How long does planning approval last?

Approved drawings last three years from the approved date. As soon as you start the building work you can take as long as you like to finish the build.

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Can I change my designs after I have agreed to them?

Yes, but only the changes that do not affect the Structural Engineering Design. You can have as many revisions or changes as you like, at any time. You will be billed for any changes that have any effect on the Structural Engineering Drawings if the Structural package has been started.

 

What happens after I agree to proceed with the proposed drawings?

Usually, we make a planning application on your behalf.

 

What are the building regulations drawings?

Building regulation drawings are a detailed set of drawings that the builder needs. The drawings should include detailed build notes that conform with minimum British building regulations.

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Do you create building regulations drawings?

Yes, we create building regulation drawings.

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Can we commence our home improvement from a set of planning drawings?

No, to commence building, you will need a set of building regulation drawings. A Structural Engineering Package is required too.

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Do you charge for revisions or variations?

No, all revisions or changes are included in your fixed fee quotation, unless the change you want affects the Structural Engineering design. That only applies if we are your architects as well.

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How many revisions do I get?

You can have as many revisions or changes as you like, at any time. Architectural is included as long as they are not affecting the Structural Engineering.

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When will I receive my drawings?

Work will start right after paying the deposit. For the Full timeline, please refer to the contract and a quote will be provided to you. Under any circumstances, your project will be in the Planning Department in less than 30 Days.

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If I accept a quotation, what happens next?

Our Sales Manager will send you an invoice for the work along with the contract and once Deposit has been paid, the work will be started and you will be able to access the contact details of your Structural Engineer and Architect.

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Do you give free advice?

Yes, we are more than happy to chat on the telephone or via email for as long as you like to ensure you are on the right track to achieve the best results. We can even make a site visit, if necessary.

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Do you give quotations over the telephone?

Not usually; instead, we will set up a free design consultation. Our director will pop around for an informal chat to discuss the pros and cons of your proposed home improvement. A few days later we will send you an email with a fixed quotation for the work we discussed.

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How can I contact you if I'm interested in discussing my new home improvement?

Call or email us or book a call and we will call you. We are a friendly team willing to discuss your proposal in more detail to see if we can help. From that conversation, we will be able to advise you on whether your home improvement is practical, and we’ll provide advice on the best way to proceed.

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How confident are you in gaining planning approval for our home improvement?

We have over 7 years of experience in the planning and construction industry. We would never create and submit a set of drawings to a planning authority without being confident that it will be approved. We are a transparent company and give clear sound advice to all our clients from the outset.

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Can you recommend third-party services such as party wall surveyors, local water authorities, building control and CCTV companies?

Yes, we can arrange all the third-party services you need.

 

Will my neighbours be notified by anyone of my home improvements?

Yes, your local planning authority will notify your adjoining neighbours of your new proposed home improvement. After you have submitted your drawings, it is a good idea to speak with your neighbours and let them know of your intentions, if you have not already done so.

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Do we have to use your recommended third-party services?

You may use whichever third-party services you wish. All quotes from third-party services that we provide are from companies that we have worked with for many years. Therefore, we are confident that you will receive excellent service from these parties.

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What is permitted development?

Permitted development is the right given to the house by the government to allow you to build without the need for planning permission. These are rights given to houses by the government to allow you to build without the need for planning permission. There are several others and various criteria your property must meet.

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What is Thames Water and Building Over/Near Agreement?

If you are building an extension that requires you to move a manhole or is within 3m of a sewer pipe, you most likely will need to apply for permission from the water board. Thames Water charges £299 for this and requires a set of drainage drawings of how your building will sit concerning the sewer.

 

Can you help us if we need help during the building process?

We frequently discuss the changes that might be needed directly with your builder and update the plans. This might be free of charge. However, some changes may have additional costs. Nothing would be done without fully discussing it with the client first.

 

How is the fixed price guaranteed?

The majority of architects work on an hourly rate or a percentage of the build costs which makes it impossible to offer a final price until works have been completed. This can lead to unforeseen costs and an unexpectedly high final invoice. We have streamlined our service to provide you with only that which is necessary. We charge for your drawings only and will give you the finished price before you appoint our service, this includes one revision of your first draft plans.

 

How soon I can start building?

We advise waiting on approval of a certificate of lawful development before the commencement of construction if your project falls within permitted development guidelines. Once you have the necessary approval from the council for the design of your project a building control application is submitted. We recommend submitting the building control application at least 3 weeks before the start of your build to allow building control the time to approve your documentation. You are however within your rights to start building works just 5 days after submitting your building control application.

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What is the difference between council building control and private building

control?

