WHAT WE DO?
Now that you have made the decision to start a building or renovation project you probably have lots of questions, Like:
Most of our clients have never built anything before or never worked with an architect before. So don't know much, if anything about the design and construction process.
Your project should be really exciting, and stress-free, so you can enjoy the process. we want you to see how simple and logical the steps are.
It's our job to guide you through your project as smoothly as possible. We want to give you, the homeowner, the experience that you deserve, so we have outlined for you the specific steps that we follow regardless of the type or size of the project.
The Process
Once you have made initial contact we will arrange a call with you.
This is a Fact-finding discussion between you (the client) & John Webster Architecture to discuss your project in detail, establish project constraints, your Budget, and when you expect to start & finish the project.
Some clients can provide us with a brief and are very clear about what they want, while others are not so sure, either way, don’t worry, this stage will help you get the clarity you need to move forward.
We will ask you ahead of the call to send over any relevant material such as floor plans etc.
The call is held over zoom or phone, whichever you prefer.
This will normally give me plenty of information to establish the feasibility of the project, although in certain circumstances there may be a requirement for a site visit, for example, if you are considering a loft conversion a visit may be required to establish if the necessary head height can be achieved.
On the back of our feasibility call we will let you know if your project is a good fit for us, if so, we will send you an email outlining the fees, the exact process, and the approximate timeframe.
Once this stage has been agreed upon we will arrange to visit your property and carry out a measured survey, which involves a discussion onsite with you, followed by confirming all of the dimensions that we require, photos, and a video of the property.
The site survey normally takes around 1 – 2 hours to complete.
The design stage is based on the outcome of the feasibility call and meeting on-site.
We will draw up the initial design and, with your input (the client), will continue to tweak the design until you are 100% happy. (after all, it’s your house)
It’s really important to understand the relationship between your budget and what you want to build, sometimes your budget will not stretch that far. It’s also my job to keep you on the right track with this and make sure that the design matches your budget.
Most of our projects are done in 3D software which means that you can ‘virtually’ see what you will get before you are committed to building it. No more meaningless line drawings that are impossible to understand!
Once you have signed off on the design we will move on to the next stage.
The design drawings are developed to a standard that is suitable for a planning application. Once the drawings are at this stage a planning application will be submitted to the local authority.
The planning officer may request supplementary information to support the planning application such as drainage arrangements Etc. A Planning Fee is paid directly by you to the Local Authority (Currently £300)
Every project requires a building warrant. A building warrant is a legal document that you require that allows you to carry out construction work. This warrant is granted by the local authority building standards department
The planning drawings are developed further, into a set of technical drawings that are suitable for a building warrant application. Once the drawings are completed a building warrant application is submitted to the local authority building standards department.
A Building Warrant fee is paid directly by you to the Building Standards department of the local authority (the Building Warrant fee is related to the cost of the works) when the building warrant has been granted the documents will be issued along with the construction notification plan.
