Existing Building

Change of Use, Extension & Internal Alterations
Please contact us for further information on pricing.

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Stage 1 Measured Surveys

The first stage of every project is to conduct a measured survey of the building and surrounding site (if required). We do this to create an accurate set of existing architectural plans which provides us with the foundations to begin the conceptual design. In return for this service, you will receive a full set of existing architectural plans including: floor plans, elevations, site plan, and a site location plan, all of which will be required for any planning application.

Stage 2 Conceptual Design

As part of the conceptual design, we breakdown the project brief we have gathered at the start of the project and look to present a proposed scheme in a variety of formats depending on the nature and complexity of the brief. Our ideas may be presented in a variety of formats ranging from a simple 2D sketch scheme, to a concept booklet with numerous concept options presented with internal and external 3D visuals. Following this, we encourage you to review the proposals presented and feedback to us with your likes and dislikes, until we eventually achieve a design and layout into a frozen scheme you are extremely happy with.

Stage 3 Planning Application

Once we have a frozen scheme that you are excited to move forward with, we then look to obtain approval from the Local Planning Authority. This may be through a Prior Approval application or a Full Planning application depending on the nature and complexity of your scheme. To do this, we develop the scheme into a refined set of scaled drawings which will form the basis of the planning application. We also prepare and submit the application forms to the Local Planning Authority and administer the application through to determination.

Optional Extra Architectural Visualisation

Stage 4 Building Control Application & Technical Drawings

Following an approval from the Local Planning Authority your project will then require approval from the Building Control Authority to ensure the building design meets all the current building regulations. This process starts by reviewing and approving a set of architectural plans and technical drawings. We will prepare a full set of technical drawings for your proposed scheme, detailing important elements of the construction that will be reviewed and approved by the Building Control Authority. It’s more than likely at this stage that you will also require the input of a Structural Engineer and potentially other consultants depending on the nature and complexity of your project. We will liaise with all the consultants required and ensure the design is fully coordinated prior to submitting the Building Control Application. Once we have submitted the architectural plans and technical drawings to Building Control, we will then administer the application making any necessary amendments until the drawing package is approved.

We will then issue you a full set of approved technical drawings which generally provide sufficient information for contractors to price and build from. However, if you would like your project to be detailed at a higher specification to enable more accurate pricing from the contractor, please refer to our Tender Management & Contract Administrators page for more information.

It’s worth noting that a final certificate of Building Control approval will only be issued after the construction of the project is complete. Once the technical drawings have been approved by Building Control, it will be the responsibility of your contractor to arrange regular site inspections with the Building Control Officer and eventually a final inspection to complete and certify your build.

Additional Services

If you would like more information on how we can assist beyond this point of the project please refer Tender Management & Contract Administrators page.

For more information about our costing, please refer to Our Pricing page.