Defensible investment decisions, for regulated businesses
Regulators expect you to show why each investment is needed, which options were considered and why the chosen one represents value. DevelopVault builds that evidence as the project develops, from first evidence to approved option, ready for your business plan and justification papers.
Retain Knowledge.
Decision Context
Comments
3 photosStair treads and stringers corroded, recoat or replace.
2 photosBolts corroded on the inlet main.
2 photosDuty pump tripping on overload.
2 photosPonding at the gate, gully blocked.
2 photosSeal leaking onto the plinth.
4 photosPosts corroded along the river boundary.
Investment cases your regulator can follow
Proven on live UK energy network programmes and built for any regulated business that has to justify what it spends and why.
A clear needs case
Evidence, issues and risk scored consistently and located on imagery and drawings, with the photos that prove them.
The options regulators expect
Do Nothing as the baseline and a do minimum alongside fuller options, every one costed and risk scored.
Value for money, shown
Cost against target, benefits and remaining risk side by side, with weighted criteria where you need them.
Approval with nothing left open
Stakeholders vote on each option and approval is recorded with who, when and why. Actions that block approval stay visible until resolved.
Audit ready decision packs
PDF, PowerPoint and Excel packs of the overview, drawings, options and evidence for each project.
Can stay in your environment
Can be deployed inside your own estate under your existing permissions, so sensitive data never leaves your control.
Every section of your investment case, already evidenced
Regulators such as Ofgem (energy) and Ofwat (water) expect an investment case to set out the needs case, the options considered (including the baseline and do minimum), how they were assessed, the preferred option, costs, deliverability and the evidence base. This is where each one comes from.
| Justification section | Where it comes from in DevelopVault |
|---|---|
| Needs case | Issues and risks scored consistently, located on the image or drawing, with the photos that prove them. |
| Options considered | Every option developed from scope items or as a whole alternative, with Do Nothing always included as the costed baseline. |
| Option assessment | Cost against target, benefits, remaining risk, weighted criteria and stakeholder votes, side by side. |
| Preferred option | The selected option and a recorded approval: who approved it, when and their notes. |
| Costs | Scope items priced from your catalogue and linked to funding lines. |
| Deliverability | Open actions and approval blockers, with owners, due dates and the options they affect. |
| Evidence base | The evidence library and a decision pack for each project, in PDF, PowerPoint and Excel. |
| Option Comparison | Option 1 ★ SELECTED | Option 2 ★ SELECTED | Option 3 ★ SELECTED | Do Nothing (baseline) ★ SELECTED |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your criteria + Add the criteria that matter to you | ||||
| Summary | Do minimumMinor repairs to the access path, building and fence. Corrosion and pumps left as they are. | PreferredMinor repairs, fence replacement and corrosion works, with the pump system repaired rather than replaced. | Do maximumAs Option 2, but the pump system is replaced rather than repaired. | BaselineContinue inspections and reactive repairs. No planned intervention. |
| Est. cost ±30% | £23,000 | £170,000 | £390,000 | £0 |
| Target cost | £19,000 | £214,000 | £349,000 | n/a |
| Cost against target | £4k over (21%) | £44k under (21%) | £41k over (12%) | n/a |
| Defects closed | 3 of 8 | 7 of 8 | 8 of 8 | 0 of 8 |
| Remaining risk | 16 High | 6 Low | 0 None | 16 High |
| Scope items | ||||
| 1Access path minor repairs £5,000 | ||||
| 2Building minor repairs £10,000 | ||||
| 3Fence minor repairs £8,000 | ||||
| 4Fence replacement £50,000 | ||||
| 5Corrosion remediation & painting £75,000 | ||||
| 6Repair pump system £30,000 | ||||
| 7Replace pump system £250,000 | ||||
| Benefits and trade offs | ||||
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| Stakeholder review | ||||
| Operations | Neutral | For | Against | Against |
| Engineering | Against | For | Neutral | Against |
| Asset Management | Against | For | Against | Against |
| Investment decision |
Regulated business questions
How does DevelopVault support regulatory business plans?
Price controls such as RIIO from Ofgem, the energy regulator and the price reviews of Ofwat, the water regulator, ask companies to evidence why each investment is needed, which options were considered and why the chosen option represents value. DevelopVault captures that at project level as the work develops: evidence, scope, options, evaluation and decision.
What goes into an investment justification?
Most regulators ask for the needs case and its evidence, the options considered (including a baseline and a do minimum option), how the options were assessed, the preferred option and why, the costs, deliverability and the evidence base behind it all. In energy, Ofgem calls these Engineering Justification Papers.
Which sectors is it for?
Regulated infrastructure such as energy networks, water and wastewater, rail, telecoms, airports and ports. DevelopVault is proven on live UK energy network programmes and works for any regulated business that has to justify its investment decisions.
Can we use our existing data?
Yes. DevelopVault is configured around the data your organisation already holds, such as asset registers, inspection records and cost data. Each new project starts with that information already in place, so your teams spend their time developing options rather than gathering data.
Is it suitable for Critical National Infrastructure data?
It can be. DevelopVault Enterprise can be deployed inside your own environment, where it does not store, copy or host your data and everything stays under your existing permissions.
See DevelopVault in action
A walkthrough using example projects, from first evidence to preferred option. Tell us what types of projects or assets you manage and we'll show how DevelopVault could help.