Planning & Architectural Design in West Sussex | Surrey

Since the pandemic started we have experienced a huge influx of enquiries, with these common questions;
How can I enhance my home, to make it more comfortable for me and my changing needs?
We need an extra bedroom, but can’t work out where we can put one.
I really need a quiet study space or a zoom friendly space at least!
We need somewhere to exercise, ideally with a shower near by.
We are socialising more in the home, so our kitchen and dining space needs to adapt.
We need an additional TV room as the kids have taken over the lounge.
The children need a den space so they can have friends over without disturbing the rest of the house.
We could really do with a pantry off the kitchen, as we are stocking up more on food as we rarely go out for dinner these days.
We would like our main living space to have a better relationship with the garden.

We now offer a home design consultancy service that will provide the following;
1. A full property appraisal; inside and outside.
2. Recommendations as to how to improve the home to meet specific needs.
3. Advice on opportunities that you may not have realised.
4. Potential costs to create these changes.
5. The method and potential programme for these changes.
6 Advice and recommendations on local suppliers and contractors.

We will carry out the necessary research of your home, and the neighbourhood, in advance of a visit. The visit usually takes between 60 and 90 minutes, and we will follow up with a detailed report informing you of how your home could be improved, at what cost and how long it will take.
The cost of this service is £440+vat for a visit on a Tuesday or Wednesday or £660+vat for an evening or weekend visit.
Please send an email to HDCS@adamfaheydesign.co.uk with your preferred day and a visit will be arranged.

The majority of projects will require Building Regulation drawings, these are produced so that the builder knows the minimum requirement in meeting building control approval. Following the drawings will enable the project to gain a Building Regulations compliant certificate. The builder can use these drawings, combined with the structural engineers drawings to produce a detailed estimate for the works. They are not usually required for small refurbishment or small extensions, as long as competent builders are employed.

The Building regulations drawings address; Structure, Fire Safety, Site preparation and resistance to contaminants and moisture, Toxic substances, Resistance to the passage of sound, Ventilation, Sanitation, hot water safety and water efficiency, Drainage and waste disposal, Heat producing appliances and Fuel storage system, Protection from falling, collision and impact, Conservation of fuel and power, Access to and use of buildings, Glazing – Safety in relation to impact, opening and cleaning, Electrical safety, Security – Dwellings, High speed electronic communications networks and Materials and workmanship.

This set can be completed relatively quickly, and will enable the builder to price the work and also enable the building inspector to approve the works, in advance of works starting. This will reduce delays on site.

When a builder uses Building Regulation drawings for the construction, there will be detailed design choices during the build; these can be made between builder, sub contractor and client, and can include the architectural designer. This process is often referred to as Design and Build.

Construction drawings are produced to detail exactly how every element comes together, which reduces delays on site and also enables a clear design process for each individual element. Often these decisions on site, when a delay is possible, are rushed and regretted once the works are complete.

For instance the junction between floor and wall has a standard solution of a skirting board, and there are many to choose from; but there are other solutions such as turning a floor finish up the wall at this junction, or not having skirting boards but having a shadow gap detail, maybe with LED lighting within the gap so the wall appears to float, or not having skirting boards at all but having a polished plaster wall down to the floor. This level of detail will not be addressed within the Building Regulation drawings, but will be required during the works. Without previous thought, the builder will likely produce a selection of skirting boards and ask you to choose one. This process is very common and often successful for the client, however if you would prefer a more bespoke solution, then Detailed Construction drawings are recommended.

Here is a helpful project planner to get you started. Use it to understand the steps and timeline of a building project.

First, you decide to make changes to your property because it may no longer meet your needs.

You may need more space.

You may need to make better use of your existing space.

You may have to adapt it for lifestyle changes.

You may want to invest in your property to increase its value.

You may want to update the property in order to sell it for a good price.

How do those changes get implemented?

How long will it take?

How much will it cost?

How do I find the right people to help me?

What do I do first?

Decision.

