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The Franklin Method
Small Projects Division
Expert project setup and assurance for residential developments under £500k, bringing clarity, confidence and control to your building journey. Director-led tools, refined over 25 years, applied to smaller projects.
Introducing the Franklin Project SetUp Playbook
Your Confidence-Building Starting Point
The Franklin Project SetUp Playbook delivers a structured, light-touch approach specifically designed for small-to-medium residential projects under £500k. We provide the essential foundations that protect homeowners, support designers and contractors, and minimise risk from early project decisions.
Our comprehensive toolkit 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.
Meet Nicholas Handslip
Your Project Setup Specialist
Nicholas Handslip leads the Franklin Method's Small Projects Division, bringing decades of experience in UK residential construction and project management. His expertise spans traditional build methods through to modern construction techniques, from super prime homes, hospitality and commercial offices to smaller projects in the £100k to £500k range.
Nicholas understands that smaller projects often lack the professional setup typically reserved for larger developments. His mission is to democratise access to professional project management expertise, ensuring homeowners and small developers benefit from the same rigorous processes used on major schemes.
With qualifications in quantity surveying, project management and contract administration, Nicholas provides the technical knowledge and practical wisdom needed to navigate complex construction projects with confidence. His forensic yet empathic makes Franklin unique. Nicholas’ approach combines thorough documentation with clear communication, ensuring clients understand every decision affecting their project.

Professional Credentials: Nicholas is a chartered construction professional with 25 years experience in residential project setup, contract administration and cost management across the UK residential sector.
Franklin PM is ISO 9001 compliant and regulated by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors.
The Franklin Project SetUp 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.
Every project deserves a clean, confident start. Our thorough front-end review process identifies 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
The Franklin Project SetUp 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 SetUp 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 outputs.
"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 managing multiple plots encompassing hospitality and office space 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.
Gain Expert Guidance
Access 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.