- an overlooked but effective mechanism to engage the planners is through pre-application. This works in large and small projects and can be useful to ensure you are on the same page.
Although it is your home, planning officers may have a say on what you do and hence it is best to build a strong line of communication to find common ground.
I used to work at a studio where planning appeals were considered part of the planning process . However ... I would not recommend this route for the average home owner or small business because time is money.
Top tip:
do your homework and if in doubt, contract a professional.
3. Supply chain:
since Britain left the EU , long-standing materials & labour shortages became a bigger challenge
- when buying materials that come from outside the UK: allow for extra time.
Some contractors find it helpful to buy in advance and store to ensure the project does not run out of materials. (Some traders often hold their purchases for a few weeks in their warehouse .)
- if your supplier tells you that you need to place an order by a particular date, do.
If the manufacturer closes for a month in August , for example, and you have not placed an order in June, you will cause delays on site and you (not the contractor) will be responsible. (note the contractor could be entitled to compensation for the delay) .
- contracts tend to have a clause to deal with material cost increases. And whereas some contractors are happy to provide you with alternatives within the original budget not all do.
Speak to your contractors to get a good understanding of any forthcoming price increases and discuss whether it is worth buying all materials at the start of the project .
I hope these are useful tips... Ask away if you have questions.
