Certain types of work on your home can be completed under Permitted Development, as long as you are not in a conservation area. Any work not covered under this will require a planning application. Currently there are three ways to get approval of your project. Permitted Development, Prior Approval and Planning Permission. All three are slightly different and dependant on you location and the type of work you wish to do. We can advise on the best approach in order that your project can get started with minimal delay.

The enclosed link below to the government website provides some additional information. Planning Portal Website

The UK Building Regulations are a set of legal standards designed to ensure the health, safety, welfare, and sustainability of people in and around buildings. They cover the design, construction, and alteration of buildings to ensure they meet specific requirements.

Key Objectives of Building Regulations:

1. Health and Safety: Protect occupants from hazards such as fire, structural failure, and unsafe materials.

2. Accessibility: Ensure buildings are accessible to people with disabilities.

3. Energy Efficiency: Promote sustainable building practices, including insulation, ventilation, and energy-efficient systems.

4. Environmental Impact: Reduce the environmental footprint of buildings.

5. Sanitation and Hygiene: Ensure proper drainage, waste disposal, and clean water supply.

   All our drawings contain the relevant information and specifications to ensure your project fully complies with the legislation.

In addition to Planning and Building Regulations approval your project may require other associated permissions to be granted before you can begin work. these may include Build Over Agreements for when construction affects adjacent drains, Party Wall Agreements when the works are close to a neighbouring property.

Week 1 Survey and discussing your needs

A brief discussion will take place between yourself and our surveyor to determine your basic requirements. Our surveyor will measure your home using the latest laser technology. This information will then be used to generate accurate survey drawings along with digital photographs of the property.

Week 3 Creating your plans

Based on your design brief and the survey information our Architectural Design Team will then provide an initial design which meets your requirements and may include some suggestions based upon our extensive experience. A copy is then issued for you to review normally with 14 days of our survey.

Week 4 Planning and Building Regulations Applications

When you have approved our drawings, we will submit a planning application on your behalf completing all the necessary forms to enable your application to be validated by your local Authority. This is an 8-week process.

We will then monitor the application and deal with any alterations requested by the Planning Officer. 

Week 6 - Discussions with builders and others

Whilst your planning application is being processed you can use the time to consult with local builders to obtain prices, during this time we will be in the background to give support and offer any advice required.

Week 13 - Planning Decision

Once your applications have been approved you are free to begin works on site. Whilst we do not supervise the works, we are always available to discuss any concerns and will attend site if required to rectify any unforeseen issues which may occur once construction has commenced.