Designing alterations to your home is a creative and experimental process , taking time to try ideas and fit imaginary furniture into imaginary spaces. It may take more than just one or two drawing editions until you are happy and confident with your final choice of design.
It is a large financial decision and a major disruption to normal domestic life having building work carried out , it is therefore very important that the design is right for you. When creating sketches and drawings working towards your chosen design do not think that once the final plan is drawn and submitted to the council planning department it cannot be altered. It can! within reason.
To achieve the alterations to your home this is in two stages.
Stage One is to submit detailed plans of your proposed alterations clearly showing the existing design alongside your proposed changes.
With this Planning Application four copies of the application form together with four copies of the plans including copies of an Ordnance Survey Location Plan with your plot outlined in red. Council Approval of the Planning Application will take Eight weeks from the validation date and the council will confirm in writing the date by which they will have to make their decision.
The Planning Application fee is normally £172.
Stage Two is when you have received written confirmation that your planning application has been approved. A building Notice application has to be sent to the Building Control Office together with a Building Control Drawings (BCD) for approval. This drawing contains all the details of the application together with the technical details of the building construction the Standards & Regulations the design conforms to, approval of the BCD is usually within 5 days, at this point you can start building with the appointed building control officer meeting your builder on site to discuss aspects of the build. Building Control fees vary according to the extent of the building work you are undertaking, but will be between £550 to £1,450 the fees are based on the size of the build and/or the quoted costs from your chosen builder.
Choosing a Builder The best advice on choosing a builder is to wherever possible go by recommendation it maybe a builder whose work you already know, or know through a friend or relative. Choosing a good local builder who has a reputation to maintain is a very good option. If possible see the work they have completed, especially if it is similar work to which you are proposing to undertake.
Most builders will only offer an “Estimate” or “Guide Price” initially. This is not a Fixed Price, be very careful that you are aware of what you are paying for. Most builders will actually include a written description in their initial estimate. Sometimes it’s best to ask your builder what their quotation does not include. I strongly recommend that you politely ask your potential builder to include with their quotation a copy of their current Liability Insurance Policy Certificate.
And do not forget the extra costs of final painting then carpets , curtains and lighting etc.
It is a large financial decision and a major disruption to normal domestic life having building work carried out , it is therefore very important that the design is right for you. When creating sketches and drawings working towards your chosen design do not think that once the final plan is drawn and submitted to the council planning department it cannot be altered. It can! within reason.
To achieve the alterations to your home this is in two stages.
Stage One is to submit detailed plans of your proposed alterations clearly showing the existing design alongside your proposed changes.
With this Planning Application four copies of the application form together with four copies of the plans including copies of an Ordnance Survey Location Plan with your plot outlined in red. Council Approval of the Planning Application will take Eight weeks from the validation date and the council will confirm in writing the date by which they will have to make their decision.
The Planning Application fee is normally £172.
Stage Two is when you have received written confirmation that your planning application has been approved. A building Notice application has to be sent to the Building Control Office together with a Building Control Drawings (BCD) for approval. This drawing contains all the details of the application together with the technical details of the building construction the Standards & Regulations the design conforms to, approval of the BCD is usually within 5 days, at this point you can start building with the appointed building control officer meeting your builder on site to discuss aspects of the build. Building Control fees vary according to the extent of the building work you are undertaking, but will be between £550 to £1,450 the fees are based on the size of the build and/or the quoted costs from your chosen builder.
Choosing a Builder The best advice on choosing a builder is to wherever possible go by recommendation it maybe a builder whose work you already know, or know through a friend or relative. Choosing a good local builder who has a reputation to maintain is a very good option. If possible see the work they have completed, especially if it is similar work to which you are proposing to undertake.
Most builders will only offer an “Estimate” or “Guide Price” initially. This is not a Fixed Price, be very careful that you are aware of what you are paying for. Most builders will actually include a written description in their initial estimate. Sometimes it’s best to ask your builder what their quotation does not include. I strongly recommend that you politely ask your potential builder to include with their quotation a copy of their current Liability Insurance Policy Certificate.
And do not forget the extra costs of final painting then carpets , curtains and lighting etc.
