Technical

There are various planning options available depending on your project. 

If your project might be contentious, you can make a pre-application/outline planning permission submission. This allows you to get feed back from the local authority on whether your project will need detailed planning permission or advise against making an application as the project is likely to be refused. 

For Agricultural and Forestry buildings there is the option to make a permitted development/prior notification application. The authority has 28 days to decide whether to then ask for full details to be submitted for full planning permission. Detailed planning permission would be required if the local authority considers that the proposal is likely to have a significant impact on its surroundings. Most notified proposals do not have such an impact and will not need a detailed planning permission application to be submitted. 

There are certain criteria that needs to be met to allow you to make a permitted development/prior notification application. These criteria differ between England & Wales and Scotland. We recommend that you check with your local authority for guidance. 

Detailed planning permission will be required if your project does not meet the permitted development/prior notification criteria. Typically, a detailed planning permission application will take 8 weeks for a decision. 

The expertise of specialists providing tree and environmental surveys, flood risk assessments and biodiversity assessments may be required as part of the detailed planning permission application, we can help with this. 

Whether you need planning permission to build on a farm, depends on a number of factors. You will require planning if you have had full planning for another build in the last two years, or if the building has a floor space over 1000m2.

The type of material you are using for your build will not determine the type of planning permission you need; it really depends on the purpose of the building. For example, a farming or forestry building could get away with only prior notification so long as it is under 1000m2 and follows all the other criteria. Whereas an Industrial Unit will require planning permission regardless of size, due to its intended use. You will need to complete a planning application for a steel framed building, but your intended purpose will determine which type of application you will require- prior notification or full planning approval.

Yes, there are building standards for every type of building, they are categorised into domestic and non-domestic. All of our buildings fall into the non-domestic category. Building standards include factors such as drainage, fire exits, lights, entrance points and these standards differentiate between Scotland, England and Wales. We will design your building to ensure it complies to the required building standards.

If your building is under 288m2 then you don’t need a building warrant. However, anything over this, has a legal requirement for a building warrant. We have an in-house planning department who can fill out all the paperwork on your behalf, giving you one less thing to worry about.

We can manage the whole planning approval and building warrant application process on your behalf, giving you one less thing to worry about with your new building. Our in-house planning department have a wealth of experience completing successful planning applications and know exactly which building standards are required. If you would like more information regarding this service, please get in touch.

Faster - CAD means we can create designs much more rapidly, than traditional manual drafting.

Easier collaboration – Since CAD designs are created on the computer, it means they are accessible from anywhere in the world and can be shared with customers quickly and efficiently.

Fewer surprises – Due to the system used, our designers can plan for external factors that may normally be forgotten about, such as electricity and drainage. This eliminates mistakes during the construction phase, as every element has been considered.

Different perspectives – We can create different perspectives of the building quickly and easily, so you can get an excellent idea of what it will look like once completed. This includes elevations, rendered drawings and 3D models. Giving you the best opportunity to decide whether you will be happy with the final outcome.

There are a number of reasons why CADs are used, the main reason being that it helps you better visualise the end product. You can then decide if it is exactly what you would like to go for, it also creates the opportunity for you to make any changes before fabrication begins.

A CAD also provides excellent documentation, if in the future you would like to replicate your shed, you can easily look back at the CADs and have a shed fabricated that is exactly the same with ease.

Of course, you can make changes right until your project goes into fabrication. One of the main reasons we send you the CAD drawings is so you can check that you are 100% happy with the proposed project, and if there is anything you want to change you can let us know. Whether it’s adding an additional door, changing the cladding colour or updating the gutter style, no change is too big.

Any changes made, will have an impact on the proposed completion date and cost.