PREFERRED
PARTNERS
- BUILDING THE RIGHT TEAM FOR YOUR PROJECT
Our trusted Preferred Partners have a vital role in the planning and design process.
1
PREPARATION AND BRIEFING
We work closely with all of our clients to shape a clear design brief from the outset of each project. The site constraints often dictate the level of specialist external advice required to support a planning application. Obtaining topographical surveys, seeking highways, heritage, noise, arboricultural and ecological advice at an early stage is fundamental to ensuring the best chance of obtaining planning permission and ensuring the project can be built successfully from the outset.
Preferred Partners or input from other external consultants are not always necessary on every application, however it is becoming more important to front load applications to ensure sufficient information is provided for the Local Planning Authority as well as reducing the number of pre-commencement conditions that slow down the process after permission has been granted.
Involves:
Liaising with Preferred Partners or external consultants at an early stage.
Results in:
Obtaining necessary fee proposals from identified Preferred Partners.
2
Concept Design
The Concept Design covers the outline proposals for the project leading to a pre application submission to the Local Planning Authority where required. While projects vary, this stage ensures that the Design brief has been met before moving on to the Spatial Coordination stage. Additional reports may not be required at this stage to validate a pre-application submission, however where there are significant constraints or the high probability that one of the Local Planning Authorities internal consultees will need to comment then providing the necessary information at an early stage can secure a more positive response from the Local Planning Authority at this stage.
Involves:
Liaising with Preferred Partners or external consultants and addressing planning policy and site constraints with the necessary information.
Results in:
Client approval and/or Pre-Application submission (Usually requires a meeting with and written response from the Local Planning Authority).
3
Spatial Coordination
Using feedback from the client and/or pre application process the Spatial Coordination can be finalised. We work closely with our Preferred Partners and/or external consultants to ensure that the site constraints and relevant planning policies have been addressed in order to progress with an application. This often involves Arboricultural reports to identify tree constraints and protection plans, Highways reports to ensure pedestrian and vehicular safety and Ecology walkovers to ensure that wildlife and protected species are not harmed by the proposal. Other reports that are becoming mandatory are Energy Statements and Community Infrastructure Levy forms setting out any necessary contributions triggered by the proposal.
Architectural Visualisation is used for all types of application and can make all the difference when conveying the impact of a proposal on the character of the area. Some Local Planning Authorities will request Architectural Visualisations to use at Planning Committee to provide additional detail for members of the public or elected members to provide additional detail.
Involves:
Liaising with Preferred Partners to ensure that the Planning Submission covers all of the constraints identified at the outset or following pre application feedback from the Local Planning Authority.
Results in:
Planning application submission; monitoring application through to decision. Liaising with Preferred Partners and/or external consultants to ensure that internal consultee comments are responded too where necessary.
4
Technical Design
Following receipt of the planning approval there may be the need to discharge conditions as well as handling the detailed technical design before construction can commence. Our services include Building Regulations drawings and submissions, detailed drawings and specifications, tendering and contract administration. Our Preferred Partners and/or external consultants will provide specialist reports to aid the discharge or conditions and provide technical information such as Structural Calculations for Buildings Regulations as well as advice from Quantity Surveyors on costings to enable us to go out to tender on building projects.
Involves:
Assessing planning conditions; Co-ordinating external consultants; Building Regulations drawings; detailed drawings & specifications
Results in:
Releasing pre commencement conditions; Building Regulations plans approval; Contract administration; Hand over