Main Contractor in Edinburgh and the Lothians
Crescent Builders is a main contractor for residential building work in Edinburgh, Midlothian and East Lothian. We price from drawings, specifications and tender documents, then run the whole job: subcontractors, programme, site safety, valuations and handover. Architects, developers, landlords and homeowners use us when they want one firm to hold the contract and carry responsibility for delivery.
What we take on
- Extensions and remodelling on houses and flats, including two-storey extensions and structural alterations.
- Whole-house and tenement refurbishments, including period and listed properties.
- Small residential schemes and conversions.
- Structural packages: steel beams, load-bearing wall removal and foundation work, with the engineer's design.
What being the main contractor means for you
You sign one contract with us. We are responsible for:
- Pricing the full scope from your drawings, specification or bill of quantities, with clear inclusions, exclusions and provisional sums.
- Programme: a realistic sequence of trades, long-lead items ordered on time, and progress reported against it.
- Subcontractors: we appoint, coordinate and pay them, and we are answerable for their work.
- Site safety: on projects with more than one contractor, the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 require a principal contractor to plan, manage and monitor the construction phase. CDM 2015 applies across Great Britain, including Scotland. On domestic projects, the client's duties normally pass to the contractor, so we take that on for homeowners.
- Building standards: building to the warrant and its Construction Compliance and Notification Plan, and gathering the evidence needed for the completion certificate.
- Valuations and variations: monthly or stage valuations, and variations priced and agreed in writing before the work is done.
- Handover: snagging, certificates, manuals and warranties for the products installed.
Working with architects and developers
We are happy to price from tender packages issued by architects and quantity surveyors. To give you a firm, comparable price we need:
- Planning and warrant drawings, or the latest design stage drawings
- Structural engineer's drawings and calculations
- Specification or schedule of works, and any bill of quantities
- Form of contract you intend to use, and the programme or target start date
- Site information: access, services, any surveys
If something is missing, we price it as a clearly marked provisional sum or ask a question rather than guessing.
Why clients choose a single main contractor
Managing separate trades yourself can look cheaper on paper. In practice the gaps between trades are where time and money go: who is responsible for making good, who orders the steel, who waits for whom. With one main contractor, those gaps are our problem, not yours.
Our process
- Enquiry and documents. Send what you have. We confirm what else we need.
- Site visit. We check access, the existing structure and anything the drawings do not show.
- Written price. Itemised, with inclusions, exclusions and provisional sums stated.
- Pre-construction. Contract, programme, construction phase plan, subcontractor orders, long-lead items.
- Construction. Weekly progress, photo records and valuations against the programme.
- Completion. Snagging, completion certificate, handover pack and the defects period.
Areas we cover
Edinburgh and the Lothians, including Morningside, Bruntsfield, the New Town, Stockbridge, Leith, Corstorphine, Colinton, Portobello, Penicuik and Dalkeith.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a main contractor and a principal contractor?
The main contractor holds the building contract with the client. The principal contractor is a CDM 2015 role: the contractor appointed to plan, manage and monitor the construction phase where more than one contractor is involved. On most of our projects we are both.
Do CDM regulations apply in Scotland?
Yes. The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 apply across Great Britain, including Scotland, and to domestic projects as well as commercial ones.
Will you price from my architect's tender package?
Yes. Send the drawings, specification and any bill of quantities. We return an itemised price and list any assumptions or provisional sums.
Do you handle the building warrant and completion certificate?
We build to the approved warrant and its Construction Compliance and Notification Plan and gather the evidence for the completion certificate. Who applies for the warrant is agreed at the start; often the architect or agent does.
How are variations handled?
Every change is priced and agreed in writing before the work is done, and shown on the next valuation.
Talk to Crescent Builders
Send your drawings or tender documents and we will come back with what we need, a site visit date and a timescale for the price.