Get close with the build team. See where cost savings can be achieved throughout the entire project. Also see if any risk or provisional items can be priced with certainty to see if any savings can be made. Following this review, assess if these changes can be made without affecting the scheme and if any impacts are made then discuss these with the client to ensure everyone is on the same page

Find out the reason (short version) Carry out lessons learned (short version) Filter out essential and non-essential elements in the project. From this, reduce costs for non-essential elements and plan the essential elements better. Search for alternatives Avoid unnecessary deadlines and deadline pressure

Depending on the budget overrun, if it is more than 10% to 15% then scope readjustment or phasing are a must, because picking cheaper materials or methods will only get you so far ( the above list percentages). Sometime simplifying the design could help a little within the above mentioned ranges, but be cautious not to hurt the project’s vision and performance that you and the client agreed on. It would be advisable and recommend to do a smaller project that accomplish it’s vision and purpose than to keep a large project that is stripped down and misses the vision, purpose and it’s maintenance becomes a burden and a nightmare.

To respond effectively, you might outline some key strategies like: Prioritizing Essential Features: Emphasize which design elements are non-negotiable for functionality or user experience. This helps in trimming non-essential costs. Material Substitution: Opt for cost-effective materials that maintain quality and aesthetics, possibly with locally sourced options to reduce transportation expenses. Efficient Resource Allocation: Streamline team roles and delegate tasks based on expertise to enhance productivity with fewer resources. Phasing the Project: If the budget constraints are severe, propose a phased implementation, allowing for incremental improvements as funds become available.

In budget-tight projects, I focus on: 1. Prioritizing Essentials: Cut non-critical features, keeping only what drives core value. 2. Optimizing Team Resources: Shift team focus to high-impact tasks, leveraging any overlapping skills. 3. Incremental Delivery: Phased releases to manage costs and adjust based on feedback. 4. Vendor Negotiations: Explore discounts or payment flexibility with external vendors. 5. Transparent Communication: Keep stakeholders informed to align on adjustments early.