Planning Permission Tips UK - Free Design Advice In The UK - How And Where To Get It
Isn't it funny how people shelve projects for the new year - perhaps the new year feels like a fresh canvas or something - I don't know. Many potential clients I saw in Q4 of last year our now coming through as confirmed commissions - it's a funny old world with no rhyme or reason...
Providing advice to these potential clients is always a dilemma. On the one hand you want to be helpful & prove your metal in order to gain their trust but on the other hand you are also giving away the family silver without any prior commitment from them that they will actually be engaging your services. Ideas & suggestions on how to achieve a clients building objective is often all we have to offer. Sure there is the technical & craftsmanship element of your service but that's often taken for granted. The creative element is often the bit that actually makes a good development work.
Fortunately, residential development isn't exactly within the realms of Richard Rogers stature especially when developing an existing dwelling with well needed extensions.
So, where does the ordinary householder obtain good independent advice when they are considering an extension to their home? And, is this advice worthy when offered for free? Finally, who do they select as their final design Agent if they lack the necessary skills in producing the design onto paper?
Firstly, There are loads of ways to obtain design free advice. The first step is to consider worked examples already constructed within your street or local area. Be critical & analytical. Decide what works & is pleasing on the eye & what doesn't. Decide what details can you transfer over to your own scheme.
Secondly, go to your council or research a few other councils web sites & download their readily available design guides especially if your property is within a conservation or sensitive rural area. Most councils now have quite good design guides amongst their simplistic do's & don't's pamphlets. Read these design guides and do take on board their messages.
Thirdly (and after completing steps 1 & 2 above) invite a few professionals to come & take a look at your property with a view to perhaps engaging one of them.
These 'professionals' range in terms from Chartered Architects, Architectural Technicians, Surveyors & other Designers of various stature & background. I wont promote any one over another but a lot will depend upon what type of overall service you may be looking for & how much of your potential build budget you are happy to hive off in fees.
However, as a guide, the one to stay well away from is your 'kitchen table top' designer - you know the sort, pencil tracings at the weekends while he works for the Gas Board during the day. Bargain basement prices they may be but they will have little interest in ensuring a pleasing design is accomplished at the end.
Most professional building designers still don't charge for their time at the initial site visit which is a shame in my view as this tends to instantly sort out the serious from the tire kickers. Invite 2 or 3 round for their opinions & gauge their reactions & comments. You will be amazed at the varying attitudes you will encounter. Hopefully all of your invited professionals will have been sourced from recommendations. If not then you have a little research to do.
In order to get the best advice out of these people it is important that you are clear on your objectives. It has been my experience that most homeowners do actually know what they want from their homes. Temper that with a degree of flexibility & an enquiring mind that will allow the building designer to input some of his/her own thoughts from their initial first impressions of what they see. As with everything else in life, there are always options to be explored - the obvious well trodden path through a wood main not be the prettiest.
Now test the designers metal by throwing in an obvious 'no-no'. For example....talk about your idea for an extensive flat roof or an obvious overlooking side window. If he/she simply panders to your thoughts on these points then you know the advice is dubious. Conversely, if the Building Designer is not listening to your principal requirements & shooting off all manner of other design concepts or projects then you also know that you wont end up with a building that satisfies your main needs or budget.
Somewhere between the two is what you are seeking. Someone who can clearly latch on to achieving your space requirements but who is not afraid to question or challenge your preferred siting, materials or layout in order to gain a better overall external appearance & internal design solution.
You will probably discover that you will actually need a building designer to carefully present your scheme through Planning & for the detailed design & specification build up later on so the exercise was worthwhile. For those with rudimentary drawing skills & a passion for 'doing it themselves' they will also find the exercise worth while.
No matter which route you take, time invested in these three simple but often time consuming steps stated above is usually an invaluable part of obtaining a well considered final design for your residential development. Those that 'crash in' without seeking prior advice or without completing a little research will often have regrets either in an awkward looking development that they are having trouble selling or incurring abortive fees from having the scheme refused at Planning.
