Our experience is wide ranging, from mixed use, shopping centres and retail led development schemes throughout the UK, to more local residential and commercial redevelopments of both new build and refurbishment projects. The schemes are of various styles, sizes and complexities with values ranging from £30K to £100M

We undertake all aspects of the RIBA Plan of Work, from design inception to its development, tender and completion on site. This gives us a clear understanding of our client’s aspirations and needs, giving us the ability to deliver a high standard of service, at all times across the duration of the project

Residential

Within the residential sector, we consider our role is to listen to the clients’ ideas, assess their needs and help them realise their vision.

We undertake the following steps to deliver this:

Step 01 Initial Consultation

Once you contact us, we can arrange a suitable time to talk or visit you on site to review your ideas, issues and potential solutions. This initial discussion is free and allows us to understand your aspirations, budget, vision and how we can help to realise them.

Step 02 Scope of Services and appointment

From this initial meeting, a brief for the project will be developed and we will confirm the expected work to be carried out, how this will be divided into key stages, with the associated fees plus our terms and conditions. This is our legal requirement as members of the Royal Institute of British Architects and the ARB, which formally protects clients. Through this process, we will also confirm what permissions are required from the local authority, which consultants may need to be appointed throughout the project and when in the process.

This appointment document sets out our potential involvement which can be as little or as much as you wish. We know that understanding the building process can be complicated and daunting at times and through our knowledge and experience we aim to explain and support you and you project through all stages of the process.

Step 03 Survey / drawing production

This stage involves us coming to site and measuring the existing buildings and spaces, to produce existing drawings necessary to develop proposed concepts and ideas for your approval.

Step 04 Sketch Design

Using the existing plans and elevations of your property, as a starting point, based on the brief and discussions to date, we will develop several options which respond to these parameters . These proposals are drawn to scale to show the design in context to the existing house and form the basis of the project for the remainder of the process.

Step 05 Design Development

Once a final scheme is determined and agreed between all parties through the previous stages, we will proceed to drawing up the final scheme, using 3D visualisation as necessary to aid an understanding of the final solution and spaces.

Step 06 Planning permission application

With the final design approved, we can move to submit the scheme for Planning Permission or for a Lawful Development Certificate to validate potential permitted development rights. This is one of the key stages to a project, gaining the necessary approvals ahead of construction starting. Once validated, we can monitor the progress of the application with the respective Councils and give feedback or address immediate concerns and objections when they occur, to mitigate any delays from the potential mandatory 12-week approval period

Step 7 – Building Control Submission

After Planning Permission is granted, the remaining approval process involves the submission for Building Regulations, if certain works are undertaken. We can submit all necessary information and construction details, to gain approval prior to works commencing. Inspections are undertaken by local Authority Building Control officers or Approved Inspectors, to determine works are meeting all current regulations and we can be involved in this process, to support any necessary changes brought about by site conditions, contractor or client changes.

Step 8 – Detail Design / Tender

To gain costs for the proposed works we have links to many local contractors and can develop the necessary tender packs to compile an overall price for the project. This enables us to review and standardise the figures, giving the client all the necessary information to make key decisions regarding their budget, necessary changes and potential instruction to proceed. We can support the client on as many aspects of this process as required.

Step 9 – Site

Finally, the project starts on site and during this period we can support the client in sourcing fixtures and internal fittings while also monitoring works on site and liaison with Building Control to completion and sign off.

Throughout the whole process of residential design and construction, we see our role to support and explain to the client decisions to be made, next steps and if all works are to the highest standards. We can be involved as much as the client sees fit and will always be on hand, to support and give opinion if required.

Retail and Commercial

Within the Retail and Commercial sectors, we have extensive expertise in all aspects of project design and procurement including fitout, concept designfast track roll out programmes and redevelopment schemes in particular.

Our services include:
Master-planning and Strategic Planning
Full Architectural Design
Interiors
Traditional or Design & Build Format contracts
CGI Visualisation
Inspection & Surveys
Equality Act DDA Audits

As well as the previously stated services, we pride ourselves on giving additional knowledge and ideas to our clients, to provoke discussion and allow them to fully envisage the projects potential but to also highlight efficient working methods and savings to deliver the scheme, in a cost effective and timely manner.

Other relevant expertise within the commercial sector include:

Heads of Terms Negotiations
Formulating Design Guide Suited Documentation and associated roll-out programmes
Shell design assessments and reviews
Planning / Building Control liaison and applications
Engagement in fast-track multi store development programmes
Asset management