Your Roadmap to Building
The Pre-Construction Programme
Why Every Build Needs a Pre-Construction Programme
You’ve got planning permission, but you’re not ready to build. A Pre-Construction Programme is a tool to de-risk your project, forecast your start date, and bring structure to all the moving parts before you break ground. It’s the foundation for a smooth, well-managed build.
Your Pre-Construction Roadmap is the backbone of your project
It’s a structured, visual plan that captures every task, approval, and decision that needs to happen before building starts — all mapped in the right order, with realistic timings. From design development and securing consents to ordering long-lead materials, arranging surveys, and preparing the site, it brings every moving part together into one clear sequence.
This isn’t just about knowing what to do, it’s about knowing when to do it, what depends on what, and where tasks can run in parallel to save time.
Your roadmap is a working tool you’ll refer to throughout Plan It, giving you control, confidence, and a clear path to the first day on site.
Quick Answers
How is a Pre-Construction Roadmap different from a to-do-list?
A to-do list tells you what needs to happen. A roadmap shows you when to do it, how each task connects to others, what depends on what, and where you can run tasks in parallel to save time. It’s a structured, strategic plan — not just a checklist.
Our roadmap is also linked to a pre-made to-do list inside your project workspace, accessible in Plan It, so you have both the big-picture sequence and the actionable steps in one place.
When should I create my Pre-Construction Roadmap
The earlier the better. Ideally, as soon as planning permission is granted. When you pre-register for Plan It, you can begin gathering the key information that will allow you to customise your roadmap and make it truly bespoke to your project, with our guidance, of course.
Will my roadmap need to change during pre-construction?
Yes, it’s a live document. As design progresses, consents are approved, and details evolve, your roadmap adapts. Updating it means you always have a realistic view of your timelines and can make informed decisions at every stage whilst keeping others informed.
What a Pre-Construction Programme Does For You
A well-structured programme will:
Keep your team and tasks aligned to a clear schedule
Track progress and help you make informed decisions
Sequence actions so nothing is missed or delayed
Build in lead times for materials, consents, and surveys
Give you a realistic and achievable build start date
Why This Step Matters
Even the best programme can’t remove every delay, unexpected issues can still arise, but a clear Pre-Construction Programme is the single most effective way to keep your project moving in the right direction.
A good programme de-risks your project, and gives structure and control to the pre-construction design, consent, and budgeting process.
Without one, it’s almost impossible to co-ordinate all the moving parts. You lose visibility of:
How tasks connect
What depends on what
Which actions must come first
This is when jobs get done out of sequence, key approvals are missed, or materials aren’t ready when needed.
A well-structured Pre-Construction Roadmap does more than list tasks, it maps the entire journey from concept to a build-ready project. We start by identifying what consents are needed and when, then plot them into the programme alongside your design team’s roles, responsibilities, and timelines. Each designer’s work is planned so it aligns with, and builds on, the work of others — avoiding clashes and keeping progress moving. The sequence follows the recognised RIBA stages, the construction industry’s standard framework for developing a design from early ideas through to technical detail. We’ve distilled this into a user-friendly format, so you get the benefit of an industry-structured approach without the jargon.
Our programme ties directly into the actions inside your project workspace for added guidance and control, a unique combination that gives you both the plan and the tools to follow it. As design detail grows, cost plans evolve from a broad budget to a detailed, build-ready figure. The programme also shows when you’ll have the right information to approach builders, how to time those conversations, what to share, and how to analyse prices with confidence. We flag when to start insurance discussions, what to prepare before getting quotes, and much more.
Estimated start dates are just that, estimates. But without a programme, those dates are rarely realistic and seldom met. A good programme won’t prevent every delay, but it will help you spot them early, understand the impact, and make informed decisions to keep the project moving. Without one, you’re left reacting to problems as they appear, with no clear way to bring the project back on track.
Start Your Project the Right Way
The Plan It pathway guides you through creating your own Pre-Construction Programme, stage by stage. You’ll also get a preparation guide straight to your inbox so you can start organising the essentials before we begin.
Guided Pathways
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Plan It
Plan It equips you with the knowledge, tools, and structured processes to confidently design, budget, and prepare your homebuilding project, ensuring a smooth and well-managed build.
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Build It
Build It equips you with the expertise, guidance, and step-by-step processes to manage your construction project effectively, ensuring quality, cost control, and timely completion.
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Certify It
Certify It equips you with the knowledge and processes to navigate final inspections, compliance, and certification, ensuring your project is completed with the documentation needed to validate your investment.