Our Services

Feasibility Studies

This is the first stage (Initial Meeting) of any project whether it be a home alteration, home extension or new build, the feasibility study will enable you as the client to establish : -

• What options are available to you?
• Which options are most cost effective?
• The size of space required?
• Will you need Planning Permission?
• What will it all cost?
• How long will it take?
• How involved we need to be in your project?

This element is free and enables us at the end of the discussion to provide you with a fee proposal that will itemise the cost of each element from initial design to construction drawings, what elements are needed, what is payable and when.

From the start, and as the project develops, we are completely clear about what will be required and the cost. We aim to ensure that there are no surprises or ‘hidden’ extra costs. Where there are elements that cannot be costed, for example structural calculations which may depend on the final design we will give you an approximate cost following our first visit and a fixed cost as soon as the final design is agreed

Preliminary Drawings / Sketch Schemes

To obtain the right design it is often sensible to produce sketch drawings to be used in discussion with you or to show neighbours and local planners what you are proposing to do with your property. If there are any problems / objections this allows for changes to be made prior to the Planning application therefore saving time and money. We will produce all the necessary drawings and discuss your proposals with the Planning committee on your behalf.

Permitted Development

Under new regulations that came into effect on 1st October 2008 an extension or addition to your home is considered to be Permitted Development, therefore not requiring an application for Planning permission subject to conditions.

If we feel that the works are or could be within the rules for permitted development but would like confirmation of this from the local Council in the form of a lawful Development Certificate before work commences we will produce sketch drawings that won’t incur a cost to you.

Permitted Development may vary with individual councils and does not apply to conservation areas, listed buildings or any article 4 direction areas. We would always recommend that a Certificate or written confirmation be obtained from the Local Planning Department to state that Planning is not required before we commence to the next stage.

Planning Applications

When the proposed work falls outside the rules and conditions of Permitted Development then Planning Permission must be obtained. Planning Permission allows for development on or to land and Existing properties and is granted be the Local Planning Authority.

Following the sketch schemes / Preliminary Drawings we can produce full drawings of Existing & Proposed floor plans, Elevations and Site Plans, these will form part of the Planning Application along with Design & Access Statements, and all relevant forms and Certificates. We will submit your application on your behalf and continue to monitor it throughout the Planning stage where any amendments required by the client or by the planners will be at no additional cost.
If the Local Authority requires the proposal to be revised, we will amend the drawings and re-submit at no extra cost (not including council fees if required).

Building Regulations

Building Regulation Approval is a completely separate process from Planning Approval, here Building Control are concerned with how the building work will be carried out whilst ensuring it complies with current Building Regulations.

Almost all work to a property that involves structural work will need to comply with Building Regulations whether Planning Permission is needed or not.

We will prepare and submit a Full Plans Application for your project, this comprises of detailed drawings of plans, sections & elevations of the proposed work together with a specification detailing how each element is to be constructed and what materials are to be used.

Where necessary a Structural Engineer may be required to provide structural calculations at this stage depending on the nature of the proposed works, we will let you know whether they are needed in the Initial meeting.

If you require the proposed work to be issued for Tender it is advised that all Tenders use these detailed drawings to enable them to provide the correct quote.

Cad Drafting

We also offer a Cad Drafting service to the Construction Industry from Architects and Surveyors to Planning Consultants and Contractors.

Let us turn your sketch’s / drawings into Planning Application’s or develop your Planning drawings into Full plans Building Regulation’s, We will redraw all sketches on to AutoCad and if necessary use your company title blocks.

This provides an ideal way of satisfying your clients if you’re encountering a high workload, don’t disappoint them let us draw up your work.

Contact us for more details.

Printing & Copying

At Cube we also offer a high quality printing service, we know how important first impressions are and so whether you need AutoCAD drawings printed for Tendering a contract, Visual’s for a client’s approval or copies of original work, we offer an extensive range of services which includes Full colour display graphics, Plan Printing, Copying and Scanning. 

• CAD Plotting – Colour and Black & White,  A4 to A0
• Plan Printing – Colour and Black & White,        A4 to A0
• Black & White Photocopying, A4 to A0
• Colour Photocopying, A4 & A3

Using our large format printers we are able to provide clients with a hassle free way of printing direct from E-mail attachments, Cd-rom & Memory sticks in many different programs from PDF’s, to AutoCAD, from A4 to A0.

We can enhance your print presentation no matter what size, adding impact and protection. Prints can be mounted onto variety of lightweight durable boards.

Contact us for more information & Prices. Including Full colour Prints upto A0 on 80gsm / 100gsm or Glossy paper.

Ordnance Survey Plans

Site Location & Site Plans

We are able to provide Site Location Plans & Site Plans needed for a Planning Application, Right’s of way access and Property Sales on a property. These can be to a scale of your choice but for Local Authorities They should be at a scale of 1:1250 & 1:500. These plans show the local Authorities where your property is located how your property sits on the land and the boundary line around your land.

