Hating ladders is OK
So you’re having your house built, but you hate ladders… That’s perfectly OK. We’re not expecting you to be up to your elbows in tiles and plastering – and to be honest, we’d rather you weren’t!
Why choose design & build?
We are
in both
design & construction
And we think why should you have to hire two firms* when you can hire one that does everything?
*or, let's be honest, three or four
What is design & build?
Traditionally, house-building companies have tended to focus solely on either design or build, or possibly one of the ever-narrower sub-disciplines within either of these catch-all terms.
This often means you’ll need to hire multiple (three, four, five?!) different firms to manage each stage of the process. You need an architectural firm to draw up the design, a technician and quantity surveyorHandles cost reconciliation during a project. They also provide valuations to the client at monthly intervals and handle any variations to the contract. They are integral to the Construction Stage of a project and a useful person for both us and our client. to get you through planning and a construction company or two to, you know, actually build the thing. If you split the construction into individual trades, the complexity increases even further, turning the whole thing into a plate-spinning act.
Design & build offers a superior solution: everything is handled under one roof. A design and buildThe all-in-one service we provide including everything from architectural services through to the construction stage and completion of your new home. There’s no need to approach anyone else as it’s all handled for you. firm hires experts in every discipline, forming a cohesive team so you don’t have to juggle multiple companies. Your entire project is managed seamlessly by the same people, from concept to keys.
Sound like the way forward? You’re in luck – it just so happens we know exactly the right design and buildThe all-in-one service we provide including everything from architectural services through to the construction stage and completion of your new home. There’s no need to approach anyone else as it’s all handled for you. firm for you.
At a glance
Why choose
design & build?
Collaboration
Eliminate oversights by getting all parties around the table from day one.
From architect’s plan to completed structure, the journey of a building often involves multiple handovers – architectJob titles describing people who are able to design buildings and spaces, and are capable of collaboration with construction trades and specialists to manage projects to completion. ‘Architect’ & ‘Architectural Technologist’ are legally protected job titles, which can only be used by people who are professionally qualified and registered with a governing body which assesses them to ensure minimum standards and ethics., architectural technicianJob titles describing people who are able to design buildings and spaces, and are capable of collaboration with construction trades and specialists to manage projects to completion. ‘Architect’ & ‘Architectural Technologist’ are legally protected job titles, which can only be used by people who are professionally qualified and registered with a governing body which assesses them to ensure minimum standards and ethics., quantity surveyorHandles cost reconciliation during a project. They also provide valuations to the client at monthly intervals and handle any variations to the contract. They are integral to the Construction Stage of a project and a useful person for both us and our client. and finally builder. There can be hiccups between each of these stages, where an architectJob titles describing people who are able to design buildings and spaces, and are capable of collaboration with construction trades and specialists to manage projects to completion. ‘Architect’ & ‘Architectural Technologist’ are legally protected job titles, which can only be used by people who are professionally qualified and registered with a governing body which assesses them to ensure minimum standards and ethics. doesn’t account for the client’s budget when creating a shiny and desirable feature of some kind – or the architectural technicianJob titles describing people who are able to design buildings and spaces, and are capable of collaboration with construction trades and specialists to manage projects to completion. ‘Architect’ & ‘Architectural Technologist’ are legally protected job titles, which can only be used by people who are professionally qualified and registered with a governing body which assesses them to ensure minimum standards and ethics. struggles to adapt the design to something that obeys the laws of physics.
If the entire design and buildThe all-in-one service we provide including everything from architectural services through to the construction stage and completion of your new home. There’s no need to approach anyone else as it’s all handled for you. of your project is carried out by a single company, however, then these collaboration issues simply don’t occur.
We involve the build team from day one and work with them continuously throughout the design phase to ensure that your wishes at the start make it all the way to the completed build.
Say goodbye to issues with planning permissionConfirmation from the Local Planning Authority (council) that the development will meet laws and principles to maintain or enhance the visual, environmental and social aspects of the local area, covering all the aspects of how people will use the building. The Local Planning Authority’s appraisal prior to granting Planning Permission typically takes 8 weeks, and your neighbours are invited to comment, so early engagement with them is valuable. Alongside the drawings, we submit written documents and consultant reports to support the request. and anything that breaks building regulationsLaws and standards that ensure buildings are safe and comfortable for their occupants and users, by meeting specific standards. (or the laws of physics for that matter). Likewise, no more of those little oversights in design that have a habit of turning into big problems during construction (we’re looking at you, protected treesA tree or group of trees that are protected due to their type, age, size, location, historical significance or value to local communities. Also covers trees in conservation areas.).
Put simply: buildable design from the start – a hallmark of our unified design & build process.
Cost
Save money on inefficiencies (and on VAT).
Another issue that sometimes arises, as hinted above, is that the budget has flown out of the window, somewhere between the initial meeting and the final plans being presented to the builder. This leaves them trying to cut costs in hidden places to accommodate high-ticket items in others, and being ‘the bad guy’ who has to tell the client that there is an overspend.
Our process ensures that your budget is held in mind throughout, with suggestions made for design, style and materialsBricks, concrete, timber, cement, nails, screws, and everything else that makes up the building. being accommodated within that. The design can be adapted on-site to allow for the unexpected as our team is familiar with the entire project, in particular the aspects that were important to you from the start and that must be retained.
An extra bonus that you may not be aware of, is that if you opt for a full design and buildThe all-in-one service we provide including everything from architectural services through to the construction stage and completion of your new home. There’s no need to approach anyone else as it’s all handled for you. service from a single company, the design stage is zero-rated for VAT, for a new build. You don’t have to sign up for both halves of the service immediately, but we can apply the zero VAT for the design side if you choose to go with us for the build phase. How much could that save you?
Communication
No more 'he said, she said'. Just one continuous flowing dialogue.
A third factor that can negatively impact your progress is communication, between client and professional. If you find yourself having to explain what you want to A, then B, then C, and possibly even D as well, then you could start to feel like you’re stuck in a loop, and no-one understands where you’ve come from.
With a single business carrying out your entire project, you will have continuity of conversations. Your team will be aware of the design choices that you have made to get to this point so you won’t have to repeat yourself endlessly, saving time and stress.
Time
Stop endlessly auditioning contractors and put that time to better use.
And last but not least, your most important commodity: time.
Building a house is a long journey. And if you want to make it bearable, let alone successful, you are going to spend a decent chunk of that time finding the right architectJob titles describing people who are able to design buildings and spaces, and are capable of collaboration with construction trades and specialists to manage projects to completion. ‘Architect’ & ‘Architectural Technologist’ are legally protected job titles, which can only be used by people who are professionally qualified and registered with a governing body which assesses them to ensure minimum standards and ethics.. Someone who not only gets buildings but also gets you and your vision.
And when you’ve finally found ‘the one’, you’ve then got to go through all that again when it’s time to find a quantity surveyorHandles cost reconciliation during a project. They also provide valuations to the client at monthly intervals and handle any variations to the contract. They are integral to the Construction Stage of a project and a useful person for both us and our client., a technician and finally a builder.
Or you could just work with us. And spend the time you save not having to go contractor speed dating on something more fun. After all, those kitchen tiles aren’t going to pick themselves.
Knowledge Hub
Practicalities of site access
Let's explore some more of the details you need to think about before beginning a design project, whether a new home, or an extension or refurb of an existing property.