Our 'Maximum Build Planning Guide' explains further the issues involved when extending or developing a property for planning permission.
http://www.planning-approval.co.uk
 Google News Updated : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 08:08:09 GMT Couric getting a kick out of Web freedom - Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune - By Matea Gold | Tribune Newspapers NEW YORK—Katie Couric was listening to Declan McCullagh, CNet's chief political correspondent, explain Barack Obama's and John McCain's stances on Net neutrality. Survivors Enjoy Watching 'Stand Up To Cancer' Katie Couric teams with rival anchors to 'Stand Up to Cancer' Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 07:04:17 GMT Hurricane Ike Strengthens to Category 4, Raises Fears From ... - FOXNews
FOXNews - Sept. 6: This satellite image taken at 3:45 pm EDT shows a swirl of clouds north of Hispaniola associated with Hurricane Ike. Sept. Video: 'Dangerous' Ike Aims for Turks and Caicos Ike hits Turks and Caicos islands as Category 4 hurricane with ... Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 05:13:03 GMT Evans KOs Liddell at UFC 88 - FOXSports.com FOXSports.com - by Elias Cepeda, InsideFighting.com Rashad Evans shot himself straight to the top of the long list of challengers in the UFC's light heavyweight division with a devastating knockout win over the sport of MMA's top name and former champion, ... Rashad Evans knocks out Chuck Liddell Liddell in need of a fresh approach Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 06:18:30 GMT In the neighborhood of a title once again - Boston Globe
Boston Globe - By Bud Collins Or should I say Herr Roger, as he is addressed in his hometown, Basel. He does better in this sector, the Flushing section of the New York borough of Queens, than he ever did in Switzerland, and Roger Federer says he feels "a little bit ... Video: Federer Beats Djokovic to Reach US Open Final Federer Storms Into Final Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 07:28:11 GMT Tracing TV's bloodlines - Cape Cod Times
Cape Cod Times - By CAPE COD TIMES Vampires are big business, whether dominating the best-seller list in Stephenie Meyer's "Twilight" series of books for three years or starring in an endless stream of movies that portray the mysterious bloodsuckers as scary, ... 'True Blood': Undead On Arrival 'True Blood' offers edgy inspection of tolerance Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 07:14:40 GMT EA's big bet on Spore - San Jose Mercury News
San Jose Mercury News - By Steve Johnson In unveiling their much-anticipated and long-delayed video game "Spore" in North America today, executives at Electronic Arts hope to counter critics who have faulted the Redwood City company for becoming fat and happy in recent years ... In the Beginning, Finally Sims creator hopes to soar with Spore Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 07:07:31 GMT Google Chrome Reflects A Desktop In Decline - InformationWeek
InformationWeek - After 10 years as a company, Google is making the Chrome browser key to the coming of age of cloud computing, or software as a service. Mozilla releases second Firefox 3.1 alpha Mozilla updates Firefox 3.1 with Alpha 2 build Publ.Date : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 21:46:03 GMT Increase Web Traffic |
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... This article takes a look at a number of ways... Read More Don't you just love the design of some of these... Read More When you buy art, you may think you not consciously... Read More Color researchers have estimated that up to 70% of our... Read More Is it time to give that tired kitchen floor a... Read More If the weather is turning chilly it must time for... Read More Many successful business deals are the result of being a... Read More Fresh water is essential to our health and comfort. Not... Read More If you are redesigning or decorating a room, or house,... Read More Newcomers to the world of log homes will notice that... Read More The gutters on your home are starting to overflow so... Read More Your short lesson on how to remove carpet stains: act... Read More In recent years there has been many stories about dryers... Read More Your choice of bathroom cabinet can affect the look and... Read More Creating a Designer Home With LightingTraditionally, spring is the time... Read More The starting current of motor can become 3 to 6... Read More In previous articles i explained to you how to determine... Read More "The doors we open and close each day decide the... Read More Tax season is over...The spring holidays have passed... Hopefully by... Read More A swimming pool with attached spa has just been installed... Read More Ceramic tile can be beautiful and elegant. But it can... Read More Marble is any limestone or dolomite that can take a... Read More For Paint Manufacturers worldwide, there has come a radical new... Read More Does the coming winter chill remind you how much you... Read More Purchasing a home spa is a great expense; which can... Read More
Adsense
websites
Draught Proofing Your Home
Planning Permision Tips UK - 6 Common Design Mistakes When Extending a Residential Property
Colour Your World With Art
Color Help: Color Imagery for Happy Homes
Choosing A New Floor
Bring Out the Comforters for Back to School
Planning Permission Tips UK - What To Show And What Not To Show On Your application Drawings
Which Water Purification Systems Are Best? - A Comparison of the Three Most Common Technologies
Poster, Print or Painting. Where Are You Going To Put It?
