Are We Seeing the Return of the Bill?

Just recently, we’ve had the joy of working with some truly outstanding clients and consultant teams people who not only delivered superb drawings but also provided comprehensive bills of quantities. It’s been a refreshing reminder of how construction should work: clear, collaborative, and commercially sound. In an industry often plagued by ambiguity and rushed processes, this project has stood out as a beacon of best practice.

There was a time, not so long ago, when getting into contract in UK construction was a relatively straightforward affair. You had a set of drawings, a bill of quantities, and a client who knew what they wanted. The rules were clear, the scope was defined, and the tender process felt like a professional exchange rather than a battle.

Back then, budgets were based on actual design and real market rates. The process was logical: design first, then price, then build. Today, it’s not uncommon to be handed a budget that’s 30% below what’s realistically deliverable The expectation? That “value engineering” will somehow bridge the gap. Spoiler alert: it won’t.

Why Did Bills of Quantities Vanish?

Once the backbone of tendering, bills of quantities (BoQs) have all but vanished from mainstream contracting. What used to be a structured, transparent way to price work has been replaced by vague schedules, incomplete scopes, and a guessing game disguised as procurement. The discipline of measured work has been lost in the fog of fast-track design, legal overreach, and a race to the bottom.

One of the more frustrating developments in recent years is the shifting of preconstruction costs particularly the production of bills of quantities onto contractors. This is a client-side responsibility. Producing a detailed BoQ requires time, expertise, and access to design information, and it should form part of the preconstruction fees paid to consultants. Expecting contractors to absorb this cost, often without full design visibility, is not only unfair but counterproductive. It undermines the accuracy of pricing and increases the risk of disputes down the line. If clients want reliable numbers, they must invest in the process that generates them.

So, what happened?

• Design and Build Contracts: The rise of design and build shifted detailed design responsibility from consultants to contractors. Without a fully developed design, producing a BoQ became impractical or worse, irrelevant.
• Compressed Preconstruction Timelines: The pressure to move quickly meant detailed measurement was seen as a luxury. Pricing became based on assumptions, allowances, and hope.
• Legalisation of Construction: Contracts are now written more for lawyers than builders, creating a culture of risk transfer. A proper BoQ, once a shared reference point, is now viewed by some as a liability too rigid, too transparent, too accountable.
• Erosion of Professional Pride: Quantity surveyors once took immense satisfaction in producing meticulous bills. Today, many are forced to work reactively, firefighting commercial issues rather than proactively shaping them.

Be Realistic About When BoQs Are Needed

Of course, not every project requires a full bill of quantities. It’s important to be realistic. Smaller, less complex schemes may not justify the time and cost involved in producing a detailed BoQ. But for medium to large-scale projects especially those with multiple trades, bespoke elements, or tight budgets a BoQ should be standard practice. It’s not about bureaucracy; it’s about ensuring that everyone is pricing the same thing, with the same understanding. When used appropriately, bills of quantities are a powerful tool for transparency, consistency, and commercial control.

The Friday Noon Thrill

There was a time when submitting a tender at noon on a Friday meant something. By 12:15pm, the phone would ring, and you’d be asked to submit your bills for verification by the client’s team. It was as exciting as preconstruction got. That call meant your 4–6 weeks of hard graft managing your supply chain, your team, and the client’s expectations hadn’t been in vain. It was a moment of validation, professionalism, and pride.

You knew you were at the races. The client was engaged, the process was respected, and the numbers mattered. There was a mutual understanding that everyone had done their part: the design team had produced a coherent set of drawings, the QS had measured the works, and the contractor had priced it with care and integrity.

Today? You’re lucky if anyone reads past the executive summary of your bid submission. The emphasis has shifted from substance to style, from detail to presentation. We now spend more time formatting documents than interrogating them. And when feedback does arrive, it’s often vague, delayed, or non-existent.

A Refreshing Reminder of Best Practice

Thankfully, we’re currently working on a a number of projects that reminds us how things should be done. They came with a proper bill of quantities, a thoughtful and innovative design, and an engaged, decisive client. From the outset, the process has been collaborative, clear, and commercially sound.

The design team took the time to understand the brief, the QS measured the works with precision, and the client made decisions with confidence. As a contractor, this allowed us to focus on what we do best: building. Not second-guessing, not chasing clarifications, not absorbing risk we didn’t price for.

This project has been a joy to be part of not just because of the people involved, but because of the process itself. It’s a reminder that construction doesn’t have to be chaotic. With the right foundations, it can be structured, fair, and even enjoyable.

Why Bills Matter

Bills of quantities aren’t just a pricing tool they’re a cornerstone of good construction practice. They provide clarity, consistency, and accountability. They allow contractors to price with confidence, clients to budget with realism, and QSs to manage change with precision.

A proper bill gives everyone a fighting chance. It levels the playing field, reduces disputes, and fosters trust. It’s not about being old-fashioned it’s about being professional.

In a world where construction is increasingly complex, the need for clarity has never been greater. We don’t need more innovation in procurement we need more discipline. And bills of quantities are a great place to start.

Are We Seeing the Return?

Maybe. Just maybe.