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ARCHITECTS FEES, IS THIS REASONABLE?

When looking for a good reputable Architect to hire is not only the service he or she is going to provide but the total costings. Architects do not make a clear picture of how much all the designs will cost for the proposed works. We at DISCOUNT PLANS have clear prices and can guarantee that we are the most competitive design practice producing detailed high-quality drawings within just only 2-weeks from the site measured survey.

UNDERSTANDING WHAT YOU ARE PAYING FOR

Architects fees can vary from practice to practice like any other business, however, if doing the right research before hiring the Architect of your choice then this will save you THOUSANDS of                          in extra fees that you did not know were going to be added.

 

We at DPL know what you want as we deal with clients constantly, we cater for full design packages to suit your individual requirements that are fairly priced if not the cheapest out there. Planning Drawings are of the most bog-standard look similar to Estate Agent Drawings. The only use for PLANNING DRAWINGS is for the use of the Planning Department's case to review the proposal sent in for obtaining planning consent. The Planning Drawings have no detail or information on them in relation to drainage, foundation design or any material being used to comply with Building Regulations for construction purposes. After your planning application has been successfully approved then the drawings that you have spent your hard-earned cash                    on can be in effect rolled into a paper ball and thrown into the bit or wall mounted as a souvenir, in effect, they will be useless for anyone such as Builders, Engineers, Party Wall Surveyors or Building Control inspectors to work off. 

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You then will need then to spend more cash                         on upgrading the current drawings, if you are lucky the same Architect will be able to do this for you which would slightly be cheaper as a site survey has been carried out, if however, your Architect is not competent to design to British Standards Building Regulations then you will need to start the design process from scratch. Please see below a Typical example of a Planning Design Layout which has limited information costing a fraction of the price to the more detailed Building Regulation Example shown for the same project. 

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BOG STANDARD PLANNING DESIGN EXAMPLE
123 ALBERT STREET - NW1 - Ground Floor Plan

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USES OF PLANNING DRAWINGS: CASE OFFICER within the council only

TECHNICAL BUILDING REGULATION DESIGN EXAMPLE
123 ALBERT STREET - NW1 - Ground Floor Plan

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USES OF BUILDING REGULATION DRAWINGS: CASE OFFICER within the council, STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS, PARTY WALL SURVEYORS, BUILDERS, BUILDING INSPECTORS, BUILDING CONTROL, THAMES WATER

We experience clients calling in asking if we can produce Building Regulation drawings based on previous drawings that their Architect have done, we respond by letting them know that we can produce Building Regulation drawings, but we cannot work off other Architects works as 100% of the time the drawings will have errors on them. If an Architect cannot produce Building regulation drawings because of limited experience then producing drawings that will be accurate will be almost impossible. The drawings will be prone to mistakes and we at DPL will not be duplicating any mistake and taking the responsibility for any errors your previous architect has made. 

MONEY NOW WASTED on PLANNING DRAWING PRODUCTION
a SAD EXPERIENCE :(

At DPL we start the whole process again by treating your job as a fresh one by sending our experienced surveyor out to your property where you get the opportunity to talk to and get inside knowledge and what can and can't be possible on the structural side of the alterations you wish to take on your property.

 

In every case when our designers re-draw your proposal based on any old drawings done by your previous Architect, we find errors from dimensions being out, to inaccurate heights taken to wall thicknesses being wrong. 

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The errors on the drawings are evident when re-drawing especially loft conversion designs. Clients that hire Architects that have limited experience in producing Building Regulation drawings for the task of designing loft conversions are looking for trouble.

 

Designing loft conversions is a specialist field where we work alongside strict measured structural surveys, liaising with structural engineers taking into account the engineering side of the design with added steel beam/s placement/s in floor and ceilings (ridge beams being installed) which alters the overall finished floor level to achieve the required 2000mm overall head height clearance needed for Building Control to sign off.

 

The staircase design is a very important element in loft conversion designs as a minimum of 2000mm head clearance is needed throughout the escape stair route. (existing and proposed)

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From as early as 2021 due to Covid-19, we have lowered our prices as much as other companies which produce planning drawings. Planning drawings hold around 14 hours of draughting time and are much cheaper than Building Regulation drawings.

 

Building Regulation drawings can take up to 45 hours to complete as they are very detailed and only Experienced designers can provide these drawings to a standard to build off.

Take advantage of using DISCOUNT PLANS LTD by getting a full set of Building Regulation drawings designed for the price of Planning Drawings others are charging saving you MONEY not thrown away - Call 07838135957 any time for a Free Consultation.

UNDERSTANDING THE PROCESS

DESIGN BRIEF TAKEN AND PRICE AGREED FOR WORKS

Deciding on Planning Design or Building Regulation Design
Free Survey, Free Amendments, A 2-Week turnaround for completed drawings posted and Emailed over for clients approval

PLANNING DRAWINGS

Site Survey, Planning Drawings Produced, Checked by Client, Amendments needed if necessary Charged for at agreed price by DPL
2- Week Production of Drawings

BUILDING REGULATIONS

Site Survey, Building Regulation Drawings Produced, Checked by Client,
Amendments needed if necessary, Charged for at agreed price by DPL
2- Week Production of Drawings

SUBMISSION TO THE COUNCIL

The administration team preparing all documents and registering your application
Charged at £110* by Admin. 

PAYMENT TO THE COUNCIL

To Obtain Planning Permission = £206 or Certificate of Lawfulness = £103
8- Week Process

APPROVED - Construction Stage

Valid for 3-Years are you ready to BUILD? Get your Building Regulation Drawings and Structural Calculation design in place for LBC approval 

SUBMISSION TO BUILDING CONTROL

Building Regulation Drawings to be Registered to Building Control (LBC) for a Plans Check Certificate to be issued of design compliance
Service Charged accordingly by London Building Control 

PARTY WALL AWARDS ISSUED

Appointing a Party Wall Surveyor to deal with all Party Wall matters arising
Charged by Surveyor

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* Subject to a vat charge

THAMES WATER
APLICATION

All Build over applications certified and approved based on extension designs
Charged by Thames Water

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STRUCTURAL CALCULATIONS

Engineering Calculations produced, submitted to Building Control (LBC) for checking of acceptance
Charged by Engineer

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Extension - Buckhurst Hill

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CONTACT OUR TEAM TODAY FOR A QUOTE

I hope you understood this article and find it useful for your proposals we just want you to get the right results and not to make a mistake in doing the build the wrong way around as this could affect the sale to the next purchaser. Regards John. D.

CALL OUR TEAM ON
07838135957

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