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Extent of refurbishmentIndicative cost (£/m2 gifa)
Minor refurbishment300–825
Medium refurbishment825–1,450
Major refurbishment*1,450–2,100-plus
*includes category A fit-out.
Costs current at 2Q08 for central London location
 ££/m2 GIFA%
Demolition and alterations3,163,300265.8217.57
Allowance for strip-out: item @ £500,000   
Allowance for general demolition works, services strip-out, asbestos removal, temporary propping: item @ £560,000   
Alterations to existing lightwell walls, including blocking up and enlarging existing openings, work to windows, etc: item @ £340,000   
Breaking out local areas of existing load-bearing masonry, temporary support, forming new padstones, disposal: item @ £100,000   
Demolish load-bearing walls and chimneys and adjacent upper-floor structure, temporary support, padstones, new steel structure: item @ £600,000   
Demolish load-bearing walls and chimneys and adjacent upper-floor structure, temporary support, padstones, new steel structure: item @ £600,000   
Propping load-bearing wall structure to allow insertion of structural steel: item @ £150,000   
Demolish existing non-load-bearing walls, disposal: 1,860m2 @ £35   
Break out floor slabs in isolated areas: 1,035m2 @ £120   
Localised breaking out of slabs to insert structural steel: 800 nr @ £340   
Infill existing slabs where structure removed: 1,600m2 @ £260   
Alterations to pavement lights to form ventilation openings, waterproofing: item @ £36,000   
Substructure257,90021.671.43
Alterations to drainage: item @ £65,000   
Underpinning existing structure: item @ £80,000   
New core foundations, including breaking through existing slabs, excavation, disposal, 1,000mm-deep reinforced concrete raft foundation: 170m2 @ £570   
New basement slab to cores, 150mm thick: 200m2 @ £80   
Frame and upper floors3,053,400256.5916.96
Structural steelwork generally; UB and UC sections, erection, fire protection: 470t @ £2,500   
Extra over for erection within existing structure, including connection details, splicing, etc: 470t @ £2,000   
130mm-thick reinforced concrete slab on permanent formwork, including reinforcement as infill to stair cores and lightwells: 1,090m2 @ £110   
Alterations to retained upper-floor structure, strengthening and sealing on both sides in structural plywood: 7,350m2 @ £100   
Fire barriers to risers with open-mesh plant platforms: 250m2 @ £190   
Allowance for the testing and replacement of existing eye-bolts: item @ £36,000   
Roof1,233,000103.616.85
Allowance for repairs to existing roof: item @ £340,000   
Roof-level steelwork, erection, fire protection: 78t @ £2,000   
Insitu concrete roof slab; metal deck and insitu concrete, including upstand and works to existing parapet: 280m2 @ £170   
Single-ply roof membrane, including insulation, paving slabs: 320m2 @ £160   
Open mesh flooring to plant deck: 440m2 @ £150   
Mansard roof, including rafters, slate tiles, flashings, etc: 1,190m2 @ £280   
Allowance for new aluminium rainwater goods; detailing to existing building: item @ £125,000   
Sheet cladding to new lightwell: 400m2 @ £160   
Access ladders, latchway, stairs to platforms and galvanized roof balustrading: item @ £50,000   
Stairs184,00015.461.02
Main steel internal staircases; handrails and balustrades (rate per flight): 18 nr @ £8,000   
Additional stairs, balustrades and handrails: item @ £40,000   
External walls, windows and doors1,177,20098.926.54
Allowance for repairs and cleaning to existing facade, including upgrade to insulation: item @ £410,000   
New glazed office entrance screens: item @ £140,000   
Secondary glazing to existing windows, including blinds: 1,000m2 @ £190   
Allowance for renovations to existing windows and glazed doors, including replacement ironmongery: item @ £250,000   
Plant area louvres: 560m2 @ £300   
Allowance for temporary hoardings to retail units, 4m high: 480m2 @ £40   
Internal walls and partitions82,9006.970.46
Reinforced concrete walls to lift pit, 100mm-thick: 28m2 @ £120   
150mm-thick blockwork walls: 930m2 @ £50   
Additional masonry in core walls and infill to voids: item @ £33,000   
Internal doors285,80024.021.59
MDF-faced non-fire-rated doors, ironmongery (average rate per leaf): 175 nr @ £850   
Laminated-faced, 30-minute fire-rated doors, ironmongery (average rate per leaf): 70 nr @ £1,100   
Glass doors, 30-minute fire-rated doors, ironmongery, single-leaf only: 20 nr @ £3,000   
Wall finishes529,60044.502.44
Reception finishes, stone cladding and timber panels: item @ £140,000   
Lobby finishes, timber panels: 90m2 @ £400   
Plasterboard lining to existing perimeter walls and window reveals, skim coat: 6,400m2 @ £30   
Column casings; skim coat: 1,000m2 @ £60   
Emulsion paint to existing perimeter walls, lightwell walls, columns: 7,400m2 @ £4   
Dust sealer to basement and ground-floor walls: 2,000m2 @ £6   
Allowances for enhanced finishes: item @ £60,000   
Floor finishes138,80011.660.77
Stone and composite floor tiling, average rate: 280m2 @ £200   
