What is a typical project process?
Write a good brief for your project. Include your budget, style, and timescale goals, and use mood boards like Pinterest or Houzz to organise your ideas.
Make sure you feel comfortable working with your project team. For a new build house, you could be working closely with them for up to 3 years.
Once you have appointed an architect or designer and planning consultant, the first step is to arrange any necessary surveys before we can start designing your project. Allow a few weeks for surveys to be booked in and the information returned to us.
Most projects require some involvement from third-party consultants. Which ones you will need will depend on the nature of your project.
We can advise on consultant requirements for your project. and coordination of third-party consultants on your behalf is included as part of our service.
Once we have received surveys, we will begin the design process with you and our planning team will begin preparing your application.
Typically, our design and consultancy work up to the submission of the planning application would take 4 to 12 weeks. Smaller projects would be quicker, but larger projects could take longer.
Local Authorities should provide their decision within 8 weeks of registering a planning application, however our recent experience is that it takes closer to 10-12 weeks due to delays at Local Authority level.
- The size of development
- External finishes
- Floor plan and interior room layout
- Outlook and light
The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) should be considered as early as possible in your project.
We can advise on whether it applies to your project, and how to address it.
Once planning approval has been granted, our design work to produce detailed drawings for Building Regulations approval typically takes 8 weeks. Again, smaller projects can be quicker, however larger projects could take longer.
When planning approval is received Local Authorities quite often stipulate certain conditions which need to be discharged. For Discharge of Conditions applications, Local Authorities typically provide a decision within 8 weeks. We undertake this work at the same time as our detailed design work.
During this stage third-party consultants may need to be revisited to provide more information, and new consultants appointed (for example, a Building Control inspector to sign off the detailed drawings). Which consultants you will need will depend on your project.
- Interior finishes
- Avoid major design changes from now on, as these could lead to more planning applications needed, project delays, and increased costs
The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) should be considered at every stage of your project.
We can advise on how to address any CIL requirements.
Once the detailed drawings are ready builders and contractors are generally given 4 weeks to tender a project.
Once tenders are received, we can help you analyse and negotiate before signing the contract.
Normally we see projects start on site within 6 weeks of tenders being returned.
- Choose a Builder and sign the contract
- Think about who will manage the project on site
The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) should be considered at every stage of your project.
We can advise on how to address any CIL requirements.
Once work has commenced on site we often find that our formal involvement is not required.
If, however, you would like to us to be involved this is generally on a monthly fee basis.
- Regular site meetings
- Construction (Design & Management) regulations (CDM) - managing health and safety on site
The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) should be considered at every stage of your project.
We can advise on how to address any CIL requirements.
How can we help?
Do you have a project in mind?
Contact us for friendly and helpful advice on any project. We always offer an initial meeting at no cost.
