Can someone talk me through an architect/planning etc?

[angelicapickles12]

We've lived in our house for 5 years and I'm not sure the layout is working for us. It's an odd building converted in the 80s and could definitely be improved upon. We would probably need to wait til our mortgage deal is up before having funds for anything major, so 4 years away still. But I'd like to have an idea of timescales.

So: architect first? There is no chance of extension due to shared building, but internal layout will change (2 bedrooms into 3, swapping kitchen and living room) and potentially additional patio/bifold doors to the garden. Will this need planning permission? We're in Scotland if that makes a difference. Would the architect deal with planning? And then finding a builder to do the work, is that on us? Or the architect also? I've been inspired by Your Home Made Perfect recently and feel we need a change as big/drastic as some of those ones while still working within the space we have. I wonder if they're taking applications

Unless vastly different in England you’d contract the architect first. They’ll help you draw up plans that are most likely to get through planning - ours also handled the planning applications for us. This was useful as the planners initially came back and said we can’t give you ABC but if you apply for XYZ we will. We ultimately took the rejection and went to appeal rather.

Architects can then help you tender for a builder (we did this, it was useful) - they can also project manage the build on site (expensive) or just do the financial side of things. I can’t recall what this is actually called but essentially the architect came and checked weekly that the builder had done what he said he had and told us to release the next payment. This was very helpful, our builder (generally) liked it too.

HTH

@LondonNQT thank you! And how long did it take from contacting architect to planning application to works starting to being completed? We'll need to extend our mortgage to fund it and I think that means waiting til the end of the current deal which is 4 years away so I'd like to be able to have the ball rolling a bit before then so we're good to go when the money is available.

In England you will only need planning permission if you are changing the external appearance of a property.

Otherwise you will just need building regs signed off.

An architect should give you various options re remodelling not just one.

A local architect will be able to offer their contact fs re structural engineer, builders etc

It depends on the architect, you might want to speak to a few as their quotes will differ. It's likely just a building warrant you need, which takes around 3 months but you'd get a clearer picture at the time. For smaller jobs (internal changes only) it can be harder to find a builder at a reasonable price, so calculate that time into things too. I'd approach architects 6+ months before you want to begin, but if it's just a case of moving a kitchen and stud walls then an architectural designer may do. Sometimes builders have connections for the drawings if you have a good idea of what you want.

Ooh I could've wrote this. Following!

Anyone know roughly how much an architect would cost??

@Allhailkingcharlie also a good question!

@SummerSun04 is an architect/designer going to have ideas? Maybe that seems a stupid question and of course they do. I want to be wowed by something I wouldn't have dreamed of like they do in Your Home Made Perfect. I have so many ideas spinning around in my head but I don't have the knowledge of what is achievable and how much it'll all cost. We've done a fair bit of work in the house already, new kitchen and bathroom, and the people we've had in to do the work have just taken my instruction and done it (which is all I asked for) rather than having any grand ideas themselves.

Often true, but the OP says that her house was converted in the 1980s so there may be conditions on the PP for the conversion which may mean PP is required for any further alterations. There may be conditions on that previous PP. Best check with the planning office (no experience with Scottish system, but plenty of experience of the English one!).

Our advice would be to go with an architect as opposed to an architectural designer or an architectural technician.

You don't need any qualifications to call yourself an architectural designer, around two years of study to call yourself an architectural technician but to become an architect takes around 9 years usually. Architects are problem solvers who think very creatively but also have the technical knowledge for building and drawing technical plans after planning approval etc

I would recommend you go to the riba website and find a chartered practice. Best of luck!