How can we help you?
Knowing how to navigate the design, Planning and construction processes can be daunting if you've not experienced it before, so we hope to offer a source of knowledge, inspiration and reassurance to our clients so that we can help them achieve their goals as swiftly and smoothly as possible.
As RIBA and ARB registered Architects, we have undergone extensive training in order to achieve and maintain professional registration, whilst abiding with our governing bodies' codes of practice.
We work predominantly in 3D CAD so can easily visualise proposals and view them in context, hugely benefitting the design process.
We pride ourselves on providing a friendly, affordable service to our clients and are confident that we can make a positive contribution to any project, whatever the nature, however large or small. If you think we might be able to help you, we'd love you to get in touch.
Our initial discussion is offered free of charge, so that we can advise how we might best be involved.
"As an architect you design for the present, with an awareness of the past, for a future which is essentially unknown"
Norman Foster
Concept & Feasibility
We can review your property or site and discuss what you'd like to achieve in terms of design, budget and timescale, to assist in defining a brief and outlining a concept proposal. This can be developed into a feasibility scheme, to assess the practicalities of the project.
Planning Applications
We can advise on the likelihood of achieving Planning permission, if required, based on past experience and our knowledge of Island Plan policies. We can then request pre-application Planning advice or submit outline or full Planning applications, to suit your particular project's circumstances.
Building Byelaws
We have extensive Building Byelaws knowledge and are able to prepare and submit the necessary drawings, technical notes and JSAP calculations that are required in order to obtain Byelaws permission, which is required prior to commencing any regulated building works.
Tender & Construction
Once statutory permissions have been obtained you may require a more detailed package of drawn and written information to allow building contractors to prepare a more accurate price (tender). If you wish, we can also undertake a Contract Administration role to monitor site works to completion.
How it works in a bit more detail...
00 Meet
Contact us to arrange an initial visit (free of charge), where one of us will meet you at your property to see what it already offers, discuss your ideas, what you'd like to achieve and see how any solutions might best work on site.
01 Briefing
RIBA Work Stages 0-1
Following our initial discussion, we will email you to outline your brief and propose our next steps. These will likely involve us conducting a check on Planning policies and any site restrictions, followed by a measured survey of your property to produce 'existing' plans. We usually build a CAD model with this information, which is invaluable as a project progresses as it allows us to demonstrate potential solutions in 3D while generating fully coordinated drawings far more quickly than if we were working in 2D.
When considering an extension or new-build project, we often sketch an initial block layout plan in 2D to help establish what might work best on site. We would then contact you again to sit down and refine your brief and agree on your principal aims, which could span functionality, aesthetics, timescale and costs.
02 Concept
RIBA Work Stage 2
We will use your brief and the 'existing' drawings to develop a concept scheme for review, to give you an idea of what might be possible. If you have an idea of budget, we can use this to gauge how much work might be affordable based on an approximate £cost per square metre.
We will then meet with you to agree on an outline solution that can be developed for Planning and/or Building Byelaws submissions as necessary, giving high-level consideration to scale, style, existing features, access, inclusivity, daylighting, relationship to outside spaces and any other particular requirements you might have for the project. It is possible to seek Pre-Application Advice from the Planning Department prior to proceeding further, which is advisable if there is any uncertainty over their likely support of the proposals. This can be submitted with no application fee and is not advertised publicly, so is a good way of checking the probability of securing Planning permission.
03 Scheme Design
RIBA Work Stage 3
Our concept sketch designs are developed to a level suitable for Planning submission, if formal permission is required, adding elements such as furniture layouts, external materials and general landscaping to the scheme. We'll also consider any issues that are controlled under Building Byelaws, with the aim of avoiding any potential problems with achieving statutory compliance at a later stage. Depending on the complexity of the project, this might be a good time to approach a Structural Engineer or other consultants, to better inform the design and to help with cost forecasts. If Planning permission is needed, we will compile and submit a Planning application on your behalf at this stage, liaising with other consultants as required to support the application, and keeping you informed throughout the process.
04 Technical
RIBA Work Stage 4
Beyond Planning stage, our design drawings are refined and developed with construction methods, materials and details in mind, to produce a set of drawings and notes that are suitable for Building Byelaws submission. These will address technical aspects such as thermal, acoustic and fire performance, and will incorporate your Engineer's design proposals.
On smaller projects, these may suffice for estimate pricing by a building contractor. On larger or more complex projects, and where more cost certainty is required, we would add further detail to this information set to produce a construction information package, suitable for more detailed pricing by a main contractor. If renewables or enhanced sustainability measures are desirable, these can be reviewed at this stage, coordinating specialist input to suit.
A Quantity Surveyor (QS) can also be engaged to produce an independent cost plan, to assist with assessing prices and ensuring value for money.
05 Construction
RIBA Work Stage 5
Once all permissions are in place, an HSPC (Health and Safety Project Coordinator) has been appointed, and a contract, including an overall cost and timescale, has been agreed with a building contractor, works can commence on site. If you wish, we can be retained to provide contract adminstration services throughout the construction phase, where we would run regular site meetings, monitor site progress against the contractor's programme, check that the works are being constructed in accordance with approved drawings and respond to site queries. We generally recommend that a QS be appointed to monitor construction costs and assess contractor’s valuations as the works progress. We would then work together with the contractor to agree the cost implications of any variations and record changes as formal instructions.
When works are complete, we would issue a Practical Completion certificate and oversee the handover of the finished project to the client.
Beyond completion...
Formal building contracts identify a 'defects liability period', which allows the contractor to return within a defined timeframe to rectify any issues that might become apparent once the completed works are in use. If we have been overseeing the building contract, then once the defects period has run its course we would return to conduct one final inspection before issuing a 'Final Certificate', which concludes the formal arrangement between client and contractor.