Our process
At WH we work collaboratively and often have multiple people working on one project, drawing on all of our expertise for the best solutions! We organise our team to brief, design and construct projects following the RIBA Plan of Work’s eight stages, allowing us to achieve technical excellence, a high quality delivery and provide clear communication throughout the project life cycle.
0Â Initial Chats
We will ask you for a short brief of your new project, including your plans for use, project location, key criteria, timescales, budget and if you have sustainability targets you wish to achieve. In most cases we will arrange a site survey.
1 Fees & Brief
At this stage, we will consider your requirements in more detail and focus on the project outcomes, sustainability outcomes and quality aspirations, developing the information that the design team will need to commence the design process at the next stage. We will create a feasibility study to demonstrate that the spatial requirements can be accommodated on site. This stage timescale is usually two weeks and will allow us to provide a fee based off your requirements.
2 Sketch Designs
Our design team will create architectural Concepts for your project in 2 and sometimes 3 dimensions, the proposals will align with the site information and project brief including the spatial requirements. At this stage, we may advise seeking pre application planning advice on the suitability of the initial proposal. This stages varies based on the size and complexity and can be anywhere from 2-8 weeks.
3 Planning permission
At this stage, detailed design studies and engineering analysis are undertaken to confirm the assumptions made during stage 2 and layers more detail into the design. Input may be required from other consultants such as ecologists, energy consultants and in some cases a planning consultant to advise the best solutions for a positive planning outcome. Once you are happy with the design, a planning application can be compiled and submitted. This process can take anywhere up to 3 months to a year depending on your local authorities’ timescales for reviewing applications and if any additional information is required to determine the application.
4 Building Control
A Building Regulations review will be required for your project. This stage will require further engineering analysis and requires input from other consultants such as structural engineers, energy consultants and specialist designers to ensure the design is spatially coordinated, considerate of the natural surroundings and safe. The timescales for this stage are often 2-6 months.
5 Technical Design
This stage involves the preparation of all information required to manufacture and construct your project. We can work with specialists to design a building system for manufacturing and construction. Throughout the project lifecycle the design team will address any health and safety concerns before construction. If we are appointed as Principal Designer we will plan, manage and monitor the pre-construction phase and coordinate matters relating to health and safety during the pre-construction phase to ensure that, so far as is reasonably practicable, the project is carried out without risks to health or safety. We often expect this stage to take up to 3 months.
6 Build It!
Your project is now at the stage where it can be built, and will bring the manufacturing, construction and commissioning through to completion.Â
7 Snagging
Once the building is handed over, aftercare will be initiated, and the contract concluded. If there are any residual defects, the construction team should rectify these as promptly as possible. Usually after 12 months a final certificate will be issued, which concludes all contractual involvement. We offer post occupancy evaluation services to determine how the building is performing in use.