The Architectural Process

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We offer a no-cost initial consultation to discuss your project and understand your brief. This meeting allows us to explore your design aspirations, outline how we can support you through the process and begin developing the right approach for your project. It also gives you the opportunity to meet with us and decide whether we are the right fit for you.

Undertaking an extension to your existing home or building your dream home is a significant commitment and rarely a quick process.  It's important you feel comfortable, confident and supported when trusting us with this process.

Most projects will require Planning and Building Warrant Approval.

Planning approval relates to the use, size and appearance of a project. It is not required for all works, in some cases works can be carried out under permitted development. The requirement for planning can be discussed at the initial consultation. Local Authority Planning Application fees vary depending on whether the project is an extension or new build and will be clarified prior to application.

In some cases where planning is not required, clients like to seek a Certificate of Lawfulness from the Local Authority to negate any issues relating to works when selling their home.

 For larger projects it may be beneficial to carry out a pre-application enquiry with the planning department. This allows a level of comfort in the design when planning is submitted. Some local authorities charge for this process.

If planning approval is required, it is advisable to obtain this prior to moving on to obtaining a building warrant. This ensures the design is established and unlikely to change in order to satisfy planning.

Building Warrant approval relates to the Building Standards Technical Handbook and relates to more technical aspects of the design such as drainage, insulation levels and structure. This ensures the design is safe, compliant and energy efficient. It is required for most works, and this can again be discussed at the consultation stage.  Local Authority Building Warrant fees are calculated based on the cost of works and will be clarified prior to submission of an application.

Whilst both planning and building control are with the same local authority, they are separate processes serving different purposes. It is important to ensure you obtain the appropriate statutory approvals prior to commencing any works to your home.

As part of the architectural process, we can assist with tendering your project to local builders. 

At this stage we will discuss the internal aesthetic to ensure the costs are reflective of your vision. We will provide more detailed drawings and schedules of information to improve cost certainty. 

We would recommend tendering to a few local contractors to allow you to review a range of costs and make an informed decision on which contractor you would look to proceed with. We will help you review the tender returns to ensure you have understood the information when selecting your preferred contractor. We can arrange meetings between yourself and your preferred contractor. T

he final selection and appointment of the contractor remains your responsibility.

During works on site we can act as Contract Administrator on your behalf to administer the building contract and assess that the works are carried out fairly and generally in accordance with the contract. It should be noted that whilst appointed by you, our role is to be impartial.

As part of this role we will carry out periodic site inspections to monitor progress and quality of the works, issue instructions where required, manage variations, certify interim and final payments and administer completion and defects in accordance with the contract, acting fairly to both client and contractor.

Prior to completion we will carry out a snagging inspection to identify and record any outstanding works or defects in relation to the contract documents.

We will liaise with building control and assist with the process of obtaining completion certificates following completion of works.

Site inspections are not intended to be exhaustive and do not relieve the contractor of their responsibility to carry out works in accordance with the contract. If a supervisory role is required during site works, we would suggest the appointment of a clerk of works.