Following our site visit, we prepare a written quotation with a detailed breakdown based upon the Client’s Brief and this will also outline any additional costs that are likely to arise, such as planning and building regulation fees etc.
Once we are appointed we will arrange a time convenient with our client to carry out measurements of the building. This will enable us to prepare drawings containing the existing building and site layout in plan and elevation format.
We use laser measurement and Lidar scanners to get an accurate survey of the site, this will contain all of the information we need such as levels, heights, co-ordinates, etc. which is what we need in order to progress the drawings to the next stage.
Once we have received the survey drawings, we will prepare some initial 3D proposals in plan and elevation format for our client’s consideration. Then, when the customer has had an opportunity to examine these drawings we may need to have a further discussion or perhaps a meeting to make any changes to the design.
If Planning Permission or a Prior Notification is required we will submit this application together with the project survey and proposals to the appropriate local authority. In some instances we may recommend that before we submit a planning application that the sketch proposals are sent to the planning department to obtain their initial thoughts, this is referred to as “Pre-Application Advice”.
If Planning Permission is successful, we will prepare detailed construction drawings accompanied by a detailed written specification and will submit these either to an Approved Inspector to the Local Authority Building Control department to seek Building Regulations Plans Approval.
It is often a requirement to employ other parties such as a Structural Engineer or Party Wall Surveyor at this stage too. We will notify the client in any such instance of these requirements and we also have local contacts for these services that we would recommend.