When is the quiet time for Architects?

 

Is there a quiet time for an Architect?

Typically the quietest time for an Architect is December and January, however the last few years have been mayhem with Architects/Technicians being busy more than ever.

Typically the reason for these quiet spells are people concentrating on Christmas/holidays, however its a great time for Architects to get caught up with paperwork.

I also think that another reason for this is people don't quite understand the process of obtaining the permissions, as these take a few months, thus if thinking of an extension in the Spring/Summer then you should be engaging with an architect in the Winter.

Non stop architecture through COVID

December 2022 and January 2023 seemed to be back to pre-covid, however the last 2 months have been busier than ever...the next few months will be telling.

Different stages of planning permission and/or building warrant in Scotland

 Different stages of planning permission and/or building warrants in Scotland

You don’t always need planning permission and a building warrant, however 9 out of 10 construction projects may require at least one of them if you plan on doing alterations/construction works to your home.

Find out here if your project is exempt from a building warrant.

 

Most architects will meet the client to discuss their project and take a brief (description of the works). This is when the architect starts to sketch basic designs of what the client is hoping to achieve.

 

Once the client is happy with the sketch proposals, the architect will produce more detailed plans and also be able to confirm if planning permission is required.

 

The architect/technician will apply for the permissions with the local authority and will be the main contact between client, structural engineer, local authority and eventually the contractor.

The Local Authority Planning or building standards department will vet the plans to check they comply with planning legislation/building regulations, they will then either ask for additional information/approve the plans. Once approved, the council will provide a compliance plan (CCNP), that states the stages you/contractor need to contact the council for inspections such as, 7 days of starting the works, foundations, drainage and timber kit with insulation before plasterboard.

After the plans are approved, your contractor can start the works.

After all works are complete, then the client should apply for the completion certificate (sometimes the Architect can do this for a small fee). When applying for the completion certificate, the local authority will normally require electrical certificates, gas certificates and truss certificates before they will release the completion certificate.

Have a look at our other blog regarding when to hire an Architect.

https://architecturalservicesandproducts.blogspot.com/2023/02/hiring-architect-and-when-to-appoint.html

Bathroom regulations in Scotland

Bathroom design regulations

There is a lot to think about when either re-designing your bathroom, removing your ground floor bathroom or having a completely new bathroom in your home/extension.

If you are designing a new ground floor bathroom and there is not one already on the ground floor, then this will need to be accessible in terms of the regulations. The main criteria for this is 1100mm space clear of any door swing (typically the door will open outward to reduce size of bathroom), 800mm x 1100mm in front of WC, 700mm x 800mm in front of wash hand basin and 800mm x 800mm in front of bath/shower.

In a nutshell, you can’t remove a ground floor bathroom without providing an equivalent somewhere else on the same level.

Visit the gov.uk website where you can view the building standards technical handbook for more information (link below)

3.12 Sanitary facilities - Building standards technical handbook 2020: domestic - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)