These are the
Services We Offer
A full range of services to suit your project
We know that different clients and different projects require different services. That’s why we offer a range of services depending on where you are in the project and how much involvement you want or need from us. From all all-encompassing ‘idea to completion’ service to a less involved ‘as you need us’ service, we are flexible and willing to work with you to help you realise your project.
Like all good things, it starts with a coffee
Whether you’re just starting to think about your project and need some help, or you’re half way through the build and have run into some problems, it all starts with a conversation to get the ball rolling. We have an office on South street and you are welcome to drop in for chat, or feel free to book an appointment. Following this meeting we will provide a fee estimate. If that’s in the right ballpark, then we can meet you at the property or back in the office and discuss in more detail. At that point we will provide a more detailed fee proposal and be formally engaged.
Feasibility Study
At the outset of the project, there are usually 2 questions: “Can I afford this?” and “Is this actually do-able?”. In short it boils down to “Is this project feasible?”.
We devised our feasibility study – specific for home renovations and extensions – to help answer these questions as early as possible and before you commit to spending money on drawings. Often, many of the headaches you will face later down the line (at planning or building regulations stage) can be unearthed early in the process and that is what our feasibility study is for. It helps you to understand what potential issues you might face and the likely costs involved in overcoming them.
Drainage is a common example; by looking at the drainage during the feasibility study, we have a good chance of identifying, for example, whether you will need a build over agreement. This can prepare you for a potential delay and cost. There are several other areas we look at including ecology, planning, impact of tress, headroom for dormers and more.
In one project, the feasibility study revealed potential issues with drains and trees. This led to us rethinking the client’s plans. In the end, it saved around £80,000 by reconsidering whether the extension was needed at all. By utilising the existing garage, we managed to get the client everything they wanted without the expense of the extension.
Measured Survey
Once we have done the feasibility study and you are confident that you would like to proceed. We will come and measure the house. We do not use 3rd party surveying companies as we find it valuable to spend the time measuring the house ourselves. We get a good feel for the construction; which walls are load bearing, where the drainage runs, floor and ceiling joist directions and more. This helps us when designing as we are more aware of the impact of doing certain work.
This helps us think about ‘buildability’ through the whole project and helps to manage costs, rather than design something which turns out to be out of your budget.
Concept Design
With the knowledge of any potential issues and constraints and the existing house drawn to scale, we can start the fun part! We get out our felt-tips and tracing paper and begin to come up with ideas. This is usually in collaboration with the the client, building off initial ideas you provide. Once we have something, we will either send it to you or invite you to the office to review and discuss.
Cost Estimation
Once you have settled on a scheme, we can produce a build-cost estimate. We do this in-house, using the same software many builders use to calculate the price further down the line. This gives you an early indication into the likely built cost in the style of a builder’s estimate. Importantly, by doing this step before we complete planning and building regulations drawings, changes are still relatively easy to do make. The further through the process you go, the more costly it is to make changes.
Planning Permission
With the scheme agreed and an approximate build cost established, we submit the plans for planning permission. This process usually takes 8- 10 weeks. It involves sending the council the drawings and other documentation they require to make a decision about whether your proposal is permitted or not. We generally work with Chichester, Arun and Havant councils but can apply for planning permission anywhere. It is a process which can be long-winded and frustrating with complications around things like drainage and ecology. It can often result in needing some additional surveys, but most of the time we will have foreseen this thanks for the feasibility study.
Building Regulations
Where planning is concerned with the size, material and location of your building, along with the impact on the environment and neighbours, building control are interested in the more technical aspects of how it is to be constructed.
During this stage, we will produce detailed drawings which demonstrate how the building will meet the Building Regulations. We detail things like insulation values, structural members, compliance with fire safety and means of escape, adequate head-room over stairs and more.
This is the set of drawings which we will also share with the structural engineer who will support the design with calculations to prove that it is structurally sound. This package of building regulations drawings, our notes and the structural calculations is what a builder will need to give you an accurate price.
Builder Introductions
With your planning and building regulations drawings completed and a set of structural calculations, you are ready to approach builders for prices. At this point, you may decide to take on this work yourself. If however you would like us to be involved, we can approach our network of trusted, local builders. These are the people we have worked with previously and are confident in recommending to you.
Quote Comparison
When you get prices back from different builders it is notoriously difficult to compare like-for-like. When we run the tender process for you, we provide builders with a pricing schedule. This is a document which provides the builders with a line-by-line schedule of what needs to be included in the price. When multiple builders price the work in a consistent format against a standard pricing schedule, it becomes much easier to compare quotes. It’s not about comparing the cost of individual line items, it’s about ensuring that each builder has priced for the same work so that the quotes are comparable overall. There will always be some give and take and some changes on site, that’s a normal part of the process, but having a clear schedule is a good starting point to make sure everyone is on the same page.
Contract Administration
If you would like us involved during the build, we are happy to discuss this. We offer a contract administration service whereby we look after your financial interests through the project. We visit the site every week and value the work completed with the builder or their appointed quantity surveyor. We agree the completion rate and issue you with a certificate showing the amount due to be paid. As part of this calculation you also retain a percentage to be released at the point where the project reaches practical completion. This is all undertaken under an industry standard contract which is well-understood by builders.
Forty Four Design is a CIAT Chartered Architectural Technology Practice, and Registered LABC Partner, in Chichester undertaking a wide range of residential projects in Chichester, Bognor, Selsey, Witterings, Pagham, Bosham, Emsworth and surrounding areas.
