DESIGN OF PLANS
The design of plans is a delicate process and this is the phase, in which you have to carefully think what you want to achieve at your property. Carefully thought plans usually transform in developments, which utilise every little space in the property, as well as adding a substantial value to your property should you ever place it on the market for sale.
However, in UK and in London in particular, each council has its own requirements and standards of how residents should redevelop, extend, convert or build their properties. So we advice every client to contact their local council to find out what they are allowed to do and how to alter their property. Another great way for clients to find out what they are legally permitted to do is through the government designed Planning Portal - https://www.planningportal.co.uk
It this source clients will find a comprehensive information on what pre-building and pre-construction phases are and to get idea of the legal requirements before contracting services from an architect or designer.
PLAN SUBMITTING
When ready to submit drawings, the process can be generally done through the website of your local council. Each council has their own 'Planning' department where you can upload the plans, then the council will link you to a relevant officer that will assist you through the application.
The officer will soon let you know whether your plan is approved or what needs to be altered to comply with current regulations. Remember, those could be done at the pre-aplication stage where you could speak to your local council of what current regulations are, what type of building you have, is it a listed building, does your plan affect your neighbours, do you intersect with any communal areas, comunal drainage, gardens, public spaces, etc.
If all those are clear to you at the planning stage, then you can be confident that your application would be approved. It will be in your favour to get the council officer on site to make sure your plans relate to the project you want to proceed with and avoid any misunderstanding and certificates fail at the end of the project.
ENGINEERING & BUILDING CONTROL
After your plans are submitted and approved, you will employ an engineer who will design the structural plan for any structural alterations that are involved in your plan. Those are things, such as new load bearing lintels, new drainage new roofs or ground excavations.
During the process of work, we will communicate with your assigned building control officer through your council. Unless you decide to go for a private Building Regulator.
The building control officer will occasionally visit the project, especially at stages where structural alterations of the property are being done and inspect if those alterations are done competently and according to the engineer's specifications.
There are cost of Building Control inspections and these are the ones you should find out about when contacting the council with submitting of plans. Building control officers will record all structural and mechanical works, inspect all tests and certificates and issue a final building certificate that you will keep or pass on to future owners if you are selling the property.
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LEGAL
