FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
We at A1 Architecture Ltd as Chartered Architectural Technologists, (someone who holds the designation MCIAT), are qualified to offer design services and manage projects from inception to completion.
They lead the technological design of a project; forming the link between concept, innovation and realisation.
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Chartered Architectural Technologists and Architects are qualified and competent to lead construction projects from design through to completion. The difference is within the specialisms that they will bring to a project.
Chartered Architectural Technologists’ training and emphasis is the science and technology of architecture and architects’ training, and emphasis is the design and philosophy of architecture.
Whilst both disciplines have their own distinct training and specialism, there is considerable overlap between the two professions.
Those who practice Architectural Technology as a career are Chartered Architectural Technologists, MCIAT.
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“Statutory approvals” is an expression which usually refers to the need to obtain planning permission and building regulations approval for your proposed work.
We as Chartered Architectural Technologists can advise you if those, or other, approvals are required for your project.
Where appropriate we will prepare the relevant plans and applications on your behalf as part of the design services.
Other consents or actions may also be required by law, depending on your type of project.
Examples are the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, and the Party Wall etc Act 1996.
We at A1 Architecture Ltd will take all necessary and appropriate steps to prepare the relevant plans and applications required by your Local Authority Planning and Building Control Authorities.
However, it is the Local Authority Planning Committee who decides whether planning permission will be granted for any project, and it is the Local Building Control Authority or Approved Inspector who decides whether building regulations approval will be granted.
A1 Architecture Ltd – ultimately has no control over whether the statutory approvals are granted, there can be no guarantee of approval.
It should be remembered that these applications attract charges for which you would be responsible, and there may be further inspection charges under the building regulations.
They are normally separate to the charges for professional services.
Many building projects call for specialist advice from other professionals working in the construction industry such as a structural engineer, a quantity surveyor, an energy consultant and a CDM Principal Designer (required for large projects).
With your Chartered Architectural Technologist, they would work together as a team on your project. For example:
- A structural engineer might prepare structural drawings and undertake calculations for foundations and for load bearing beams.
- A quantity surveyor may be employed to provide cost estimates to check whether a project is viable before involving a builder and, once the building works are underway, a quantity surveyor can keep a check upon the cost of the work that has been undertaken by the builder and keep a check on the cost of any additional work carried out by the builder.
- An energy consultant may be required to ensure that the building complies with acceptable energy efficiency requirements.
- A CDM Principal Designer would have overall responsibility for coordinating the health and safety aspects of the design and its integration with the building work.
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To find your Local Planning Authority click here
You can perform certain types of work without needing to apply for planning permission. These are called “permitted development rights”.
They derive from a general planning permission granted not by the local authority but by Government.
Bear in mind that the permitted development rights which apply to many common projects for houses do not apply to flats, maisonettes or other buildings.
Similarly, commercial properties have different permitted development rights to dwellings.
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Certain types of development are granted planning permission by national legislation without the need to submit a planning application. This is known as ‘Permitted Development’.
In order to be eligible for these permitted development rights, each ‘Class’ specified in the legislation has associated limitations and conditions that proposals must comply with.
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To find your local Building Control Authority click here
The building regulations help ensure that new buildings, conversions, renovations and extensions (domestic or commercial) are going to be safe, healthy and high-performing.
Detailed regulations cover specific topics including: structural integrity, fire protection, accessibility, energy performance, acoustic performance, protection against falls, electrical and gas safety, and security.
They also lay standards for drains, ventilation, protection against the ingress of water and protection against contamination including methane and radon gas.
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The nature and scope of our design services are matters for agreement between you and our Practice.
However, design services for construction works to a domestic property, for example, usually include the preparation of plans and drawings for the proposed works and preparation of the specification as outlined in our Scope of Works.
The specification normally sets out:
- How the works should be constructed
- The nature of the materials to be used
- The standards required of the builder.
We will discuss your design requirements with you and can advise upon the type and quality of materials for use in the proposed work.
- Firstly a measured survey
- Followed by the scheme design
- And then the detail design
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For further details click here.
For details of Planning Application Fees for Gloucester City click here.
For information on how to open your BIMx model on your smartphone or desktop, click here
Firstly open the free BIMx app and select your project. Tap to view your 3D home, then tap the three dots at the top and select the cardboard VR option. This will open up a view to be compatible to the google cardboard provided.
Use the trigger at the top of the viewer to select between either an option to walk around or all the pre-defined views of your project.
Once you’ve started to move, look in the direction of where you want to move, and tap to stop moving.
Adjust the speed by selecting 1x, 2x or 3x,
Once you have registered as a client, you will be provided with a unique secure password which would allow you to access your Client Project Hub, where you can access all your documents, which would include all your drawings, copies of your submission forms and certificates and approvals.
In addition, all your contract documents, progress bar, invoices and statements can be accessed at any time.
For a detailed breakdown of our Design Fees and your Statutory Fees for the following Projects:
Measured Building Surveys – click here
House Extensions – click here
Flat Conversions – click here
New Build Homes – click here