Write down what it is you want to do. There could be a variety of things as you may not have made up your mind yet due to budget, feasibility, local authority restrictions. Put everything down that you would like to consider. For instance;

I want to put a bedroom and ensuite bathroom in the loft.

I want to put a swimming pool under my house

I want to add 3 bedrooms and 1 bathroom to my house

I want to open up my living space, add a utility room and a boots room.

I want to convert my garage into a bedroom

I want to replace my house with 3 houses.

I want to put a helicopter landing pad on the roof of my house.

Research.

Find out from your friends/family/social media, if anyone has done what you want to do. Ask them for advice on how to get started, who they used to help them, and whether they would recommend them, or steer well clear of them. Use online tools such as Pinterest or Houzz to start a scrap book of images and ideas that inspire you.

Team.

Owner. You, as the client, are in charge; you own the project; you make the final decisions; you make the payments. However, for your project to be a success, you will need experienced professionals to guide you. You therefore must choose your team carefully as you will rely on them for the success of your project. They should all have experience and carry the appropriate insurances.

Whether a small or a large project , you will need the following people in the team, to carry out the works;

Designer – This is the first person you need to employ.

This is someone with architectural experience that has carried out similar works. The more experience the better. They should carry Professional Indemnity Insurance as a minimum.

This person is vital for a smooth project so choose them carefully, and be clear to them on what it is you want them to do.

This person will outline the process, advise on cost, feasibility, timescales and all regulatory and legal requirements.

It is important to involve them as soon as possible to avoid any time delays, financial loss or unseen potential.

This person will need to fully understand your requirements; they will do this by listening to you and asking many questions so that the brief is agreed on.

You must fully trust this person, as they will be making changes to your property that will change the way you live your life.

Most of their work will be completed before the building starts, and may include providing services from other professionals such as building surveyors, party wall surveyors, energy assessors, interior designers, landscape specialists, arboriculturists (tree specialists), air quality assessors, and a variety of other specialists that the project may require.

Project Manager – For most projects the designer will be best suited to provide project management throughout the project. This ensures that the chosen design is implemented correctly throughout the building works. It will save you valuable time, make the project less stressful for you, and allow you to concentrate on other things.

Structural Engineer – This person will produce the structural design to enable the architectural design to stay upright. The designer usually will have worked with this person before, so ask them for recommendations as they should have a good understanding of each other. This will assure that the form and function is created in a successful and economic way.

Planning Officer – This person will be employed by the Local Authority and work within the Planning Department. You will not be able to choose this person, as they are allocated their cases dependent on workload, experience and availability. For this relationship to be a success you must provide them with comprehensive and accurate information. Most planning departments offer a Pre-Application service, which allows home owners to understand whether their proposal would be acceptable, or what changes would be required to make it acceptable, before submitting an actual planning application. The theory of this process is to prevent actual applications being refused, which avoids time wasting, as a planning application will take 8 weeks for a decision to be issued, whereas pre-application advice is available in a much shorter timeframe. The success of the pre-application service is dependent on the presentation of the proposal, which must acknowledge local planning policy, and of course the experience and competency of the allocated Planning Officer.

Building Inspector – This person is employed to ensure that the building works are carried out to meet building regulations. The service is provided for your safety and comfort. They will issue a completion certificate once the works are complete; this document will be required if you ever sell the property. You have the choice to instruct a Local Authority inspector or a private approved inspector. The chosen builder may have a preference as they could have a good relationship with one.

The Builder – This is the person that will be commissioned to carry out the physical changes to your property. If you have employed a project manager then they will deal with this person from day to day, ensuring that works are not delayed, materials and labour arrive on time and any issues are dealt with in a timely and economic manner. For smaller building works, and with a competent builder, it is usual for the client to deal directly with the builder. You will need to meet them regularly at a time convenient for both parties; this is usually outside of working hours to avoid delays on site. You will need to discuss the weekly plan of works, what materials are expected/need to be paid for, what design decisions are required (builders are great at construction, but usually will not provide design solutions; although they will always beg to differ) and how to avoid anything that is potentially going to delay the completion date or increase costs.