• Electronic format OS Plans from £20  (Depending on area needed) can be sent to you in AutoCAD or a PDF file to a scale of your choice.
• A3 Prints required for a Planning Application  from £25 for up to 10 sheets of A3,
• Plans up to A0 are available in both colour and Black & White contact us for more information

Current Mapping 

We are also able to provide Plans / Maps showing a larger area of land such as whole Towns & Cities these are ideal for Surveying and hobbies such as Rambling, Cycling and Orienteering.

Maps can be printed in a choice of scales and can of the following format

Street maps – Shows Street level detail, Building outlines, Street names,

Explorer – Shows height of Contours, rights of way, field boundaries, recreational path routes,

Town maps – Shows all roads & Buildings as blocks of colour

Road Atlas – Combines roads, Railways, Cities and Towns,

Contact us for more information & prices on Current Mapping.

Design & Access Statements

Local Planning from time to time require Design & Access Statements for projects to enable them to understand about your current and Proposed Building and the changes it will have on the surrounding area. Let us prepare these for you from £20

3D Visualisation

3D Visuals enables you to get inside and experience the space that you want to achieve before deciding on a final design both Internally and Externally.

We can produce 3D Visuals during the design stage of a project for clients approval or create 3D visuals for presentation purposes to promote your scheme or to be used as part of a Planning Application / Appeal.

En-suite & Dressing Room	Front Elevation Example	Interior 2
Interior	Interior	Proposed Bedroom
Proposed Ground Floor	Proposed Kitchen 1	Proposed Kitchen

Occupational Therapy

Design for Adaptation

Working with our own Occupational Therapist we have experience in producing effective designs for adaptations to provide accessible environments for specific disabilities.

We undertake home assessments to identify the need for adaptations that may be required for a resident with a disability to maintain their independence around their home.

We complete a full assessment with a detailed report to ensure that the individual’s needs are identified:

• Ensure a client has the best opportunity of staying in their home as safely as possible for as long as they would like
• Recommend any equipment or adaptations that will assist a client
• Advise on specialist equipment
• Identify any adaptations needed to the home,

We provide a detailed specification of works from grab rails and ramps to altering internal layouts and designing extensions, we will work to create the most appropriate, practical and cost effective design solutions to meet a clients needs. We are fully up to date with the current Occupational Therapy Practice and Disability Legislation such as the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

Our Occupational Therapist is a member of the British Association of Occupational Therapists and the Health Profession Council.

For more information on Occupational Therapy

http://www.cot.co.uk/Homepage/About_Occupational_Therapy/

Party Wall Act

The Party Wall Act 1996 makes provision for dealing with works that are likely to affect Party Walls and has been extended to include excavations within close proximity to neighbouring structures.  The Act is intended to enable works to proceed reasonably and considerately.  It is a complex legal document that should be considered whenever works are proposed to party walls or within close proximity to any structure. 

The Party Wall Act exists to protect both the building and adjoining owners, our aim is to ensure that the protection of the Act is applied wherever it is necessary. Our goal is to increase awareness of the Act and to ensure that any works that are subject to the Act are Notified correctly.
Generally the Party Wall Etc Act 1996 should be considered if any of the following works are being undertaken and there are adjoining or neighbouring properties in close vicinity to the proposals:-

• Loft Conversion
• Extensions
• Re-roofing
• Underpinning
• Excavations for investigation, drainage or substructure works
• Alterations and internal refurbishment to adjoining structures

Party Wall Services regularly acts for both the building and adjoining owners;

Our appointments when acting for the building owner usually involves service of notices on behalf of the building owner who are proposing to undertake works which are notifiable under the Act.  If a dispute arises this may lead to a formal appointment under Section 10 of the Act.  In this instance we will encourage the building owner to have a schedule of condition of the adjoining owners property undertake in order to ensure that the condition of the property is agreed prior to works commencing and thereby safeguarding their interests. We would then draft and serve an Award.  We may also be appointed as an Agreed Surveyor where by both parties mutually agreed our appointment to act impartially.

If we are not appointed as an Agreed Surveyor and a dispute has arisen the adjoining owner must appoint a surveyor under the Act known as the adjoining owners surveyor.
We are often also appointed by Adjoining Owners in this way.  In the event of a dispute arising, we are appointed under Section 10 of the Act, in order to settle the dispute by implementing an Award.  This usually includes the preparation of a detailed Schedule of Condition as mentioned above in order to safeguard the interests of both parties.

Our expertise in negotiating party wall matters ensures that building work proceeds legally and without unnecessary delays, inconvenience to either party or cost. We will ensure that the rights and duties of both parties are fully understood and observed. It is worthy of note that in most circumstances all reasonable fees will be payable by the Building Owner.

To download a copy of the Party Wall Act from the Office of Public Sector Information

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1996/ukpga_19960040_en_1