Your building control application can be submitted to either the council or a private building control firm. As a private building control Is a business, they have a higher focus on customer service and are generally more readily available for queries and site visits. The final sign-off that you receive from a private building control company is exactly the same as the approval you would receive from the council.

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What happens with building control?

Upon approval of your planning application your building regulation drawings and engineers’ calculations will be submitted to building control for an application, this is to ensure all the information we have provided is double checked and compliant by a third party before work commences. This also goes for the builder too, the inspector will ensure the builder has followed our plans and installed them correctly resulting in a certificate, signing off the project. Once the application has been submitted you will receive a name and number of your assigned inspector who your builder can contact to arrange the different site visits, this should be normal practise for the builder.

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Do you visit during the build?

Project management is not a service that we offer, nor do we believe it is something required for most projects. If a competent contractor is capable of running the majority of residential extension projects. Building control are appointed to liaise with the builders during construction to ensure the works are being completed to the necessary standard.

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What is building control?

A building control application must be submitted prior to commencement of construction works for all building projects. Building control are responsible for checking and approving your building regulation drawings and specifications and your structural engineering documents. You will be appointed a building inspector who will liaise with your builder and visit site throughout construction to ensure building regulations are being complied with.

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Are your plans the same as an architects drawings?

The drawings we provide are created to the same (if not better) standard as your local Architect. Our plans are created by an experienced member of our design team and will include everything the council require to process your planning or permitted development application. By streamlining our process and removing the unnecessary site visits we can provide the same detailed plans at a much cheaper price.

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What happens if my application is refused?

In an ideal world, this wouldn’t happen! We try to do as much research as possible prior to submitting your plans and we also reach out to the planning officer throughout the application to ensure they are happy. If the project is somewhat ambitious and the council do refuse the application, we will look to amend the drawings in line with the planning officer’s refusal notice, we will quote you a fee according to the changes required by the council. This will cover both the changes to the plans and us acting as the agent for the resubmission to the council.

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How long until we hear back from the council?

A normal planning application is 8 weeks long however, the countdown doesn’t start until the council have validated the application which can take a couple of weeks. Upon validation the council aim to determine the outcome of the application within 8 weeks.

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Can I carry my own survey?

Yes! All you need is a tape measure. Add the necessary measurements of your property onto a quick sketch and we will do the rest. If you have estate agents floor plans you can add the measurements to these plans to make the process even easier. If you neighbour has a similar layout and has previous architectural plans then we could also work from these. Please see our guide for more detail.

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When would I submit a pre-application to the council?

We may suggest that you apply for a pre-application if your proposed project is contentious or high risk.

 

This is a low cost exercise as the level of detail that we need to produce is much less than full planning. It gives the council a chance to give feedback on your project and issue guidance on the likelihood of you gaining their approval.

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What if I am unhappy with the service or output?

Your satisfaction is our highest priority. If you feel our service has fallen short of your expectations, we encourage you to give us a call or drop us an email.

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Can you complete plans for new builds?

We can indeed! Simply book in a free consultation with our team to kick off your project.

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Do I require planning permission for my project?

Not necessarily. 

 

The team at STAY STEEL can help you determine if your plans fall under something called 'permitted development'. If they don't, you’ll need to apply for planning permission. 

 

Under UK planning policy you can build on your property without planning permission if the proposed development falls under certain rules. For more information, visit our advice centre.

 

Even if you can build under permitted development, we still advise that you apply for a lawful development certificate, we are happy to apply for it on your behalf.

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What information do I need to provide for you to start work on my extension?

As soon as you sign up to Resi we will walk you through our easy-to-follow process.

We’ll ask you for:

 

1. Your name, contact details and the address of the property in question

2. Basic information about the property

3. Your preferred style, estimated budget and a brief description of what you are looking to achieve

4. Your expectations on timings

5. Uploads of floor plans, inspiration or existing photos of the property (optional)

 

We will always let you know if we require further information before we start drawing.

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Are architects worth the money?

Put simply: yes! Architects are masters of their craft and can bring plenty of benefits to the home renovation process. By bringing one on board you will enjoy…

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A more beautiful and functional space. Architects can help ensure you maximise your space and customise the layout to the unique way your family lives, rather than just following the trends.

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Increased planning success. Architects come with years of experience, not only in design but planning. Chances are they’ll have dealt with your local authority in the past, and know how to research your area. This means you’re far more likely to secure planning success with an architect than without.

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Budget management. At STAY STEEL, our architects make sure you have a clear view of not only our charges but of future professionals you’ll have to contract. We’ll advise on how much you’ll need for what, and when you’ll likely be parting with it.

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Is the work that STAY STEEL completes insured?

Yes. We carry professional indemnity insurance with a limit of £1m.