreed.
- Decisions required
- Whether to proceed with an assessment, and what information can be shared.
- Managed by
- Business development lead with a Project Director
- Documentation
- Meeting record
- Information request list
- Confidentiality agreement where required
Stage 2: Project Assessment
What VSN does
Reviews the available design, surveys and reports. Identifies gaps, early risks and the information needed before cost or programme can be relied on.
- What the client sees
- A clear statement of what is known, what is assumed and what still needs investigation.
- Decisions required
- Which surveys or investigations to commission; preferred contract route.
- Managed by
- Project Director
- Documentation
- Assessment report
- Initial risk register
- Survey recommendations
Stage 3: Feasibility
What VSN does
Tests whether the project can be built within the target budget and programme. Develops outline construction methods, logistics and phasing options.
- What the client sees
- Options compared side by side, each with its cost, programme and risk implications.
- Decisions required
- Preferred option; budget and programme targets to carry forward.
- Managed by
- Project Director with Planning and Commercial leads
- Documentation
- Feasibility report
- Outline programme
- Order-of-cost estimate
- Logistics options
Phase — Prepare
Stage 4: Preconstruction Planning
What VSN does
Builds the construction programme, site logistics plan, temporary works strategy and procurement schedule around the preferred option.
- What the client sees
- A programme with a defined critical path and a logistics plan showing how the site will operate.
- Decisions required
- Programme milestones; enabling works; approach to neighbours and authorities.
- Managed by
- Project Director and Planning Manager
- Documentation
- Preconstruction programme
- Site logistics plan
- Temporary works strategy
- Procurement schedule
Stage 5: Design Coordination
What VSN does
Coordinates architectural, structural and services design in a federated model. Reviews buildability and manages the design programme against procurement dates.
- What the client sees
- A design programme with freeze dates, and clash reviews that resolve conflicts before construction.
- Decisions required
- Design freezes; acceptance of proposed alternatives; finishes and specification choices.
- Managed by
- Design Manager
- Documentation
- Design responsibility matrix
- Design programme
- Clash review records
- Design change register
Stage 6: Cost Planning
What VSN does
Develops the cost plan from the coordinated design, market-tests key packages and records every assumption and exclusion.
- What the client sees
- A cost plan broken down by element, with assumptions and risk allowances visible.
- Decisions required
- Budget approval; acceptance of value engineering proposals; contingency level.
- Managed by
- Commercial Manager
- Documentation
- Elemental cost plan
- Assumptions and exclusions schedule
- Value engineering log
Stage 7: Procurement
What VSN does
Prequalifies, tenders and appoints subcontractors and suppliers in the order the programme requires. Orders long-lead items against frozen design.
- What the client sees
- A procurement schedule with progress against each package, and tender recommendations where the contract route requires it.
- Decisions required
- Approval of key subcontractors where required; acceptance of named suppliers.
- Managed by
- Procurement Manager with Commercial Manager
- Documentation
- Procurement schedule
- Tender evaluation reports
- Subcontract register
Phase — Build
Stage 8: Mobilisation
What VSN does
Establishes the site: hoarding, welfare, access, cranes, temporary services, site inductions and the first look-ahead programme.
- What the client sees
- A site set up as shown on the logistics plan, and a start-on-site meeting with the full project team.
- Decisions required
- Confirmation of site access and start date; reporting format and meeting schedule.
- Managed by
- Construction Manager
- Documentation
- Construction phase plan
- Site set-up drawings
- Induction records
- Look-ahead programme
Stage 9: Construction
What VSN does
Delivers the works through daily coordination, weekly look-aheads and monthly programme reviews, managing every trade, delivery and interface on site.
- What the client sees
- Monthly progress reports, scheduled site visits and a clear view of programme status and risks.
- Decisions required
- Change instructions; approval of samples and mock-ups; responses to design queries.
- Managed by
- Project Director and Construction Manager
- Documentation
- Monthly progress report
- Updated programme
- RFI and change registers
- Site diaries
Stage 10: Quality Control
What VSN does
Runs inspection and test plans for every package. Work is inspected at defined hold points and recorded before it is covered up.
- What the client sees
- Inspection records, test results and a non-conformance register that shows how issues were resolved.
- Decisions required
- Acceptance of benchmarks and mock-ups; witness attendance at key tests.
- Managed by
- Quality Manager
- Documentation
- Inspection and test plans
- Inspection records
- Non-conformance register
- Test certificates
Phase — Complete
Stage 11: Testing & Commissioning
What VSN does
Tests and commissions building systems in sequence — from individual components through to integrated systems — with witnessed tests where required.
- What the client sees
- A commissioning programme, witnessed tests and certificates for each system.
- Decisions required
- Attendance at witness tests; acceptance of commissioning results.
- Managed by
- MEP Manager with Commissioning Manager
- Documentation
- Commissioning plan
- Test and commissioning certificates
- Integrated systems test records
Stage 12: Handover
What VSN does
Completes final inspections and snagging, trains the client’s operators and issues the handover file.
- What the client sees
- A building that has been inspected room by room, trained operators and a complete set of records.
- Decisions required
- Acceptance of practical completion; arrangements for occupation.
- Managed by
- Project Director
- Documentation
- Handover file
- O&M manuals
- As-built drawings
- Training records
- Completion certificates
Stage 13: Post-Handover
What VSN does
Manages defects through the defects period, supports seasonal commissioning and holds a review with the client to record lessons learned.
- What the client sees
- A named contact for defects, response times agreed in advance, and a close-out review.
- Decisions required
- Defects reporting route; date of close-out review.
- Managed by
- Project Director with Aftercare lead
- Documentation
- Defects log
- Seasonal commissioning records
- Lessons learned report
Most projects come to us at stage 02 or 03.
Earlier is better.
The earlier VSN is involved, the more influence we have over buildability, programme and cost.