Homeowners

The first step of the process is to meet to discuss your project. From here, we will develop a project brief outlining the project’s scope and any specific requirements you may have. From this brief, we develop sketch design options. This stage is fun, we will create design option(s) to discuss giving us the freedom to explore the best design to meet your brief. The sketch option(s) can then be developed through ongoing consultation with you and before moving forward to the next stage.

We develop the proposals from the sketch design into a more detailed set of drawings. We can advise you on whether planning permission will be required and how the process works, along with advice regarding Permitted Development rights. We make sure this stage is handled with care, and we use our local knowledge when dealing with the Local Planning Authority and their specific policies. Once the design has been agreed, we can prepare and submit all the relevant forms along with the required drawings and documents for Planning and Listed Building Consent applications. We prepare all of the material necessary to present the strongest application possible and will manage this process for you. Various types of Planning Applications may be necessary. Once a planning application is made on your behalf to the Local Planning Authority a decision is normally made with 8 – 12 weeks from the date of the acknowledgment. We always liaise with the Local Planning Authorities during the planning process in order to maximise the likelihood of a positive outcome for any application.

Once planning approval has been received, we prepare detailed drawings sufficient for Building Regulations. This includes working with other consultants as necessary, such as an energy assessor or services engineers. We can obtain quotes from specialist consultants on your behalf. Any Structural Engineering design work required for Building Regulations purposes can be provided by our sister company, Calvert Brain & Fraulo Ltd, Consulting Structural and Civil Engineers. They can produce the necessary structural engineering designs and calculations required for any building project. Our Engineering team is highly experienced in designing and detailing foundations, steel frames, reinforced concrete, timber, and load-bearing masonry. We work together to optimise both the form and method of construction to provide practical and cost-effective solutions.

There are two ways of obtaining Building Regulation approval, either by a Full Plans submission or via a Building Notice. We can prepare all the technical drawings and specifications and deal with Building Control or an Approved Inspector on your behalf.

We have a partnering agreement with CNC Building Control, and together we can provide an unrivaled service.

Once Planning Permission has been granted and Building Regulation Approval obtained, we can prepare Contract Documents and Tender Schemes to appropriate local building firms and subsequently oversee the construction work. Before being able to tender a scheme additional design development is required to provide sufficient information to enable Contractors to accurately price the work, thus ensuring the work is completed in accordance with our designs and to good standards of workmanship. During the construction phase our work is referred to as Contract Administration and we will need to work in conjunction with a Quantity Surveyor. As part of our services we provide you with all necessary and appropriate advice relating to the building work during the construction phase.

When acting in this capacity, we will also deal with the authorisation of stage payments to Contractors in conjunction with the project Quantity Surveyor and provide professional advice to complete the project.