A good architect is important. A good and daring one is necessary. Especially when the purchase has been more expensive than expected. You need an architect who knows how to maximise the scope of what you can do with the property. Enter Charlotte Morris Associates. Where other architects suggested designs for a smaller, less daring extension, and only on one level, we knew we had spent more than expected on the auction and therefore needed to maximise the renovation to go from 3 bed (2 double and 1 single) to 4 double bedroom plus study, large living/kitchen space.
From my last renovation, I had learnt that this was essential for market appeal especially given that the people who would likely be interested in this property in future would be families due to the large garden and proximity to primary school. So from then on, I endeavoured to view it through the eyes of a family. Easy for me to do, I have children myself. Charlotte Morris did too.
The application went without hitch. Charlotte was able to advise and guide me through questions. We received planning permission sometime in Nov 2022. The Building Regulations drawings and approval took another 2months. You need a structural engineer for this drawing because it is the one where a qualified person calculates the weight and distribution of support needed to ensure the building stays up and doesn't fall down..
In this instance, to illustrate, the building regulations drawing is like someone calculating the number of hidden dowels required in a tiered cake to ensure it stays upright for the duration of the wedding reception and where to position the said dowels. Whereas the architect drawing is like the cake designer sketching out how many tiers to make the cake, which shape to make the tiers etc.
Both aspects are essential and both require approval and each step took 4-8 weeks.