Nisbet, aged 86, is credited with inventing the cost plan in the 1950s while working as a QS at Hertfordshire council.

The council had landed him with the formidable task of cutting the costs of its school building programme by 50%. Nisbet鈥檚 solution was to calculate the cost of various elements of a building before the architect had even picked up a pen.

Nisbet promoted cost planning through the firm he founded in 1964, James Nisbet & Partners, now Nisbet. He still remains principle associate of the company, which employs 80 staff in eight UK offices. He was president of the QS division of the RICS in 1970.

Nisbet has also written a host of books during his long career, including histories of construction contracts dating back to 1650.

Source

QS News

Postscript

Has the industry and government gone too far in embracing new forms of contracts and procurement? Is Nisbet right that traditional procurement is still worthwhile? Email your views to qsnews@cmpi.biz