Extra for lightweight concrete infill: 100m2 @ £300   
Rubber and vinyl tiles including skirtings, screeds, average rate: 290m2 @ £80   
Carpet tiles including skirtings, screeds: 160m2 @ £60   
Entrance mats: item @ £10,000   
Allowance for floor sealers: item @ £10,000   
Ceiling finishes359,90030.242.00
Plasterboard suspended ceiling: 795m2 @ £40   
2 layers of plasterboard as ceiling lining: 795m2 @ £40   
1 layer of plasterboard ceiling to offices areas including skim coat: 7,350m2 @ £30   
Paint finish: 8,940m2 @ £4   
Allowance for feature ceilings in landlord’s areas: item @ £40,000   
Furniture and fittings179,20015.061.00
Reception desk: item @ £35,000   
Allowance for additional furniture in landlord’s areas: item @ £15,600   
Fitting out to WCs, including vanity units, towel rails etc: 31 nr @ £2,600   
Signage – directory and statutory: item @ £30,000   
Fire extinguisher cabinets: item @ £18,000   
WCs, basins and sundry fittings: 31 nr @ £2,750   
Extra for fittings for disabled toilets: 11 nr @ £950   
Cleaners’ sink and taps: 6 nr @ £800   
Disposal installations123,00010.340.68
Waste, soil and vent pipework: 10,250m2 @ £8   
Rainwater installation: 10,250m2 @ £4   
Hot and cold water installations82,0006.890.44
Hot and cold water installation; incoming supply, localised water heaters: 10,250m2 @ £8   
Heating air treatment and ventilation854,80071.834.75
Modular boiler plant, plant room and riser distribution: 10,250m2 @ £28   
Chiller, plant room and riser distribution: 10,250m2 @ £19   
Air-handling unit and riser ductwork: 10,250m2 @ £32   
Entrance area ventilation and cooling: item @ £21,000   
Toilet extract ventilation: item @ £24,000   
Electrical installation823,50069.204.58
New incoming supply: item @ £173,000   
LV mains and sub-mains distribution: 10,250m2 @ £24   
Small power to landlord’s areas: 10,250m2 @ £6   
Electrical supplies to mechanical plant: 10,250m2 @ £8   
Lighting to basement and landlord’s areas: 3,650m2 @ £40   
Enhanced lighting in reception and other areas: item @ £105,000   
Allowance for capped-off supply to retail units: item @ £10,000   
Gas installations12,0001.010.20
Incoming gas supply: item @ £12,000   
Lift installations396,00033.282.14
13-person (1,000kg) electric passenger lifts, 1.6m/s: 3 nr @ £132,000   
Protective installations38,5003.240.21
Lightning protection: item @ £14,500   
Earthing and bonding: item @ £24,000   
Communication installations216,80018.221.21
Fire alarm and smoke detection: 10,250m2 @ £9   
Intruder alarm: item @ £20,000   
Disabled WC alarm system and wheelchair refuge call points: item @ £21,000   
CCTV allowance for six cameras: item @ £15,500   
IT containment and security wireways: item @ £68,000   
Specialist installations164,00013.780.91
BMS controls: 10,250m2 @ £16   
Builder’s work in connection420,00035.292.33
Builder’s work generally: item @ £420,000   
Preliminaries and contingencies 4,125,900346.5522.91
Management costs, site establishment and site supervision. Contractor’s preliminaries, overheads and profit @ 22%: item @ £3,070,000   
Allowance for design reserve @ 3%: item @ £970,000   
Testing and commissioning of building services installations: item @ £60,000   
Total construction cost (shell and core) 18,000,000 1,512.60 100.00
(m2 rate based on GIFA)   
 ££/m2 GIFA%
Floor finishes555,10054.1617.59
Raised access floor: 7,525m2 @ £40   
Allowance for mechanical fixing of pedestals: item @ £30,000   
Carpet to raised access floor: 7,525m2 @ £25   
Hardwood skirtings, painted: 1,800m @ £20   
Furniture and fittings30,0002.930.95
Window blinds: item @ £30,000   
Heating, air treatment and ventilation1,021,70099.6832.28
Low-temperature hot-water distribution to Hiross units: 7,350m2 @ £11   
Chilled water distribution to Hiross system, condensate drain: 7,350m2 @ £20   
Hiross under-floor air-conditioning units, return air grilles: 7,350m2 @ £108   
Electrical installation690,90067.4021.83
Distribution boards: 7,350m2 @ £4   
Lighting installation and controls: 7,350m2 @ £18   
Luminaires, emergency lighting: 7,350m2 @ £66   
Small power: 7,350m2 @ £6   
Communications installations58,8005.741.86
Fire alarms: 7,350m2 @ £8   
Special installations51,5005.021.63
BMS: 7,350m2 @ £7   
Preliminaries and contingencies 757,00073.8523.92
Management costs, site establishment and site supervision; contractor’s preliminaries, overheads and profit @ 22%: item @ £530,000   
Testing and commissioning of building services installations: item @ £25,000   
Allowance for design reserve and construction contingency @ 7%: item @ £202,000   
Total construction cost (cat A fit-out)3,165,000308.78100%
(m2 rate based on GIFA)   
The cost breakdown should be adjusted by the following location factors for schemes in regions outside central London:
Inner London 1.00
Outer London0.94
South-east England0.92
South-west England0.88
East Midlands0.85
West Midlands0.85
East Anglia0.88
Yorkshire and Humberside0.88
North-west England0.83
Northern England0.91
Scotland0.92
Wales0.87
Northern Ireland0.69