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Design and Build: Is It the Right Route for Your Project?

One contract, one point of responsibility.

Design and Build: Is It the Right Route for Your Project? Property Development & Construction

Updated October 2026 · Fraser Bond

Construction · Procurement

Design and build

Singleresponsibility
Costcertainty
Speedoverlap
Controlless design
In short: Under design and build, the client appoints one contractor to design and construct the project, often after developing an initial design that is passed over, with the designers sometimes "novated" to the contractor. It gives a single point of responsibility, earlier cost certainty and the ability to overlap design and construction. The trade-off is less client control over design detail, and quality depends on a tight employer's requirements document. Traditional procurement can suit complex or design-led projects.
Design and buildTraditional
ResponsibilityContractorSplit
Cost certaintyEarlierLater
Design controlLowerHigher
SpeedFasterSlower

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Frequently asked questions

Is design and build cheaper?

Not always, but cost certainty is earlier.

What is novation?

Transferring the client's designers to the contractor.

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