Life Cycle Costing

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A house with a smoking chimney, a leaf on the roof, and circular lines indicating a scent or smell, with the word 'BREEAM' below.
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A green icon featuring a sprout with two leaves growing from soil, surrounded by a circular arrow, with the letters 'LCA' below.
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Optimised Costs. Lower Carbon. Lasting Value.

What is Life Cycle Costing?

Life Cycle Costing (LCC) is a methodology for assessing the total cost of a building or asset across its entire lifespan. It goes beyond upfront construction costs to consider:

  • Construction

  • Operation & maintenance

  • Repair & replacement

  • End-of-life and disposal

By comparing different design and material options, LCC helps project teams identify long-term savings and make more informed investment decisions.

Our Approach

At Mainer Associates, we deliver robust and practical LCC studies by:

  • Using Life Cycle Costing software for accurate modelling

  • Producing reports aligned with BREEAM requirements and the PD 156865: Standardised Method of Life Cycle Costing for Construction Procurement

  • Applying guidance from BS ISO 15686, the international standard for planning the service life of buildings

  • Offering both Elemental and Component Level LCC to meet project and certification needs

Benefits for Clients

Working with Mainer Associates ensures:

  • BREEAM compliance – supporting Management 02 and Materials 01 Exemplary Credits

  • Real-world relevance – we can integrate client-specific cost data for tailored results

  • Informed decision-making – clear comparisons of long-term cost implications of different designs and specifications

  • Maximised value – identifying opportunities for savings without compromising quality or performance

LCC + LCA: A Holistic View

When combined with our Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) services, LCC provides a full picture of both cost and embodied carbon. This integration allows us to:

  • Evaluate design strategies in terms of financial and environmental impact

  • Support developers and designers in balancing cost, carbon, and programme

  • Propose ‘win-win-win’ solutions that deliver measurable value in sustainability and project delivery

Life Cycle Costing Experience

  • Modern cityscape with a mix of old stone building and contemporary glass and metal high-rise, people walking and a cyclist in a public square.

    11 & 12 Wellington Place, Leeds

    Commercial

  • Modern urban plaza with high-rise buildings, trees, and people walking and sitting in a landscaped area.

    14 Wellington Place, Leeds

    Commercial

  • Night view of a cityscape with a tall, illuminated high-rise building in the center, surrounded by smaller buildings and streets with car lights, under a cloudy sky.

    Bridgewater Place, Leeds

    Commercial

  • New DPD delivery warehouse with trucks parked outside, modern building with large glass windows, and people walking near the entrance.

    DPD, Crawley

    Light Industrial

  • Modern industrial warehouses with parking lot, surrounded by green landscaped areas and winding pathways, under a clear blue sky.

    Fairham Business Park, Nottingham

    Light Industrial

  • Digital rendering of a modern, multi-story college building labeled 'Harrogate College,' with people walking outside and a grassy area with trees.

    Harrogate College, North Yorkshire

    Education

  • Exterior view of a modern building with glass windows and a curved roof during dusk.

    Runshaw College, Leyland

    Education

  • Modern commercial building with large glass windows and red accents, parking lot with marked spaces, landscaped greenery, and trees under a partly cloudy sky.

    Silverstone Park, Towcester

    Light Industrial

  • Modern cityscape with tall residential and office buildings, a curved pedestrian bridge over a waterway, and trees, under a partly cloudy blue sky.

    Whitehall Riverside, Leeds

    Commercial