Has anyone built themselves or employed an architect to draw plans?

[lemonice]

We want to build in our backyard and keep delaying but we must do it now. How much would we expect to pay for plans to be drawn up for planning permission? Has any one used anything simple (software) to draw up plans themselves which could then be given to an architect to see what we were thinking of? Is any body an architect or can recommend a way of finding one? Is it foolhardy to manage the project ourselves?

We measured up, it's a bit hard to be accurate for one reason and another but the access side is approx 6.15m and the depth eithe 18.2m or if we leave the main house a smaller garden 23.2m

We are trying to have a parking space on the plot which is a bit awkward as the lane is narrow so needs to come in a bit for access. We found it hard to work out a floor plan to include everything we want.

Next door houses have roof lights and roof pitched towards us. Don't know what the passed plans are for the other side as went to look this morning and planning department have lost them!
Will most likely employ an architect for our plans if we can find someone to trust but maybe not for project management.

lemonice, a bit of a hint...generally architects charge on a percentage of construction costs basis. It is vey time consuming to do the construction drawings. And if they are done well, relatively non-time consuming to oversee construction, especially if there is a good builder. The money that you might save on doing your own project management isn't going to be that much in the grand scheme of things and it's going to be a lot less than the extra you have to pay for the mistakes/extra costs that will inevitably occur from your inexperience.

thats a reasonable sized piece of land if you say the surriunding terraced houses have no garden & if you can build on most of it-(hard to envisage without plot plan)
a typical victorian small terrace is 14' x varying depths but the compact ones 24' with the kitchen (two storey) & bath (single storey) protruding beyond- these are usually 3 bed & nowadays have a shower / wc upstairs too- a few other poss options -ground floor studio / 1 bed flat+ small 2 bed maisonetted above (uuse roof & velux windows- fab system called cabrio- double roof windows that open out to make small balcony type opening-
whilst your sourcing your architect- also Architectural technologists are a recognised group www.biat.org.uk/index.jsp-
do some research as to when the other adjoining plans were passed, find out if there have been any changes to the "local area plan" since that date- depending on the designation of your conservation area ..there is a very usefull little thing called permitted development rights
..to which every new freehold house has right to extend without further planning permission after completion- some council;s & conservation areas have this right withdrawn- ask the planning dept- basically u can build a smaller house to fit the planning dept wishes, then when it has its completion certificate you can the add either 50 or 75 m3 ....without PP- makes a lot of difference to small houses,
as to working out what ideas you want to consider, find the nearest big builder development with similar sized houses & look at the advertising documents with plans in- these guys have maximising the "value added aspects" of houseing into small plots down to a fine art-
...if you are thinking of running right up to the newly built houses on the boundary, you'll need a party wall surveyor ( not a job under taken by architects / designers) they are expensive so start looking for recomendations
good luck back to my CAD station for the night shift !!! cant think with children running round - shout if you need any info

Thank you. I take the point Sofia about the charging structure.

There's some useful advice here. I shall try and find some developer plans to look at.

I think whichever way we do it by rights we have to have a party wall surveyor because it will be within 3 metres of the neighbour foundations. It would be good if we could tie on to their wall but seems a bit hopeful to me.

You guys are up late - I only really have the computer during the day.

Just an amusing aside - the bricklayer asked dp if we would sell the plot to a "third party" and they would work on our house renovation as part payment (!!) and then they would buy our house and the plot.

Apparently the houses next door are going to be put up for sale for £160,000 each..they have 2 beds, and one downstairs kitchen living room, no parking or garden.

We are going to see if sister's dp will do some initial drawings as he is a retired architect (but this kind of thing is not his area)but that will give us something to kick start. I hope we will soon have some recommendations (I did email Lunarsea did you get it?)

lemonice - yes, but the details are at home, and I'm not.... will get back to you a.s.a.p.

IME you can easily manage the project yourself - if it's not too big!! but if you have no experience of building/planning etc I would recommend employing an architect to draw up the plans and they can handle the project for you, a bonus of this is that they can keep the project to a budget and negotiate with builders. Using an architect is also handy if you live in an area of conservation or your house is a listed building. The cheaper alternative is to employ a builder yourself, some can also draw up plans and handle the planning department for you. Depends on whether you want the hassle of doing it yourself. To submit plans to your local council will cost approx £150, the cost of drawing up the plans will depend on the extent of the drawings/size of rebuild TBH. If you look at the Royal Society of British Architects website, they have a directory of qualified architects and you'll probably be able to find one in your local area www.riba.org HTH

Beetroot did you use an architect or a draughtsman? And did you draw them up on paper or computer yoursleves. We are thinking of a 2 bedroom house. At the moment they are building two houses on our boundary and tbh we have had a few issues with it but brickies are fine and have volunteered to build ours when we get permission (even travelling up from Luton to do it). Apparently we should be able to tie into that wall which would be useful. Have had a fair amount of experience in renovation and did employ an arhcitect for some but he was a disaster of monumental proportions.

Lemonice- my sister designed and built her own house in Catherine de Barnes a few years ago. She used an architect who used to be with Solihull Planning Dept and can recommend. They also deal with the planning application for you.

lemonice - we've just had plans drawn for an extension. We're in your area if you want to CAT me for details of who we used.

