from the crowd.
ABOUT US
Established in 2020, NLM is a modern, forward-thinking, multidisciplinary building consultancy with offices in Glasgow, Edinburgh and London, providing Building Surveying, Project Management and Cost Consultancy services to clients across the UK.
Our approach is built around strong relationships, collaboration and a genuine commitment to delivering the highest standards of service and care. By working closely with our clients and project teams, we provide tailored, practical and commercially focused advice that reflects the individual requirements of every instruction.
Across each of our specialist departments, we combine professional expertise with technology and innovation to deliver greater insight, improve efficiency and provide solutions that add real value throughout the property and project lifecycle
SERVICES
As a firm, NLM provides a comprehensive range of Building Surveying, Project Management and Cost Consultancy services across the commercial and residential property sectors.
While much of our work is focused on commercial property, our team also has extensive experience across the residential market, allowing us to support a broad range of clients, properties and projects throughout the UK.
Our three specialist departments work collaboratively to provide practical, commercially focused advice throughout the property and project lifecycle. In addition to our core service areas, we can also provide complementary specialist services, including Architectural Design.
A selection of our services and areas of expertise is outlined here; however, this is not exhaustive. We would be delighted to discuss any specific enquiry or project requirement and advise on how NLM can assist.
- Project Management and Contract Administration - New build, Refurbishment, and Fit-out Schemes
- Development and Loan Monitoring
- Statutory Consents
- Surveys and Technical Due Diligence
- Pre-Acquisition / Pre-Leasehold Consultancy
- Defect Analysis
- Dilapidations Advice (Landlord & Tenant)
- Schedule of Condition
- Building Reinstatement Valuations
- Planned Maintenance Advice
- Stock Condition Surveys
- Strategic Estate / Portfolio Management Consultancy
- Feasibility Studies
- Principal Designer Services
- Cost Consultancy
MEET THE TEAM
Neil is the Managing Director and co-founder of NLM Building Consultancy.
Neil is a Chartered Building Surveyor with approximately 20 years' experience in Building Consultancy across all sectors within the built environment operating throughout the UK. Neil has extensive experience in commercial Building Surveying, with particular areas of expertise including pre-acquisition technical due diligence, building condition surveys, defect analysis, project management / contract administration, principal designer services and dilapidations representation.
Due to Neil's experience and strong communication skills, he is able to provide tailored strategic advice to Clients that add value to each instruction, at all times implementing a collaborative approach.
A director and co-founder of NLM Building Consultancy, Lesley is an experienced and astute Chartered Building Surveyor with over 20 years’ experience in the commercial property industry.
Lesley is a confident communicator who has been fortunate to work with a variety of private and public sector clients throughout her career which has allowed her to develop strong people management skills and organisational aptitude.
Lesley is very personable and thrives on developing strong client relationships. She works methodically at all times and is a committed professional who always delivers to a very high standard.
Gerard is an Associate Director at NLM Building Consultancy and a Chartered Building Surveyor with more than 35 years' experience across the commercial property and construction sectors. Throughout his career, he has successfully delivered a diverse range of building surveying and project management commissions for both private and public sector clients, developing extensive technical expertise and a practical, solution-focused approach.
He has particular experience in project management, technical due diligence, contract administration, refurbishment, and development projects, together with providing strategic property advice across a wide variety of building types. Gerard is recognised for his collaborative approach, strong communication skills, and ability to build lasting relationships with clients and project teams alike.
Committed to delivering the highest standards of professional service, Gerard combines extensive industry knowledge with a pragmatic and personable approach, helping clients make informed decisions and successfully deliver projects from inception through to completion.
Gianni is a Graduate Building Surveyor who has achieved an Honours Degree in Building Surveying from Glasgow Caledonian University.
He works closely with Neil, Lesley and Gerard, supporting the delivery of a range of Building Surveying and Project Management commissions.
Gianni is also progressing through the RICS Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) and is working towards sitting his Final Assessment to become a Chartered Building Surveyor.
Gerry is an Associate Director at NLM Building Consultancy, providing project management services across a wide range of projects.
He brings extensive industry experience, offering strategic advice and overseeing projects from inception through to completion.
