1. Design Consultation

The initial design consultation allows us to understand what you want to accomplish and your approximate budget for the build. Every single project is different and it’s important we fully understand what you want to gain from your home extension from the very beginning. The design consultation also provides us with the opportunity to tell you more about how we work. The consultation is undertaken by a member of our Architectural Team so you’ll get a knowledgeable, creative team member, passionate about design and architecture. Following your Design Consultation, we will send over your quote based on the discussion and our understanding of your requirements. This outlines both our Fixed Fee Design Service, and also a budget estimate from our the construction arm of Build Team.

2. Measured Survey

If You Choose To Instruct Us To Proceed With The Design Phase, The First Thing We Do Is Book In Your Measured Survey. This Is A Meeting At Your Property Which Is Typically 2 Hours (This Does Vary On Project Size).

We Will Measure Up The Property And Also Recap On Your Requirements For The Design So That We Leave The Meeting With All That Is Necessary To Produce The Existing Plans And Proposed Design Options

3. Design Development

Following the Measured Survey, we will send over existing & proposed floorplans within 5 to 7 days. You are free to amend your plans or request new plans until you are totally happy with your final layout – we don’t rest until it’s perfect. We actually encourage our clients to take this time to experiment and consider design alternatives before proceeding with the planning application. Lots of clients choose to speak with their designer face to face, over the phone or on email – it’s completely up to you.

4. Planning Set

Once you are completely satisfied with your design, we will prepare your planning application for you. This includes your planning application or permitted development application and anything else we feel would support your application such as a Heritage Report or a Design & Access Statement. This also includes your drawing set (site plan, existing and proposed ground floor plan, roof plans, sectional details, side elevations etc.).

Our team will be able to explain exactly what we feel is necessary to submit the planning application.

5. Planning Period

Planning generally takes 8 weeks. Once we submit your application, we will monitor progress with the local authority to ensure it is validated in a timely manner. Validation means that the council is registering the application as valid and confirming that they have what they need to make a determination. Once the application is validated, a Case Officer (CO) will be assigned. We then make contact with the CO to ensure that they have our details. Sometimes the CO will want to carry out a brief site visit at around week 6 or 7 of the planning period and in this case we will be in touch with you to book it in. They generally just want to have a quick look around and take some photos.

6. Party Wall

If you want to build soon, we would recommend getting started on Party Wall (PW) once you have submitted to planning, so you can run the process alongside the 8 week planning window. Party Wall can be lengthy, especially if your neighbors are not supportive of the works you intend to carry out. It’s important to remember that no neighbor can stop you from building, they can only delay it during the PW negotiations. We have an in-house Party Wall Expert who can serve Notice & draw up the Schedules of Condition. We take a very sympathetic approach when it comes to serving to Notice in the hope of gaining consent to the works which ultimately saves you time and money. We do this by offering lots of information and support if your neighbors have questions or concerns.

7. Building Reg Packs

If planning permission is accepted, we will notify you and send over all of the documentation for your information and records. Once the application is accepted, we begin your Building Reg Pack. These are the detailed drawings that Building Control and your assigned contractor will require during your Build. They are the detailed drawings that show all of the steel placement and specifications etc.

If your application is rejected, we will look carefully as the reasons for rejection and work with you to find the best solution forward, be that to Appeal the decision or amend the drawings and resubmit.

8. Pre-site Activities

Once we have your detailed drawings, our construction arm will prepare a fixed price tender for the works. On acceptance of this quotation, we will raise our deposit invoice and book a start date for the works to commence on site. We will also arrange a Pre-Contract Meeting to introduce you to Project Manager and Foreman for the works, and run through any pre-start formalities such as the provision of a temporary kitchen, waste permits, and any neighborly matters pertaining to the Party Wall Award. We pride ourselves on providing high levels of quality, attention to detail and customer service.