We had an extension built this year. We used an Architect who was a family friend. He charged £300 for the drawing and filling in the forms /dealing with the planning application. He charges approx £900 for a full house. You will need to apply for both planning permission and Building Regulation Approval. It is better IMO to apply for full planning permission with as much detail on the drawing as you can rather than outline planning permission (could cost more in the long run).

I am sure one mumsnetter is an architect??

We have just got final plannig permission to build a house at the bottom of inlaws garden.

Be prepared for a long hard struggle with the planning authorities. It took us a year to get outline planning permiossion and then another year to get the plans through as the officer dealing with out application was being a right PITA.

Also we usedan architect and he is getting tenders and sorting out the builders and building regs for us

I have just spoken to the planning officer about the proposed plans on the other side of us and in passing mentioned our idea and he says we can have a pre-planning appointment, for which we just need a sketch and photographs, so we will be out with the tape measure asap.

Lunarsea have emailed you and maybe Jampot would be good to have your sister's architect name too.

We are doing this purely to make money and on a tight budget so have to be as cost effective as possible. thanks for help.

hi, I'm an engineer, I work as an architectural engineer & design consultant, I prepare plans, schedules etc I dont know where abouts u r , Im s.london / surrey,
got to go school run now-
but if you post more details about size of proposed extn , i'll see what info I can help with, there are loopholes for planning ...
talk later

Dp will be delighted I am at last starting to think about his pet project.

Thanks Jema i am quite far in the Midlands (Leamington Spa). But all advice very much appreciated. The brickies building the 2 houses next door at the moment are subbed to a building company in Luton (Lloyds) and I'm very impressed that they are expecting to do all the brick work in one week. There are eight of them.

, back again.. ok- first the qu's (put on work mode "head"

does ur garden fall on edge green belt? have any defined sight lines across it/ have any tree's with preserv. notice's on
(hopefully no to all the above)
is what you hope to build similar to what's being built next door? if so did they get Plan Perm before Jan 04? (change of majority local area plans in Jan 04)
will your idea of what you want to build, give the same ratio of bldg to garden space on both the proposed new house and your existing -- as what has been done next door?
will there be good access, from the road, not knowing your exact location... usually have to provide 1 off rd car space for a new 2 bed

I have met a few architect who will willing you take you on in full knowledge that you wont get planning, just to earn £....hence the questions

I' built on the plot occupied by my garage, and turned what a detached into a semi, this was highly contentious as the house was on hill, and the new section lower ground level than the old, but managed to get pp to keep roof line as original = a v tall large house (tee hee)

answer by contact another talker if you dont want to post

Our house is town centre terrace in a conservation area

All surrounding plots (3) have planning per prior to Jan 04

None have off street parking

Rear of our house is our just about useable garage and various derelict outbuildings. House backs on to narrow adopted highway back lane.

Plot next door but one is currently having four terraced houses built on it (no Parking, no gardens, turned at right angles to our plot), next door is two terraced houses (no parking)rear walls on our boundary, tiny strip in front of front door, on the other side of our plot planning has been granted for 4 houses and two flats. there is a party wall supporting our garage and outbuildings altogether about 40ft long which they would demolish to build there.

We would either build 2 bed house with parking or garage maybe try and have garage for our house or 2 bed flat with two garages maybe underneath. Trying to work out what will be best investment.

how old is ur house?
tring to build a mental image..
sounds like qiute a big chunk of available land??
what are the exact dimensions of the space you think you might be able to build on
are the houses arround you 2 / 3 or 2 strey with room in pitched roof... (thinking u may if ur "clever" be able to get in 3 bed,
can get 3 bed in 14' wide nowadays as room sizes smaller...= ££=++
not knowing ur local property market, but if ur after a lump sum, build as many small houses as poss & small as poss & sell, if want income from rental 1 /2 bed flats usually (in south ) are the best "earner"

Sorry plot is small (will probably measure tonight if next door builders leave at a reasonable time)

Our house is 1830 and two storey. Wouldn't be allowed any higher than next door builds. They are one downstairs room and two beds upstairs. Also have to be careful over looking across lane.

bit rambly...sorry,.. thought the 40ft was possibly the depth available, shal wait for dim.s
have you got flat or pitched roof
if pitched , have any of the new builds got windows in the roof...
basically you've a choice , you can employ someone for the whole package- from negociating whats feasable with the council...right thro supervising the whole construction..to putting all the fittings in & snagging (list of faults to be rectified)...this typically costs between 7 + 10% of the total budget... but if it goes over cost or time depending on the type of contract you have with the architect / designer... their fees get reduced

Or depending how much time , energy, (&"bottle" you have, take out the various elements you'd have a go at sorting out yourselves (u sound like u've sussed this already)... If you've got proven contractors and tie them to contract sums , managing a job isnt too difficult at all, just need to devote the time to it,
have you discovered the self build magazines and websites,...they are a fab source of info, give cost /m2 for each area in the country
www.homebuilding.co.uk/
www.self-build.co.uk/
these often have copy right free plans, there is ano mag but cant remember its name..