Known for his collaborative approach and commercial awareness, Gerry builds trusted relationships with clients, consultants, and contractors to deliver projects successfully against programme, budget, and quality objectives.
As a key point of contact within NLM’s Project Management team, he also supports the continued growth and development of the service.
Lee is a Surveyor within NLM Building Consultancy’s Cost Consultancy team, providing commercial and cost management advice across a range of construction and property projects.
He brings practical quantity surveying experience and a strong understanding of project costs, procurement, tendering and commercial delivery.
Working closely with NLM’s Building Surveying and Project Management teams, Lee supports clients from early cost planning and feasibility through to procurement and project delivery. His practical and collaborative approach helps ensure cost, programme and commercial considerations are effectively managed throughout the project lifecycle.
As part of NLM’s newly established Cost Consultancy service, Lee will also play an important role in developing the offering and supporting its continued growth.
LATEST NEWS
Press Release
NLM Building Consultancy expands professional services as turnover rises 51%
- Firm strengthens project management offering and launches dedicated cost consultancy service
- Leadership team strengthened with three senior hires and co-founder Neil MacDougall appointed Managing Director
6 October 2026 – NLM Building Consultancy has reported a record year, with turnover rising by 51%, as it launches a dedicated cost consultancy service and strengthens its senior team to expand its project management capability.
Co-founder Neil MacDougall has been appointed Managing Director and will continue to work alongside fellow co-founder and Director Lesley Merritt.
Established in 2020, NLM has built a UK-wide portfolio through its building surveying and project management expertise, most recently securing approval as a provider under the Scottish Government's Single Building Assessment legislation as part of the Cladding Remediation Programme. Between 31 August 2025 and 31 August 2026, turnover increased by 51% and client numbers grew by 12%.
NLM has now formalised its capabilities across three dedicated service lines: building surveying, project management and cost consultancy. Cost consultancy expands the support available to clients, while the new structure brings greater focus to NLM's established building surveying and project management services.
Gerard Smith has joined as Associate Director – Building Surveying, bringing more than 35 years of experience across commercial property and construction. A Chartered Building Surveyor, he specialises in building surveying, technical due diligence and project delivery.
Gerry Bonham has been appointed Associate Director – Project Management, with a background in delivering and managing construction projects across a range of sectors. His appointment supports the development of project management as a distinct service line within NLM.
Lee Barton has joined as Surveyor – Cost Consultancy, bringing quantity surveying and cost management experience to the new service. He provides in-house capability across cost planning, procurement, tendering, valuations and wider quantity surveying services.
Alongside these appointments, NLM continues to invest in future talent. Building Surveyor Gianni De Marco joined the consultancy in March 2023, shortly after graduating from university. He has since gained substantial practical experience and is working towards his final assessment to become a Chartered Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.
Neil MacDougall, Managing Director and co-founder of NLM Building Consultancy, said: “This is an exciting stage in NLM's development. We have always been a building consultancy with building surveying at the heart of the business, alongside an increasing level of project management work as the practice has grown.
"Formalising those areas into dedicated service lines, alongside the introduction of cost consultancy, gives us a much stronger platform for the future and allows us to provide complementary expertise across the lifecycle of our clients' property and construction projects.
"The experience we have added to the team gives us greater depth across the business. Just as importantly, we are committed to supporting Gianni and future graduates as they develop their careers and progress towards chartership. Both are essential in continuing to grow NLM in a considered and sustainable way."
Lesley Merritt, Director and co-founder of NLM Building Consultancy, said : "When Neil and I established NLM Building Consultancy six years ago, we wanted to build a sustainable business based on trusted relationships, practical advice and a genuinely personal approach. Those principles remain just as important to us today.
"Our growing team combines considerable experience with fresh energy and expertise, strengthening both the services we have delivered since the business was established and the new capabilities we are now bringing to clients.
"While our geographical reach and range of services have expanded significantly, the way we want to work has not changed. As NLM continues to grow organically, maintaining the quality of our work, remaining accessible to our clients, and protecting those longstanding relationships will continue to be our priority."
NLM Building Consultancy supports commercial property and construction clients across the UK, with projects ranging from technical due diligence, dilapidations and building surveying commissions to refurbishment and development projects, project management and cost consultancy, and Single Building Assessments.
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