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Frequently Asked Questions

Architectural Technology is a creative and innovative design discipline which integrates architecture, science, technology and engineering. Architectural Technology forms the link between concept, innovation and realisation of a building or structure. At its heart are the technology, buildability, functionality and performance of the design, taking into consideration materials, innovative processes, production techniques and sustainability; all in compliance with regulatory, statutory and legal requirements. It ensures a building or structure is fit for purpose and designed with inclusivity in mind so that the needs of the end users are met. The design solutions will incorporate and address health and safety, welfare and ethical issues as well as the social well-being of those using the building or space. https://architecturaltechnology.com/find-a-practice.html?practice=072DB088-353A-4A7E-A576DE90AB8D9336    
Part of our process at DBD is offering an informative and honest consultation where a member of the team will visit your property and discuss the proposals you have in mind. From here we will discuss the requirements for achieving your desired proposals and maybe an alternative way/design choice which you may not have thought about. The consultation also allows us to see the property in context and assess the site which surrounds the property, where we can then discuss any planning constraints, we may come across during the planning process. We will then start to talk about how the development will be constructed and what will be required to specify in the building regulations process which follows planning permission approval. The advice we give is an honest opinion based on many years experience working with different planning authorities. We would not give false hope in the instances where planning permission would not likely be given, however we could suggest alternative routes to overcome any problems which we foresee. We offer a free no obligation consultation when the property is owned by yourself, but if the client does not yet own the property or is in the process of buying a property, we do charge a small fee which would then be deducted off our first invoice if we are instructed to carry out the works.
Preparation - Preparation of a robust planning application to justify the proposal, including all relevant planning documentation. This will then be submitted to your Local Planning Authority electronically.   Registration - Once submitted, the next stage is validation for the application. This can take between 1-3 weeks for your application to be registered, depending on your Local Authority. From the validation stage, applications should reach a decision within 8 weeks, however this is dependent on the local planning authority and their case load.   Public Consent - Your application will be published for the local community to comment. They have 21 days from the published date to do so, but only valid planning concerns will be taken into account.   Site Visit - A site visit maybe required for planning officers to undertake any inspections.   Local Assessment - Considerations will then be made. Planning officers will draw upon existing or emerging policies, check council standards plus any previous decisions relating to the site or similar applications.   Recommendations - Taking all things into account, the planning officer will give a recommendation to a senior member of staff.   Decision - A decision will then be reached. Approval or refusal. Should you be issued with a refusal, you have the right to appeal to the secretary of state.

With all building work, the owner of the property (or land) in question is ultimately responsible for complying with the relevant planning rules and building regulations.

​If you want to carry out building work, you may require both Planning Permission and Building Regulations approval. Planning and Building Control are separate; if you get one you are not guaranteed the other.

Planning has more to do with the appearance of a building or an extension to a building and how it relates its surroundings.

Building Control aims to see that the building satisfies its functional requirements and provides reasonable health, safety and comfort for the building users.

 

DBD Architectural Consultancy offer a friendly, personalised service backed up by many years of experience in new building design, extension designs, planning applications and project construction. We offer all our clients a professional architectural design and planning service that will fulfil their requirements from the initial conceptual design through to technical specifications and project completion across a wide range of residential and commercial projects. Every successful project needs a good working relationship and whilst we can provide the design solution to meet your requirements, we will listen carefully to your needs and create a solution that recognises any the desired aesthetics but ensures the function of the building remains paramount to the final outcome. We work across Staffordshire, Cheshire, Derbyshire and beyond.
The starting point for most of our projects is a free, no obligation consultation where a member of our team will come to visit your property or land to provide an honest and professional opinion on the feasibility of any project and the practicality of progressing through the required stages planning approval and building control compliance. We take pride in providing you with a realistic outlook on achieving your desired ideas, even if that means giving you the news you were not hoping for, we can always look to provide solutions and alternatives that can address and anticipated issues.
Following the initial consultation, you will receive a comprehensive fee quote document which will outline the conversations we had with you, provide a breakdown of the entire process with the associated fess for all aspects of our work, fees for any applications required and any specialist consultants that may be required.
If you have any new questions, or require clarifications on anything in the fee quote, we would be happy to assist, but once instructed, we will undertake a full measured survey of the property ourselves, and structural assessments of buildings when required, to achieve the highest level of accuracy in our drawings and designs. This first-hand interaction gives us the best possible chance to envisage possible design solutions and be aware of all the constraints within the site. We use laser measurement technology with Bluetooth connectivity to make each survey as accurate as possible, but also reduce the time required in your home or garden, causing you minimal disturbance. After completing the survey, the first drawings you will receive from us are a draft proposal, based on the initial discussions and our any of our own ideas influenced by your requirements. Where an existing building is part of the scheme, you will also receive drawings of the existing layout, so these can be compared and referenced when necessary to the proposed designs. We are very open to discussions about the designs and will make any tweaks and changes necessary until we have a final design that you are happy with, and we are confident will make for a successful outcome. When we get ideas down on paper, it may become apparent that other arrangements would be better suited to your space, so, when necessary, we can offer multiple design options to help you decide on your ideal solution.
Once the existing plans are drawn up, we will then look to complete the initial proposed plans which is our interpretation of what we understand your requirements to be. To accompany this, we may have a third drawing which will have the existing site plan, proposed site plan and a site location plan, if relevant. If there are any additional drawings that are required in addition to the standard plans, these would also be included, i.e. sections or detailed drawings, light/privacy studies, etc.
  • Plans as Existing – Floor plans and elevations of how the house is currently stands. Grey hatching and black line represent the existing features.
  • Plans as Proposed – Floor plans and elevations of the proposed design, on which alterations or additions are represented in colour.
  • Site Plans – Site plans which show how the development site will change with the proposals and how it influences the surrounding area.
Other drawings can be completed at requested from the client, planner or building inspector.
We can produce scaled 3D models of your project to help you visualise our conceptual designs and make the most informed decisions about the project, replicating the intended materials of the building, and even its environment. They can be very useful during the design stages, and to present to the local planning authority, as this will help give them a context for the proposed designs. If you asked for 3D renders initially, this will have been itemised on your quote. If not, we can produce these for your final design upon request. For all our projects, we now provide a 3D aerial plan of the internal layout to help you visualise the new space, in addition to the 2D plan drawings.