How We Work

Stephen is a member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and our company's responsibility to you, our client, includes Indemnity Insurance of up to £1 million. We comply with the Provision of Service Regulation 2009 by displaying the required details of our Professional Indemnity Insurance in our office.

It is our contractual obligation to point out that our clients have responsibilities and we would recommend visiting the Health and Safety Executive website at www.hse.gov.uk for further information regarding legal duties under the CDM 2015.

Our client's attention would also be drawn to the requirements of the Party Wall Act 1996. Any work involving party walls or alterations or buildings within 6 metres of your boundaries may well be subjected to the requirements of the Party Wall Act.

We can discuss this further but would recommend you read the guidelines on The Party Wall Act 1996.

Work Stages

Planning Permission

Step
1
Initial Visit And Consultation

An initial visit and consultation to client’s property to agree the nature and scope of the proposal with confirmation of the terms of engagement and approximation of costs, including those of Local Authority and additional specialists as required. A letter of appointment with quotation of costs and fees (and when payable) will follow for both parties to sign in agreement.

Step
2
Property Survey

A survey of property is conducted requiring full access to all area affected by the proposed alterations enabling measurements and digital images to be taken as file records to aid scheme drawings and appropriate comparisons for the building specification which Local Authority and builder will require.

Step
3
Draft Drawings Submitted

Draft scheme of drawings is submitted to client for approval. At this point of course, alterations and adjustments can still be made to the drawings ensuring you have just the plan you want.

Step
4
Proposal Submitted

The proposal is submitted to Local Authority Planning Department with Stephen Moore Architectural Services completing the application forms and acting as your Agent in liaising with all departments until a decision is made. A cheque will be payable to the local authority with the submission which the client must supply. Client will be kept informed of and be provided with copies of all communications sent and received enabling appropriate decisions to be reached with guidance as required.

Step
5
Local Authority Decision

Client will be sent the Local Authority decision for their secure filing along with recommendations regarding next steps to take. Please note that Planning Permission where required is a subjective process. Whilst every effort is made to produce an acceptable scheme, applications can be rejected by local authorities.

Building Regulations Approval

Step
6
Building Control Department Requirements

Approved drawings must be prepared to meet Local Authority Building Control Department requirements with a general specification of build to accompany. Any additional Local Authority requirements such as the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), Tree Survey or Structural Engineer’s calculations also collated for submission altogether.

Step
7
Consideraton For Approval

With client’s agreement, the file is submitted to Local Authority to consider for approval. A cheque will be payable to the local authority with the submission which the client must supply. Client will of course be kept informed of and be provided with copies all communications sent and received enabling appropriate decisions to be reach with guidance as required.

Step
8
Local Authority Decision

Client will be sent the Local Authority decision for their secure filing along with recommendations regarding next steps to take. Please note that once the Local Authority Building Control Department has approved the drawings they must inspect the construction at certain stated points. Building Control will invoice you for the inspections once you advise them work has commenced and the inspector has made the first visit.