In the next blog in our series of the most frequently asked questions we hear as Architects, we turn our attention to the subject of planning. This can be a daunting process at first but we are able to take the stress out of the application process by smoothly handling each of the stages involved.
There are two sides to being effective Planning Architects, the first being the Planning and Permissions process.
Planning is integral to the architectural process. It’s the key RIBA stage between the initial idea or brief and the start of construction. You will need Planning Permission if you are making a substantial alteration to an existing structure or building from the ground up. Substantial alteration includes any changes to the exterior of a building or significant structural alterations to an interior space. Throughout the process, we keep you fully informed as to the progress of your application.
Architects can never guarantee that a Planning Permission application will be successful, but we will make sure that your application has the best chance of being approved by submitting the most detailed drawings and architectural renders of what the final building may look like.
Obtaining the correct Planning Permissions, and other permissions you may need if your building is Listed or in a Conservation Area, is part of our process and we are expert Planning Architects, particularly with Heritage and Historic properties.
The second stage of effective planning is the creation of actual plans and drawings. When people ask what planning drawings are, we explain that an architectural plan is a design and planning for a building, and can contain architectural drawings, specifications of the design, calculations, time planning of the building process, and other documentation. Ashleigh Clarke supplies complete planning drawings either at the concept stage or the full technical drawings stage.
You may be able to obtain permission to build “an exceptional one-off house on a site where refusal would normally be expected.” This is covered in Paragraph 79 – the country house exemption clause. “To qualify for approval a proposal’s design must be ‘of exceptional quality’. It should be ‘truly outstanding or innovative, reflecting the highest standards in architecture, and would help to raise standards of design more generally in rural areas. It must also ‘significantly enhance its immediate setting and be sensitive to the defining characteristics of the local area’. (RIBA)
If you think you might not need Planning Permission it is always better to check with us and consider how your proposed building will affect your neighbours, along with the environment and surrounding landscape.
