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Services
Feasibility Studies
Appraisal of possible uses and scope for redevelopment of existing buildings or sites.
Preparation of feasibility studies for all building types, including offices, hotels, public houses, retail, residential and institutional buildings, and specifically for mixed use schemes in town centres
Schemes for initial budgets, client presentations, submissions to investors and grant applications. Introduction of specialist consultants from a wide network of contacts and liaison with those specialists.
We are always prepared to give an hour of our time to donate an initial appraisal of a site or project in exchange for a contribution to Shelter, the charity of the homeless, or MIND the mental health charity.
Surveys
We carry out dimensional surveys of existing buildings and sites, although where the sites or buildings are large and/or complex we would normally outsource this.
Schedule of condition of existing buildings.
Both of these are carried out either in their own right or more normally related to development projects. We can arrange and incorporate specialist structural, archaeological, or drainage surveys.
Planning & Appeals
We prepare and submit a large number of planning applications of many different types which include:
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Full Planning
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Listed Building
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Conservation Area and Article 4
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Certificate of Lawfulness, Prior Approval, and Permitted Development.
Where necessary we carry out pre-application discussions with planners and continue to follow the progress of applications with the Planning Department, attending planning committee meetings and addressing the committee on behalf of the clients.
By a good knowledge of planning law and by negotiation with Planners we achieve a high success rate with our applications. If a situation arises where there is a point of law which requires clarification we have established relationships with specialist Planning Barristers.
Clients generally expect us to maximize the development potential, inevitably there are a few occasions where we are not able to convince the planners or the committee. In these cases we are able to prepare planning appeals to the Secretary of State when required.
Building Regulations
We regularly obtain Building Regulations Approvals for clients, normally as part of a full service. We have a good working relationship with Council’s Building Control Departments, but also work with NHBC or Zurich on the Building Regulations where required.
Additionally, we work schemes up planning approvals obtained by others to Building Regulations stage, particularly for regular clients where they have bought a site with an approved scheme. In doing so we review the details and layouts against the regulations, but also scrutinise the scheme to see where we can add value. Increasingly this includes integration of energy efficiency and sustainability aspects into the project.
Detailed & Interior Design
We provide the level of detailing required by the client, which varies from project to project. Projects can be fully detailed, including interior design, and complete fitting out.
From the Building Regulations drawings we can proceed to preparing full working drawings, and schedules, including such as detailed internal elevations of key rooms.
In discussion with clients we can select all finishes and fittings from our extensive library. We can provide a full interior design service or can also liaise and coordinate with the client's own interior designers.
Consultancy
In addition to full project commissions we are happy to provide specialist advice on an hourly consultancy basis. In particular we provide planning advice either at the inception of a project or where a project has got into difficulties at the planning stage.
We regularly provide specialist backup to other consultants and sub contractors including architectural work, conservation advice, and maintenance surveys.
Site Sourcing
Locating potential development sites for developers. We have extensive local contacts and a good knowledge of our local property market.
When our initial clients want to sell on sites after gaining planning consent, we are able to introduce new clients to develop and build that consent.
We are always happy to have an early look at potential development sites for clients and can locate potential development partners and funding. We can introduce the necessary specialist consultants, including such Quantity Surveyors to provide an initial, cost plan.
Other
Through our extensive experience and links with other specialists we offer a full service, coordinating all necessary consultants, contractors and sub contractors, providing a single point of contact for clients seeking a multi-disciplinary service. Through this network we are able to provide the appropriate team for larger projects.
Specialist consultants include:
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Structural Engineers
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Quantity Surveyors
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Interior Designers
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Party Wall Surveyors
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Energy Consultants
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Archaeologists
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Aboriculturalists