Pre Planning
This can include verbal advise over the phone or site visits.
Having over 30 years experience enables KWD to put forward suggestions and notify a potential constraints.
Pre-planning can save considerable time and expense.
Planning
KWD’ will Preparation and submit the Planning Applications to enable the prompt determination of the application, including where necessary Design and Access Statements.
get in touchWith extensive experience of working in the residential sector which has enabled the creation and growth of excellent working relationships with Local Authority planning and other officers.
We pride ourselves on the swift delivery of planning applications and can coordinate the entire process from start to finish to ensure that planning applications are accompanied by all relevant reports and documents to enable planning applications to be registered without
Building Regs/Construction Plans
The Building Regulations / Construction Plans provide the detailed plans which will enable the builder to provide an accurate price.
get in touchMost projects will require Building Regulations approval.
When work commences on site the Building Inspector will carry out inspections to ensure that works comply with the current building regulations.
Should a designer only focus on the Planning aspect during the initial design, it can cause issues at the later design stages. At KWD we design on the understanding that we will be designing the latter stages and therefore design a scheme that is build-able. This will be communicated from Day 1 of the entire process. We want you to have a scheme designed that you actually build.
Conservation Areas and Listed Buildings
If your building is a Listed Building or the proposal lies within a Conservation Area then it’s more than just a planning application that is needed. The project will need to be assessed by Local Authority Conservation Officers as well as going through the usual Local Authority procedures.
get in touchAs well as a Design & Access statement you will require Justification Statements – these are to include the Listed Building’s history and the potential impact that the work has on the character of the building.
It is advisable to contact the Local Authority’s Conservation Officer prior to the scheme being finalised.
Conversions and Change of Use
Change of Use applications include Barn conversions, School and Church conversions.
Most conversions are sub-divisions. This can be to a HMO (House in Multiple Occupation) or sub-division into Flats. This involves a lot more than just Design Drawings. At KWD we have actually purchased and converted buildings and own/rent them. We have converted in excess of 30 flats. We know and understand Flats in great depth.
We also have considerable construction experience. This added experience allows us to view projects from an added perspective.
Change of Use projects include a number of additional construction complexities and they need to be carried out correctly from the outset.
We can offer detailed advise from the outset based on our architectural and construction experience.
K. W. Dorrington focus on domestic and residential housing has led to our reputation as experts in this field.
Renowned for our experience, honesty, reliability and providing unrivalled value for money, we offer a personal service, ensuring a smooth progression from the initial phone call through to the project’s completion.
CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION, P.C.C.’s & PROJECT MANAGEMENT
get in touchAlthough there are similarities between Contract Administration, P.C.C.’s, and Project Management there are great differences.
Professional Consultant Certificates (P.C.C.’s) are similar to Building Work Warranties. Their former title was ‘Architect’s Certificates’. They offer an alternative to a warranty. They cover 6 years and allow the developer or purchaser to obtain a mortgage on the property. K. W. Dorrington is recognised by the CML (Council of Mortgage Lenders) to provide P.C.C.s.
Contract Administration as the name suggests is where the professional administers the contract. This often includes obtaining builders quotes and appointing a contractor, agreeing a legal contract and agreeing schedules, costs and a payment / progress plan. The administrator will visit site at agreed times to agree when given construction points have been met and authorise payments. All alterations from the original agreed scheme will go through the administrator.
The Local Authority Building Inspector (or Approved Inspector) will carry out regular site visits and will check structural matters but their inspections are restricted. For example standards of workmanship are not included, neither are finishes.
A Project Manager will carry out the duties of a Contract Administer as well as agreed additional duties. K. W. Dorrington can provide a full range of Project Management. This can range from a fairly basic involvement to a detailed level, which could include ordering and delivering materials as well as organisinig labour.
Most small projects, with a reputable builder, will not require a separate project manager. Most builders are reliable and experts in their field.
The large majority of projects with the inclusion of a well planned scheme, a reputable builder, a reasonable customer can agree time frames, build costs and payment schedules.
It is highly recommended that a lawful contract is agreed and signed by both parties. The most concerning aspect of the agreement is the payment schedules. Payments are almost always made at given and agreed stages of construction. The customer, often with little construction experience, can feel at a disadvantage of being certain that payments made are reflective of agreed progress being made on site. K. W. Dorrington (MCIAT) is recognised by the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) and can help in this area.