Planning a House Extension? Catch up with this article by our very own Managing Director, John Staves in the Autumn Edition of “Your Build” Magazine.

Extension Essentials

If you’re planning to extend your home, there are a few essential steps to keep in mind.  John M Staves, Fellow and Vice President at the Institution of Structural Engineers, shares his top tips on extensions

Property extensions are extremely popular amongst UK homeowners, where the current market trend is to ‘improve not move‘.  While such work will increase floor space and potentially add value, it’s a serious undertaking and should not be taken lightly.

To ensure that your proposed extension goes smoothly, a clear plan is crucial.  You need to understand your motives, so asking yourself plenty of questions from the outset is an important step.  When you have clarified the purpose of the changes and decided your budget, it’s time to consider the plan and draft your timeline.

Develop a Clear Brief

It is time to brief your professional design team.  On a fundamental level, an architect will work on the extension’s layout, the master builder will oversee construction and a structural engineer will make sure alterations can be made safely as well as suggest ways to improve buildability and thereby reduce costs.  Have a clear plan and appoint a design team, including Structural Engineer, at the outset.  Discuss your requirements and expectations in detail.

Client, Architect and Engineer Should Work Collaboratively

The key here is to establish a dialogue between all parties involved, early on in the project.  For instance, the architectural design should not be completed without an engineer, who is then asked to make the design stand up.  This situation will invariably lead to unnecessary structural complexity and cost.  You may consider appointing a practice that handles both architecture and structure internally to ensure collaboration and single supplier responsibility for the outcomes.

Keep You At The Heart of Change

If you intend to remain in the property during the works, it is important that the design takes the necessary work sequence into account.  A good design will do this, as well as making sure that the final layout is that you want, and all are structurally sound.

Time Management

Account for everything, including statutory approvals (planning and building regulations take time).  A simple extension that needs planning approval can easily take six months to design and get approved.  You must ensure that all regulatory criteria are met before the builder prices the detailed design, this will allow them to start work on schedule avoiding significant delays and incurring further costs.

Budget Realistically

For the build and professional fees, it is worth taking the time to establish a sensible and comfortable budget before committing fully to the project.  You want to avoid a disappointing scenario where you have already secured your statutory approvals and completed the design only to find the build cost is unaffordable.

Ultimately, people make mistakes when they rush into the build process without having considered all the various factors, variables and potential outcomes.  Taking a calmer, more measured and holistic approach will allow you to observe the project in its entirety and help you to come to the right decision and deliver the type of extension you want, on time and on budget.

This article first appeared in Autumn’s edition of “Your Build” Magazine.

Do you know a fast way for buyers to realise the potential of a property?

Encourage them to take advantage of our “Pre-Purchase Feasibility” Meeting – so they can make an offer!

Where Are All the Buyers?

The latest Survey from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) shows average stock levels on estate agents’ books are close to a record low.

With the number of enquiries from buyers falling for the eighth month in a row (as at May 2019).


Brexit Uncertainty

It will not come as a surprise that Brexit uncertainty is dragging the UK property market downwards.

Those houses that are on the market are not selling particularly fast. The average time taken for a residential property to sell remains unchanged at 19 weeks.


How Can Local Estate Agents Sell A Property Quickly?

Last year “Which?” produced a report;

“7 of the most common reasons why vendors struggle to sell their homes”

Lurking at Number 7 was this reason; “Buyers aren’t aware of the property’s potential”

Add Value To The Property

If there’s potential for a buyer to add value to the house, make sure they know about it!

As Architectural Designers AND Chartered Structural Engineers we can help your buyers visualise what a property could look like and explore ideas to maximise the property’s value.

They might have ideas to;

  • Convert the garage to living space
  • Extend the kitchen with a side or rear extension
  • Swap in New Bathrooms
  • Create an Open plan living space
  • Loft conversion to add a bedroom
  • Create a cellar
  • Split a house into flats
  • Increase living space with a conservatory





Whatever their ideas, we can help them visualise how to best use the space.

What Does A Pre- Purchase Feasibility Meeting Include?

Our Designers will arrange to meet you and the potential buyers at the property.

We will discuss how to maximise the property’s potential, whether they want to knock down a couple of walls, or completely re-design the new home, we’ll advise them how to create the perfect space for their family.

With our 25 + years of experience of construction design, they will receive expert, unbiased advice.

  • We will discuss any Planning matters that we think may impact the design and which ideas are more likely to achieve Planning Approval.
  • Cost of the works – we will be able to talk in “ball park” figures – enough for them to make an informed decision about their offer
  • We will also touch on other issues that they may not have thought about, that may impact their budget and influence what offer they make on the property.
  • We will write to them confirming what we have discussed, confirming their ideas, the solution, budget costs and
  • We also provide them with a “fee proposal” which will confirm how much we will charge for taking their ideas forward to obtain Planning Approval and Building Regulations approval if they successfully purchase the property.

Fast Track Service – 24 hours

We realise time is of the essence when they are considering making an offer, or are about to exchange on a property, so we will do our best to schedule an appointment within 24 hours of their enquiry.

Want To Find Out More?

Click here to get in touch with one of our surveyors, or give us a call on 0118 962 9666.

planning an extension


Planning An Extension?

Planning An Extension? Catch up with this article by our very own Managing Director, John Staves in the Self Builder and Homemaker magazine.

A Clear Project Plan

The decision to extend your property should not be taken lightly.  Especially if you are altering your home.  It will be inconvenient, messy and disruptive to normal family life.  And that is if the project is well executed.  A clear project plan is essential.

It is important that you get your thoughts clear. 

  • What are you looking to achieve with the project? 
  • Why doesn’t the current home layout work for you? 
  • Is an extension the best solution? 

Sometimes adjustment of the internal layout can solve the problem.  And be more cost-effective than extending.

Brief Your Professional Team

When you can outline the purpose of the changes, you are able to brief your professional design team.  An Architectural Designer will work on layout. 

Improve Buildability – Reduce Costs

Your Structural Engineer will make sure alterations can be made safely.  But more than that, they will suggest ways to improve buildability.  And thereby reduce costs. 

Client, Architect and Engineer should work collaboratively.  From early in the project. 

The Architectural design should not be completed and then the Engineer be asked to make the design stand up. 

That invariably leads to unnecessary structural complexity and cost.  You may consider appointing a practice that handle both Architecture and Structure internally to ensure collaboration and single supplier responsibility for the outcomes.

Sequence of Work

If you intend to remain in the property during the works, it is important that the design takes the necessary work sequence into account.  A good design will do this, as well as making sure that the final layout is what you want, and all is structurally sound. 

Statutory Approvals

Don’t forget time.  Statutory approvals – Planning and Building Regulations – will take time.  A simple extension that needs Planning approval can easily take six months to design and get approved.  Then when the builder prices the detailed design, they may not be able to start for several months.

Realistic Budget

And budget realistically.  For the build and for professional fees.  It is worth spending a little to establish a sensible brief and budget before committing fully to the project.  There is no point getting a design and Statutory approvals completed, only to find the build cost is unaffordable.

Enjoy making your house into the home you want.

Are you planning an extension? We’d love to hear about your plans.

Click here to read the full article.

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