Create Home Design - Architecture and Engineering

Is air con the answer?

Sure it solves the problem, but you'd be better off avoiding the problem in the first place. In fact with new build homes, overheating is regulated through Part O of the Building Regulations, and air con is a very last resort once you've exhausted all other avenues and often then not always allowed.

We'd rather take a passive approach and design your building to help mitigate overheating, where your building does the work by not letting the heat in, in the first place. Be that with roof overhangs, or external shutters to limit the heat of the mid-summer sun combined with careful consideration of cross ventilation to ensure heat is easily let out again - there's a lot to be said for getting the design right so that your home remains comfortable in a warming climate.

Is Planning Guaranteed?

Planning permission for many projects, is a check box exercise - keep the design within the obvious constraints, obtain the relevant survey information, get the neighbours on board.

And whilst we can't guarantee your outcome, we've enough experience to know that if you take our advice, it'll usually work out all right in the end. We know what we can and can't negotiate, and we're not afraid to push back at the local authority if we feel there's a compromise to be reached.

It's not a case of limiting design flair, or playing it safe, but it goes without saying that you'd likely want to have a positive Planning outcome!

We also know when things aren't so straightforward that the Pre-Planning advice service offered by many local authorities can be worth pursuing. An opportunity to test ideas, without getting too far into the detail of proposals. Plus you can state in your Planning application that you sought advice (and you took, at least some of it, on board), giving you a much stronger chance at gaining your approval.

Interested to find out more about what's involved in a Pre-App? Read our blog:
https://createhomedesign.co.uk/pre-apps-how-early-feedback-can-shape-your-self-build-project/