Last updated: May 2026. Reviewed by Lisa Norton, Level 4 qualified biophilic designer.
Project oversight is hands-on management of your garden build, by your designer, to make sure the finished garden actually matches the design. CBooked once your build timeline is agreed. Lisa coordinates with your landscape contractor, attends site meetings, sources plants, signs off on key stages, and resolves problems before they become permanent.
The truth: the design is the easy part. The hard part is the hundred small decisions that happen during a build. Where exactly does the seat go in the corner bed? Does that wall need to be a course higher? If none of those decisions are made by the designer, they are made by the contractor. Most contractors are excellent at what they do. Very few will second-guess a designer’s intent at five in the afternoon. That is where the gap between the design and the finished garden opens. Project oversight closes that gap.
What project oversight actually involves
Pre-build site meeting with the contractor to walk the design through, in person, before a spade goes in.
Regular site visits during the build, typically weekly or at key stage gates.
Sign-off of critical levels and setting out before they are concreted in.
Plant sourcing from nurseries we trust, with delivery coordinated to the build sequence.
On-site decisions when the design needs to flex (plant unavailability, drainage surprises, weather).
Resolving disputes or queries between you and your contractor.
Final sign-off and snagging list before handover.
Planting day on site, where we direct exactly where each plant goes.
When you need oversight, and when you don't
Most valuable when:
Your build is over about £20,000 (the cost of getting it wrong rises fast)
Your contractor is new to you or new to working with a designer
The design contains complex levels, technical drainage or unusual materials
You do not want to be the one fielding contractor questions
You are not on site every day yourself
Less essential when:
Your build is simple and your contractor is one we know well
You are on site daily and confident reading the drawings
The design is short on critical decisions (a planting-only project, for example)
We will tell you honestly at the first conversation whether you need it.
Project oversight pricing
£50 per visit, including time on site and a fair share of preparation, contractor calls and emails.
We send you a summary after each visit so you always know what is decided, what is outstanding, and where the build sits against the design.
Travel: charged at our hourly rate door to door for sites outside a 20-mile radius of Harrogate. Inside that radius, travel is included in on-site time.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to use your recommended contractor to get oversight?
No. We can oversee builds with any contractor you have appointed. If we know them already, great. If not, the first site meeting is where we calibrate.
What is the difference between oversight and project management?
Project oversight is a quality-and-design role, not a contractual one. The contract for the build is between you and your contractor. We sit alongside, protecting the design aesthetic only and your interests.
Can I bring you in halfway through a build?
Yes. Usually, because something has started to go wrong. We can come in mid-build to course-correct, though it is always cheaper and easier to start oversight on day one.
Do you charge for travel?
We charge our hourly rate door to door for sites outside a 20-mile radius of Harrogate. Inside that radius, travel is included in the on-site time.
Can you oversee a build without having done the design?
Occasionally. If the design is robust and we are given enough time to understand it, yes. Most of the time, oversight works best when paired with the design we produced.
Add project oversight to your build
If your build is being planned, the right time to talk about oversight is now.
Email lisa@harrogategardendesign.co.uk or call 07917 523485 and we will sketch out the oversight you need.