Our Services

ghd partnership are able to undertake glazing surveys.

The glazing survey involves looking at each pane of glass in doors, windows and screens and recording the type of glass, using glass measuring equipment, along with the condition of the glass.   A full report is prepared and issued to the client which highlights any glass that requires upgrading, filming or replacing.

A glazing survey should be undertaken, or glass re-checked every 5 years.   

Prior to the commencement of building works, or as a basis for proper management of a building we undertake a measured survey and preparation of existing drawings. The drawings may be comparatively simple, identifying the positions of walls, partitions, windows etc. or more complex to include identification of structural materials, service pipe routes, power outlets etc. More comprehensive surveys would be undertaken for project works involving planning and building regulation applications.

Building works and extensions may fall under the Party Wall Act 1996 if they are within 3m of a neighbouring property.  There are lots of factors to consider when planning building works and these will determine whether a party wall agreement is required.  These considerations are generally foundation depths, where works are being undertaken to a party wall structure (internal wall structure separating two properties or a boundary wall)or if an extension or building is being built up to the boundary line (line of juncture).

ghd partnership are members of the Faculty of Party Wall Surveyors (FPWS) and can advise and issue the relevant notices and letters to cover the project being undertaken.  They can also undertake a schedule of condition of the adjoining owner’s property if required and/or prepare and issue a party wall award.  They can either act as the building owner’s surveyor, as an agreed surveyor between the two parties or as the adjoining owner surveyor in publishing the party wall award.  This service can be provided as part of a project or independently if another practice is undertaking the design works. For more information regarding The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 please click here.

ghd partnership can advise if proposed works fall within permitted development or if a full planning application is required. ghd partnership can apply for a certificate of lawful development if required to confirm that the works fall within permitted development. In some cases, a pre-planning application can be submitted to the respective local authority to enquire whether the proposals are either suitable for the property, the environment or the locality.  It is also recommended that deeds are checked before submitting a planning application as some deeds can impose a covenant to prevent a building from being altered or extended. Covenants can only be removed by agreement with the names listed within the covenant. If a property falls within a national park, conservation area or if it is a listed building, then it is likely to require more comprehensive forms to be completed and submitted due to the ecology within the area.

ghd partnership will advise which type of planning application is needed for the planned proposals and can prepare and submit all the drawings and documentation required by the planning department. The application process generally takes 12 weeks from validation to a decision being made.

Sometimes the planning officer may request that amendments are made to the scheme which can cause a delay in the decision being determined.

ghd partnership work with the planning officer and the clients to ensure that the proposals are suitable from an aesthetic point and that they meet the requirements of the local authority.

If the scheme does not meet the LA requirements then the application will be decided by a committee. The committee have the final decision and can either pass or refuse the proposals.

Once planning permission is approved, the client has up to 3 years to start works on site, otherwise the planning application will expire and the application will need to be fully re-submitted.

Additional Information

Permitted development

In some cases small extensions and internal alterations may fall within permitted development and may not need a planning application to be submitted.

Certificate of lawful development

This paperwork can come in useful should the clients decide to sell their property. The certificate confirms the extents of the works and the size of the works and should satisfy any concerns or issues raised by a solicitor during the conveyancing stage. There is a planning fee for obtaining a certificate of lawful development.

Pre-planning application

These can be useful for large schemes or change of use of planning category. During this process the planning officer will comment on the submitted proposals and possibly give recommendations etc on the design and recommend any possible changes to the proposed scheme. However, pre planning applications do not always lead to planning permission being approved.

ghd partnership can either provide a ballpark figure for your building works or can provide a more detailed costing.

Often the price of the building works comes as a surprise when planning building works, so it is always useful for ghd partnership to be informed of the budget at the start of project so that they can design the works to fit the budget or advise if it cannot be achieved.  This can save time and money in the long term as some projects may simply not be viable or can quickly grow into a much larger project. 

Once a design has been drawn up, ghd partnership can also provide the client with an estimated building cost.  This cost would be based on the price of standard fixtures and fittings etc. and would not include any specialist fixtures and fittings or more expensive kitchens and bathrooms etc.  These would need to be taken into consideration at the offset as these items can increase the overall costs and cause the project to go over budget.

In many cases, the repairing liabilities of the tenant are limited to maintaining the building in its present condition. In order for this to have effect, it is essential that the condition at the commencement of the lease is fully recorded in sufficient detail so that it can be checked at the end of the lease. This is done by means of a Schedule of Condition which may be written, illustrated with photographs or both.  Our schedules are detailed and carefully prepared, recognising the potential loss to the tenant if existing defects are either not noted or, more commonly, not adequately described or photographed.

Once planning permission and building control approval has been obtained, ghd partnership can write a schedule or works / specification of works which will allow clients to obtain competitive like for like quotations from contractors. The schedule of works lists each item of works in respect to the build and includes specialist fixtures and fittings, such as kitchen units, kitchen appliances, bathroom fittings and finishes etc. The schedule of works is a comprehensive document and enables the contractor to provide a more accurate price for the works rather than providing a quotation using the building regulations drawings. 

Once the schedule of works has been signed off by the client,  it can be sent out to contractors to obtain competitive quotations.  The specification of work ensures that the client’s requirements are met, and it will also assist the client with selecting a contractor that will meet their criteria and budget.

ghd partnership can also discharge the clients responsibilities under the Construction Design and Management Regulations 2015 (CDM regulations).

The client can act as a contract administrator (CA) for their project on site themselves or they can appoint ghd partnership to CA the works on their behalf.  This will include managing the project onsite, dealing with contractor’s valuations and associated paperwork and agreeing the contractor’s final account. Where a client may choose to CA their own project, ghd partnership will still be on hand to assist as and when required.  ghd partnership will charge an hourly rate for this service.

ghd partnership are able to undertake staircase(fire escape) surveys.

The survey for the fire escape staircase (generally an external staircase) looks at the overall condition of the staircase and its parts and a full detailed report along with recommendations and repairs is prepared and issued to the client. The survey ensures that the fire escape staircase is and remains fit for purpose and is maintained in preparation for times when it may need to be used in an emergency. Fire escape surveys can be undertaken on a variety of buildings including schools, hospitals, shared flats, offices, and other buildings.

A staircase survey should be undertaken as a minimum of every 5 years and possibly sooner depending upon the age and position of the staircase on the building.