This is a difficult question to answer, as it is often very specific to each project. Typically, a residential home extension would take six months from our initial meeting to breaking ground on site. During this time, we are of course providing ideas and advice, drawings, details, reports and supporting statements as well as preparing applications to the local authorities and for competitive tendering purposes.
However, there are many factors which could delay the process. For example, if the building is listed and/or in a Conservation Area, it is often much harder to achieve Local Authority approval for the works. In addition, if the site is particularly sensitive to flooding or ecology issues, specialist surveys, reports and proposals need to be put forward, some of which can only be prepared during certain months of the year.
Generally, time is directly linked to the complexity of the project, with large new build developments taking far longer than residential extensions and conversions. However, each project gets our full attention; no one type of project gains priority over the next. We will always carry out our remit at the earliest opportunity and ensure that momentum is maintained all the way through to completion of the build (or otherwise where our services are no longer required).