This is another current project in the Tunbridge Wells area.  In this scenario our clients, who are a semi-retired couple, had identified a one-acre plot with development potential. We helped them to acquire the site for a reasonable price, we then designed a 7,000 sq’ ultra-contemporary ‘eco’ house in conjunction with our clients and we submitted a planning application for them.  The proposal represented a 600% increase in floor area. The application has just been approved and despite the site being on the edge of the green belt, and within an area of outstanding natural beauty, the local authority did not receive one objection from the public, nor did it receive any objections from its statutory consultees.  The application was determined within the allowed 8 week period, under delegated powers.

We are currently helping our clients to market and sell their existing house, which needs to be sold before we can start work on site, building the new house.  Meanwhile, our design team is now working up the detailed ‘production information’ package.  We are also formalising budgets and programmes so that the building operation can start as soon as our clients are ready to push the button.

In this example the clients have a vision and they know what they would like to achieve. They need guiding through the various processes however and they don’t want the worry and responsibility of managing the building project; having said that, they very much want to be involved in the detailed design and decision making process.  We will project manage the build and act as the single point of contact between the clients and the builders/professional team.

In this example, we are charging costs on to our clients on an open book basis, with no mark-up (no work is undertaken without budgets having been agreed beforehand).  We have agreed a small monthly management charge and a fee payable on practical completion based on a formula structured to incentivise us to deliver a top class product as efficiently as possible.