You must speak to recent previous customers of the chosen builder before deciding on one, it is good to view a project on site as well as a recently completed one.

Who you need to tell about your works – neighbours/courtesy and party wall

Neighbours – You should always discuss your proposed building works with your neighbours. Telling them that you are considering works before engaging the services of an architectural designer is always polite, and they will likely appreciate your openness and be less likely to become aggrieved if they become aware of your plans via the council or other sources.

It is very easy to forget about your neighbours and get caught up in the excitement of the works you want to do, you must always consider the affect it will have on them. They will have opportunity to object to the proposals, so involving them at an early stage will help to retain the good relationship you have.

Most people do not like building works going on near to their home, there is increased traffic, noisy deliveries, dust, noisy power tools and often a fear of services being interrupted. However, building works do go on and it is accepted that everyone may need to do this at some stage in their lives, so as long as the person carrying out the works is considerate then bad relationships with your neighbours can be avoided.

Your designer will advise you on designs that would comply with planning policy and not affect your neighbour.

You never know, if you are living away from the property while the works are taking place, having a friendly neighbour may be invaluable to you.

Your builder may need to access your neighbour’ property in order to carry out works.

Any damage to your neighbours property must be made good as soon as possible.

Keep your neighbour updated on start dates for the works and also during the works if any especially noisy works are due, or large deliveries that may affect parking. Immediate neighbours should be kept up to date with the building programme.

Party Walls – There are special rules that you have to adhere to if you are thinking of having work carried out that would affect a party wall, which is used by two or more property owners to separate buildings. The rules say that you must tell your neighbours about any work you intend to do that might affect a party wall, and also allows the neighbours to object within a specified time limit. The rules are in place to provide neighbours with a level of protection against potential damage to their home.

Any work that you are planning to have carried out on or near a party wall has to be discussed and agreed with your neighbour in writing at least two months before the building work is due to start. Neighbours are under an obligation not to be ‘deliberately obstructive’ and they cannot object to you carrying out the home improvements just because they don’t like you, or they have fallen out with you over something else.

For full details of your obligations with regard to works on or near a party wall, please refer to the Part Wall Act 1996 https://www.gov.uk/guidance/party-wall-etc-act-1996-guidance

When choosing someone to design your building, it is essential that they have experience in similar projects and more importantly that they carry Professional Indemnity Insurance. Qualifications, experience and expertise will vary from person to person, so individuals should be considered on their own merit, however it can still be confusing to know who you need for the job.

I often get asked what the difference is so here’s the low down:

ARCHITECT – An architect in the UK, is someone who is registered on the Architects Registration Board (ARB).

CHARTERED ARCHITECT – An architect in the UK, is someone who is registered on the Architects Registration Board (ARB) and also a member of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNER – An architectural designer is someone who can supply the same architectural services as an Architect, and will have architectural qualifications but is not a Registered Architect.

The key to a successful project is good research and planning so, here are a few things to consider when appointing any architectural design professional.

Do they hold professional qualifications that can demonstrate their competence to deliver your project?

Do they hold Professional Indemnity Insurance to protect you from errors in their work?

Can they offer examples of similar works they have carried out?

Can they offer good testimonials from happy past clients?

Can they give examples of recent planning consents?

Can they demonstrate designs that show innovation and aesthetic flair as well as practical solutions to spacial and structural problems.

Can they offer guidance with building contractors and project management?

Do they offer a clear payment structure to allow you to budget adequately for your project?

WHAT SERVICES CAN AN ARCHITECT AND/OR AN ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNER SUPPLY?

Whether you choose an Architect or an Architectural Designer the services they supply should be the same, these can be any or all of the following:

Local Authority Approvals – including planning and regulation drawings

Detailed Construction Drawings

Home Surveys

Interior and Exterior Design

Feasibility Studies for New Builds and Refurbishments

Project Management

I am an Architectural Designer with a degree in Architecture and over 30 years of experience running my own Architectural Design Business.

I would love to chat to you about your design aspirations so if you are thinking of starting a project please get in touch with me at adam@adamfaheydesign.co.uk