Owner
In very broad terms, an 'owner' is a person or organisation who has the rightful title to something such as property, i.e. the property belongs to them.
In the construction industry, the term 'owner' typically refers to the person or organisation that owns a built asset (such as a building, bridge, tunnel, etc.) or land. But it may also refer to ownership of the components of a project. This can be important, for example, in determining whether a ownership of a component lies with a supplier or whether it has transferred to the client.
Project 13, an Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) - led initiative to boost certainty and productivity in the delivery of infrastructure, defines an infrastructure owner as:
| The organisation that owns and operates the infrastructure, promotes the investment in the infrastructure programme, receives the completed facilities and puts them into operation. In the case of creating a completely new network the owner role can be created in parallel with the development of the programme. For example, in large infrastructure programmes such as the Olympic and Paralympic Games the London Legacy Development Corporation was created. The role of the owner will include the individual or organisation called the ‘Sponsor’. |
The term may also refer to a person or organisation that 'owns' (or is responsible for) a project or part of a project.
For example, on publicly-funded projects, the senior responsible owner (SRO) (sometimes referred to as the 'project owner') is the individual responsible for the success of the project:
| ...responsible for ensuring that a programme of change or a project meets its objectives and delivers the projected benefits. The SRO should be the owner of the overall business change that is being supported by the project and should ensure that the change maintains its business focus, has clear authority and that the context, including risks, is actively managed. This individual must be senior and must take personal responsibility for successful delivery of the project. They should be recognised as the owner throughout the organisation. |
(Ref. Achieving Excellence Guide 2 - Project Organisation.)
When the owner of a building also resides in it, they are referred to as the ‘owner occupier’.
A homeowner is a person who owns a home, whether an apartment or house.
NB the English Heritage, Heritage at Risk Register list the following ownership categories:
- Charity
- Commercial company
- Commercial company, multiple owners
- Crown
- Local authority
- Local authority, multiple owners
- Mixed, multiple owners
- Other not for profit group
- Private
- Educational (independent)
- Educational (state sector)
- English Heritage
- Government or agency
- Health authority
- Historic England
- Private, multiple owners
- Religious organisation
- Trust
- Unknown
- Utility
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Certificate of ownership
- Client.
- Customer.
- Forest ownership
- Home owner.
- Home ownership
- Infrastructure investor.
- Integrator.
- Land registry.
- Off site materials.
- Owner occupier.
- Potential owner.
- Privity of title.
- Project 13.
- Project sponsor.
- Property ownership
- Property.
- Retention of title in construction.
- Senior responsible owner.
- Shared ownership
- Stamp duty land tax.
- The rise of multiple property ownership in Britain.
- Title.
- Vesting certificate.
Featured articles and news
Expert taskforce to spearhead new, new town generation
Sir Michael Lyons given 12 months for recommendations.
Government policy statement on new towns
A coded vision for a new generation of new towns.
AT Principal Designer exemplars published
Supporting clear and comprehensive demonstration of the skills required.
Homes England goes to TOWN for co-housing project
Marmalade Lane developer selected for Northstowe neighbourhood.
Cohousing and related approaches to solve housing issues
Different forms of community housing explained with examples.
Alternative and off-grid housing communities in the UK
From Hockerton Housing Project to Tinkers Bubble.
Skills gap highlighted to Minister for Industry
Key opportunity in mission for economic growth and net-zero.
World Green Building Week 9-13 September
Join in the 16th annual event led by the World GBC.
Specifying XPS in masonry cavity walls below DPC level
Moisture requirements, DPCs and third party certification.
Types of rigid foam insulation
A brief description and some of the main construction types.
Metal composite material panel systems MCM and MCP
Sandwich finishes, forms, details, core and their impacts.
Cumbria's vernacular architecture
A history of building impeded by unsettled times.
CIOB and MMC Ireland announce strategic partnership
For better working conditions, and a more productive construction sector.
Grenfell Phase 2 final report for construction, at a glance
Twenty-three key issues raised and their recommendations.
Approved Document B: Fire Safety upcoming updates
Including sprinklers in care homes, National classes and Fire resistance.
Tools and processes supporting a robust golden thread
BSRIA Handover Information and O&M Manuals guidance.