Discuss and then develop the brief with you. This makes sure targets are realistic and everyone’s expectations align.

Produce ‘existing’ drawings. For house extensions and renovations, it’s common for us to carry out a measured survey and produce the existing drawings.

Produce design proposals. This usually starts with computer based plans and elevations for further discussion with you resulting in your approval.

We will make suggestions to gather further information or meet statutory obligations, e.g. you might need a Party Wall Award; a drainage or soil survey; structural appraisal; or they might recommend pre-planning advice from the local authority.

Prepare drawings and documents for the planning application and make the submission to your local council.

Post planning - our services might stop at this point if you want to work with a builder/contractor directly to develop the design and specify materials, finishes and fittings. However, most homeowners decide to take the ‘traditional’ route and continue with their architect.

We prepare a set of drawings to be submitted for Local Authority / independent inspection service conditional/full approval. These may also require the input of specialist consultants, ie structural engineers, SAP and EPC consultant etc.

Schedule or specification documents may be prepared and issued with the drawings for a formal tender process with building contractors.

If a builder’s quote is acceptable, you will sign a contract and building work can start.

At this stage, you can discontinue our services. However, it can be beneficial to have us involved during your construction especially if you have never taken on a building project before.

We have access to a wide range of professionals who can help with your project including planning consultants, structural engineers, quantity surveyors, energy consultants, interior designer, historical consultants etc.

If you have retained our services for the site stage of work, we will administer the contract with the builder. We will make site visits at certain important stages in the build to check work is done on time and in line with the drawings/specification.

We will deal with any queries from the contractor. Also, if you change your mind on any elements of the design, we will administer this process and make cost/time adjustments with the contractor for your approval.

Once certain phases are completed to their satisfaction, we will issue a certificate following assessment of builder’s valuations, prompting you to pay a portion of the build cost to the builder.

At the end of the job we will also check that the work meets specification requirements and issue the relevant certification, as well as obtain certificates from the relevant public bodies.

Following this it is typical to have a six month ‘rectification’ period, following which the builder should come back to fix any relevant outstanding issues. The final certificate is issued after this and the final account balance is released.