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Most residential building projects start with a wish or a dream:
‘I wish we had a bigger kitchen’, ‘I wish we had more room’, ‘I wish we had a bedroom with an en-suite’, ‘I wish we could move to a bigger house but we can’t so how can we improve this one ?’ |
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Free initial consultation
The process starts with a no obligation, no fee, initial consultation, in your home.
At this informal meeting we can discuss your ideas, help to define your wish list, to explore the feasibility of the project and to advise and explain the options and the procedures involved. Following the meeting we write, outlining a design brief, the services offered and the fees involved, including the local authority fees and any other costs that are likely to be incurred. If you are happy with the proposals a simple phone call or email will start the project.
Measured Survey
A full measured survey of the existing property will be carried out, and CAD drawings produced as a starting point for the design work.
Sketch Designs
Design proposals will be drawn up. Sometimes several different options may be possible and several meetings take place as the design is discussed, altered and amended. We can present ideas and design solutions, but it is your house, the home that you live in, so your opinions and views are paramount – we will be trying to create something that you are happy with, not something that suits us ! At this stage we will also be advising on costs – a superb design solution that fulfils all your wishes will be of little benefit if it’s not affordable !
Planning Approval
Not all building projects will require planning approval. Some proposals will be allowed under ‘Permitted Development Rights’ – rights granted under legislation that allow you to extend your home (within a clearly defined set of parameters) without formal local authority approval. If the scheme does require planning approval, we prepare the formal drawings, together with all the other information that may be required, and submit the application on your behalf. We track and monitor the application’s progress, liaise with the case officer during the determination period, and will amend or alter the design (after discussion with you) if there are aspects of it that the Planning Officer is unhappy with.
Building Regulation Approval
Most building works will require Building Regulation Approval. The Building Regulations Act is a comprehensive set of legislation developed to ensure that buildings and associated works are constructed safely, provide a structurally sound building, a healthy and safe environment within, and one that complies with the ever increasing demands to lower energy costs.
We will prepare the technical drawings necessary, submit them for Building Regulation Approval, deal with any queries that the Building Control Officer may raise, and provide you with a fully detailed, approved set of working drawings, complete with all necessary specifications. This will enable you to obtain comparative quotations for the work, and will enable the builder to execute the works satisfactorily, to the correct design and standards.
In certain instances, building works can proceed without initial Building Control approval by issuing a ‘Building Notice’ to the local authority building control department, but this route is generally not advised; it usually results in the builder having insufficient information and detail to build from, it can lead to completed work having to be taken down and re-built, and can result in avoidable disputes !
Project Supervision
Many homeowners, particularly for smaller projects, are more than capable of finding a suitable builder, agreeing a price (based on the working drawings) and of supervising the works as they proceed.
However, for works of a more complex nature, with bigger sums of money involved, or where your time is better spent elsewhere, you may wish to have a professional on your side ! We can provide a comprehensive service that manages and oversees the project from drawing approval stage through to on-site completion. This would include for preparation of a written specification and tender documents, obtaining and advising on competitive tenders, preparation of contract documentation and appointment of contractor, supervision of site works, interim valuations and authorisation of contractor’s payments, and agreement and settlement of Contractor’s final account. |
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Most commercial projects start with a need for more space, or with the blank canvas of an empty plot:.
We need ‘more offices’, ‘production space’, ‘storage space’, ‘more bedrooms’, ‘more retail area’, ‘improved working conditions by reorganising existing layouts’, ‘to maximise the development opportunity of this plot’. |
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Free initial consultation
The process starts with a no obligation, no fee, initial consultation. At this informal meeting we can discuss your ideas, help to define your needs, to explore the feasibility of the project and to advise and explain the options and the procedures involved. Following the meeting we write, outlining a design brief, the services offered and the fees involved, including the local authority fees and any other costs that are likely to be incurred. If you are happy with the proposals a simple phone call or email will start the project.
Feasibility Study
It may be that some initial work is necessary to help establish the feasibility of suggested proposals, both in terms of cost, construction issues and of likely disruption to existing processes and organisation, and we can provide an appropriate input as necessary to help your decision making .
Measured Survey
A full measured survey of the existing property or plot will be carried out, and CAD drawings produced as a starting point for the design work.
Sketch Designs
Design proposals will be drawn up. Sometimes several different options may be possible and several meetings take place as the design is discussed, altered and amended. We can present ideas and design solutions, but your opinions and views are paramount – we will be trying to create something that you are happy with and fulfils your needs, not something that suits us ! At this stage we will also be advising on costs – a superb design solution that fulfils all your wishes will be of little benefit if it’s outside your budget !
Planning Approval
Most projects will require planning approval, Once the design proposals are complete, we prepare the formal drawings, together with all the other information that may be required, and submit the application on your behalf. We track and monitor the application’s progress, liaise with the case officer during the determination period, and will amend or alter the design (after discussion with you) if there are aspects of it that the Planning Officer is unhappy with.
Building Regulation Approval
Once planning approval is granted, we will prepare the technical drawings necessary, submit them for Building Regulation Approval, deal with any queries that the Building Control Officer may raise, and provide you with a fully detailed, approved set of working drawings, complete with all necessary specifications.
In certain instances, building works can proceed without initial Building Control approval by issuing a ‘Building Notice’ to the local authority building control department, but this route is generally not advised; it usually results in the builder having insufficient information and detail to build from, it can lead to completed work having to be taken down and re-built, and can result in avoidable disputes !
Project Supervision
With all approvals in place, we can provide a comprehensive service that manages and oversees the project from drawing approval stage through to on-site completion. This would include for preparation of a written specification and tender documents, obtaining and advising on competitive tenders, preparation of contract documentation and appointment of contractor, supervision of site works, interim valuations and authorisation of contractor’s payments, and agreement and settlement of Contractor’s final account. |
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CB Design Services can help you turn your wish into reality.
CB Design Services can help to provide the solutions.
