An Architectural Technologist focuses on the technical side of building design, making sure spaces work well and perform at their best. They’re trained to handle everything from developing the design and gaining statutory approvals to seeing the build through to completion.

Statutory approvals are the mandatory legal permissions required before undertaking certain building works or changes in property use; typically these are planning permission and building control approval.

Planning authorities help shape how our towns, cities, and countryside develop. They consider how land and buildings are used, what buildings look like, road access, landscaping, and the impact a development might have on the surrounding area and neighbours.

Planning permission is essentially checking with your local planning authority to see if you’re allowed to carry out certain building work. They’ll either approve it (sometimes with conditions) or refuse it, based on local planning policies.

You’ll usually need planning permission if you want to make major changes to your home, build something new, or change how a building is used

That said, many smaller home improvements - such as modest extensions - fall under permitted development rights (PDR), which means planning permission isn’t required. However, PDR can be restricted in conservation areas or places where the local authority wants more control over development.

If your project does need planning permission, then approval must be in place before any work begins, as local authorities can take formal enforcement action to rectify breaches.

Building regulations set the standards for how buildings are designed and constructed to ensure the safety, health, and welfare of people in and around them, and also cover energy efficiency.

In most cases, building control approval is essential before you start work.

Building control approval is likely to be required if you’re planning to carry out building work such as erecting or extending a building, installing or extending services like heating, plumbing, or electrics, alterations that affect structural safety, fire safety, or accessibility, inserting insulation into cavity walls, underpinning foundations or any work that affects a building’s thermal performance or energy use.

Meeting building regulations isn’t optional - local authorities can enforce compliance, which may include ordering changes to work that doesn’t meet the standards, or taking legal action if necessary.

Your initial consultation is all about helping me to understand your needs and aspirations for your home. We’ll talk through what you like and dislike about the current space, what you’re hoping to achieve with any changes, and your available budget.

It’s helpful if you can provide any inspiration you have collected - photos, links, or examples of designs you love - so that I can get a clear picture of your style and goals.

The consultation will take place at your property. This allows me to assess the space, identify any potential challenges, and advise you on any approvals that may be required for your project.

After the visit, I’ll provide a detailed, no-obligation quotation and a written summary of our discussion.

Following quotation acceptance, the next stage will be to conduct a detailed survey of the property. I draw up initial floor plans on site to minimise errors, which will be developed to produce existing and proposed floor plans and elevations.

I add in scaled fixtures and fittings and suggest layouts and design details to ensure that your space will work perfectly for you. These are submitted to you within a few days for your comment, and a process of amendments and alterations takes place, until the design drawings are finalised.

If the alterations to your home don’t require planning permission we’ll move straight onto construction drawings, to clearly communicate your design and requirements to the contractor.

If your project requires planning permission, or you would like a Lawful Development Certificate, I’ll submit the finalised floor plans and elevations, along with digital site location and block plans, to your local planning authority as part of the application.

The standard decision period for most planning applications is around six weeks, during which time the authority will assess the proposal and consult with relevant parties if needed.

For most projects, the design drawings will need to be upgraded for a Full Plans building control application. This involves preparing a detailed set of construction drawings, which typically include the addition of critical dimensions, a sectional drawing showing construction methods and materials, scaled construction details, electrical and plumbing layouts and window, door and cabinetry schedules.

Alongside the drawings, I’ll produce a technical specification that outlines construction methods, materials, and standards of workmanship. If structural alterations are required, I work with a structural engineer to produce the necessary design and calculations.

Your plans, specification and structural calculations will then be submitted to your choice of either your local authority or an approved building control inspector, who will review the documents and consult relevant authorities where necessary (e.g. fire safety, drainage/sewerage). A decision is usually issued within five weeks.

Once all documentation has been approved, the full drawing package will be ready to issue. At this stage, you’ll typically share it with your chosen contractors to obtain quotations, meet to discuss the project in more detail, and then select a builder to carry out the work.