Log Homes - Whats Different About Log Homes?
The Art of Gutter Cleaning
Remove Carpet Stains - The How To
Fire Hazard Alert - Is Your Dryer Ready to Ignite
Improving Your Bathrooms Appearance can be as Simple as Changing Your Bathroom Cabinets
In The Mood
The Motors Best Friend
Installing Retrofit and Replacement Vinyl Windows
Whats So Special About My Front Door?
A Place For Everything And Everything In Its Place
Pool Supplies Should Also Contain Safety
Painting and Decorating Tile
Marble Information
New-age Paint Thickening & Rheological Additives : Solvitex & Solvizen
Faux Fireplace, on the Cheap!
Keeping Your Home Spa Clean
Affordable and Reliable Web Hosting Starting at $4.49/Month
Gel Candle Safety: What You Should Know Before You Buy
A lot of attention has been focused on gel candle... Read More
The Cost of Remodeling a Bathroom
Before beginning any bathroom remodeling, you should create a budget.... Read More
How to Deal With Contractors (So You Wont Go Mad!)
BE PREPARED -- Building a house is lots of fun,... Read More
Clearing the Air on What to Look for in an Air Purifier
If you are dedicated to improving the indoor air quality... Read More
Old House Remodeling: Removing Old Tile and Glue
When you live in old house like I do, remodeling... Read More
Security in Todays World
There are many things in life that are worth protecting.... Read More
What Two Words Will Double the Space in Your Home?
Just two words and a bit of explanation about them... Read More
Painting and Decorating Tile
Ceramic tile can be beautiful and elegant. But it can... Read More
Why Should You Need Tools for Everyday Living
How often you have used tools for your everyday living?... Read More
Design Elements
A well-decorated room can still lack personality. To give your... Read More
Get the Lead Out: Candle Wicks in the US
According to the National Candle Association (NCA), most US-manufactured candle... Read More
At Last You Can Customize Your Pegboard As Much As You Want
Customizable metal pegboard is set to revolutionise utensil storage. For... Read More
Is It Time For Solar Energy to Get Hot?
Solar energy has been around for quite a while and... Read More
Planning Permission Tips UK - Permitted Development Allowances - Not the Golden Goose You Imagine
There is a perception amongst most folk that every house... Read More
How House Plans Work
The Ins and Outs Of Choosing Online Custom Home Plans!... Read More
Clear Wax Candles vs. Gel Candles
In the last five years a new type of clear... Read More
How To Buy A Conservatory In The UK
The first question is, what is a conservatory?There is no... Read More
A Fabric Hammock is Comfortable Casual Chic
If you are looking for unique seating inside or out,... Read More
Solar Energy Advantages Disadvantages
Many of us know that solar energy is a good... Read More
Professional Asphalt Paving Contractors In California
Choosing an asphalt paving contractor can be a major event... Read More
How To Give Your Home More Space
Have you been wondering how to free up space in... Read More
Marketing For The Home Builder
When one is looking into marketing for the home builder,... Read More
An Introduction to Air Compressors
Air compressors are widely used among American manufacturers, industries and... Read More
Designing With Hardwood Floors
Hardwood floors are suited to both casual and formal environments;... Read More
5 Steps for Creating a Garage You Can Love ? and Use
A major US corporation recently launched a new line of... Read More
Home Improvement |