Extension

[Mich the Tester]

Architect!?!

You mean one of those arty-farty guys that sticks a giant concave mirror in the centre of London and then looks puzzled when it sets fire to things?

[sasguru]

The lynch pin to extensions is finding the right architect - just trying to find a local builder won't cut it. When you find the right architect they will recommend builders with whom they've worked.

On the other hand if you see an extension being built and you like the look of them, ask the builder the name of the architect they're working with.

The design is as important as the build.


My brother has just had an extension (new kitchen) put in and he found the architect who is popular in the local area. He is very pleased with the results.

WSS.
We built an extension on the previous house. Architect was key. He recommended builders who were FMB (Federation of Master Builders). I would only go with one of those for major works (Poles are Ok for minor stuff).
FMB means you're insured and the work is guaranteed through them, and no cowboys.
If you live in a decent area, extensions are a no-brainer - almost certainly you'll add value over and above the cost.*

*Ok that's true for decent London areas anyway.

[SimonMac]

An extension of the rear?

I thought all the cycling would have stopped this

[cojak]

You need your plans before planning will tell you anything more than maybe.

As cojak says finding the right architect is the first stating point. Mrs Eek (formerly a planner) used the decent one in her area to do ours. An architect may be popular because he is cheap....

True, but in this case he's popular because he's very good.

My sister-in-law went to the local planning office and got hold of the architect's name - they live in a village and poor rep flies through those places like wildfire.

[eek]

An extension of the rear?

I thought all the cycling would have stopped this

are you saying she's got a big bum....

[Paddy]

The architect deals with planning.

(Bro had the first application rejected, the architect mediated between him and the planning committee and both sides got pretty much what they wanted.)

Architects charge an arm and a leg or be it a percentage of the value of the building. What I did was to look around for and existing extension that looked suitable. I then went to the local planning office and paid for a copy of the planning permission with copies of the plans and building regs. I then drew them on A3 with a few modifications and took them by hand to the planning and building regulation office. The officer corrected a couple of errors and all was done for £50.

[SimonMac]

are you saying she's got a big bum....

To be honest I didn't look when I saw her last, honest

[administrator]

Architects charge an arm and a leg or be it a percentage of the value of the building. What I did was to look around for and existing extension that looked suitable. I then went to the local planning office and paid for a copy of the planning permission with copies of the plans and building regs. I then drew them on A3 with a few modifications and took them by hand to the planning and building regulation office. The officer corrected a couple of errors and all was done for £50.

Depends on the architect... Really best to get a local one as he will have dealt with the local authorities and will know what he can get away with. You may not have to go through planning though depending on the size of the extension.
Planning Portal - Extensions

So would look into that first. If you don't need permission then you should be able to get plans drawn up a lot cheaper. Deffo keep a look out for neighbours currently having, or recently having had, work done and ask them who they used for drawings and build.

We have just spent a year getting plans drawn up and accepted as needed to go via the Environment Agency as a brook runs past the house. Any building with 8 metres of a water course needs Env Agency consultation.

[mudskipper]

Depends on the architect... Really best to get a local one as he will have dealt with the local authorities and will know what he can get away with. You may not have to go through planning though depending on the size of the extension.
Planning Portal - Extensions

So would look into that first. If you don't need permission then you should be able to get plans drawn up a lot cheaper. Deffo keep a look out for neighbours currently having, or recently having had, work done and ask them who they used for drawings and build.

We have just spent a year getting plans drawn up and accepted as needed to go via the Environment Agency as a brook runs past the house. Any building with 8 metres of a water course needs Env Agency consultation.

Excellent - looks like we probably wouldn't need permission.

[mudskipper]

Generally you'd start by getting a drawing made, knocking out a wall and digging a trench for the foundation. Might be good to ask a builder for advice though, instead of a bunch of IT geeks with two left hands.

Indeedy. "Ask a builder for advice" was what I was looking for as a "where do I start?" - although the consensus seems to be an architect.