Consultation
Before you commit yourselves to paying any fees whatsoever, it is important you are given the correct information. For smaller works, a simple telephone call to us on 0118 9745100 may suffice whereby we can offer free advice on how to progress your project.
Most clients will require a consultation which, subject to traveling time, Archytas Ltd offer FREE of charge. The consultation will involve looking at your property and discussing your requirements, including design, layout, planning, building regulations, building costs and choosing builders. We will offer our best advice as to how to proceed with your project and subsequently write to you with a 'no obligation' quotation.
Survey and sketch design
Should you be happy to appoint Archytas Ltd, we will then carry out a full dimensional and photographic survey of your property. Existing plans and elevations are then drawn up to enable us to produce sketch drawings for your appraisal. Should you be 'on-line' these sketches can be forwarded to you via e-mail which has proved very popular with recent clients. Our initial quotation will include for all amendments or re-designs until you are entirely satisfied with our proposals.
Planning Applications
Planning applications are required for most extensions and we will advise you of your obligations at the initial consultation. Planning Applications are generally submitted by us, whereby we act as your agent and deal with all matters regarding the application on your behalf.
The planning forms and drawings will need to be accompanied with a planning fee which is payable to the Local Authority;
For extensions and alterations the fee is £135.00
For new build houses the fee is £265.00 per dwelling.
(Please be aware Local Authority fees are subject to changes)
The Planning process will take approximately eight weeks. Archytas Ltd cannot guarantee approval but will amend any application, or re-submit an alternative scheme should it be refused, at no further cost in most cases.
Detailed design and Building Regulations submissions
Once planning has been approved the next stage will be to prepare detailed drawings and a specification which will be submitted to your Local Authority with a Building Regulations application. This information will also be used to obtain detailed quotes from builders and as 'working' drawings for carrying out the work.
Local Authority fees for Building Regulations applications vary depending on the amount of work being carried out and a breakdown of these fees will be included within our initial fee proposal. A 'Full Plans' fee will need to accompany the application and a further 'Inspection Fee' will be charged after the first inspection which will be carried out by the local Building Control Officer. Our service will involve obtaining an approval for the 'Full Plans' application and a Certificate of Completion will be issued by Building Control when the work is satisfactorily completed by your appointed builder.
The application may necessitate additional fees which could include the services of a structural engineer to design any steel beams etc. and possibly an application/fee to the local water authority if the work is near any public sewers. Once again, we will advise of any additional services in our fee proposal.
Tender (Contract) Advice
If required, Archytas Ltd can offer assistance with obtaining quotations and preparing building contracts to ensure you get the best price AND quality of construction work. This, and any other additional services, such as Project Management, can be agreed with you to suit your individual needs.
Fees
You may (and we advise you do!) obtain quotations from our competitors which may be based on fixed fees or a percentage of construction costs.
Archytas Ltd fees are highly competitive due to low overhead costs and are bespoke to every project. Obviously, prospective clients prefer to have an 'estimate' prior to arranging a consultation so the following may be of assistance. Please be aware that location, design, type of construction, planning restrictions etc. will all be considered in our quotation, but for guidance some typical examples follow;
Single storey extensions from £700.00 + VAT
Two Storey extensions from £850 + VAT
Loft Conversions from £750.00 + VAT
New Houses from 2% of contract value + VAT
The above costs include for survey, sketch design, obtaining planning permission and receiving building regulations approval, and will be broken down into smaller individual fees within our initial fee proposal. They do not include Local Authority or other consultants fees.
