Glossary
RIBA Stage 0 - Strategic Definition/ 1 - Preparation & Brief/ 2 - Concept Design/ 3 - Developed Design
What is Article 4?
An Article 4 direction is made by a local planning authority in the United Kingdom and exceptionally may be subject to intervention by the government. It serves to restrict permitted development rights, which means that a lot of the things people do to their land or houses without planning permission and often take for granted, are brought into the realms of planning consent.This usually incur in a sensitive areas such as conservation or close to listed building or monument . For more information please follow the link below;
What is a Conservation Area?
In the United Kingdom, the term conservation area nearly always applies to an area (usually urban or the core of a village) considered worthy of preservation or enhancement because of its special architectural or historic interest. Local authorities will apply additional planning regulation by way to protecting these areas, this may range from Article 4 to remove some PD rights to to control changes to buildings in a conservation area that might usually be allowed without planning permission in other locations, for example changing the appearance of windows, adding external cladding or putting up satellite dishes. For more information please follow the link below;
What is Design and Access Statement?
As part of your planning application package a Design and Access Statement (DAS) is required,it is necessary report to explain how a proposed development is a suitable response to the site and its setting, and demonstrate that it can be adequately accessed by prospective users.
A DAS must explain the design principles and concepts that have been applied to the development. It must also demonstrate how the proposed development’s context has influenced the design. The Statement must explain the applicant’s approach to access and how relevant Local Plan policies have been taken into account, any consultation undertaken in relation to access issues, and how the outcome of this consultation has informed the proposed development. Applicants must also explain how any specific issues which might affect access to the proposed development have been addressed.
The level of detail in a Design and Access Statement should be proportionate to the complexity of the application, but should not be long. For most straightforward planning applications, the DAS may only need to be a page long.
What is Listed Building?
A listed building, or listed structure, is one that has been selected by Historic England in England, to have significance importance which need to be preserved.
A listed building may not be demolished, extended, or altered without special permission by completing Building Consent application to obtain permission from the local planning authority, which typically consults the relevant central government agency, particularly for significant alterations to the more notable listed buildings.
Owners of listed buildings are, in some circumstances, compelled to repair and maintain them and can face criminal prosecution if they fail to do so or if they perform unauthorised alterations. When alterations are permitted, or when listed buildings are repaired or maintained, the owners are often required to use specific materials or techniques.
What is Green Belt in England?
In United Kingdom town planning, the green belt is a policy for controlling urban growth. The idea is for a ring of countryside where urbanisation will be resisted for the foreseeable future, maintaining an area where agriculture, forestry and outdoor leisure can be expected to prevail. Usually planning permission in Green Belt land is denied however under special occasions will be considered on case by case basis. See below for further information;
What is Local Development Framework?
A local development framework is the spatial planning strategy introduced in England and Wales by the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 and given detail in Planning Policy Statements 12.
Each framework will be a folder containing a number of inter-related documents:
Compulsory documents;
- Local development documents
- Development plan documents
- Statements of community involvement
- Annual monitoring report
- Local development scheme
Optional documents;
- Supplementary planning documents
- Local development orders
- Simplified planning zones
The local development framework, together with the regional spatial strategy will provide the essential framework for planning in the local authority’s area, for more information please check your local council website.
What is NPPF?
The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) was originally published by the UK’s Department of Communities and Local Government in March 2012, consolidating over two dozen previously issued documents called Planning Policy Statements (PPS) and Planning Policy Guidance Notes (PPG) for use in counties across England.
The greater strategic policy over the county will come to form the basis to micro planning regulation at local level.
What is OS Map?
Ordnance Survey (OS) is a national mapping agency in the United Kingdom which covers the island of Great Britain. We would purchase an Ordnance Survey map as part of the planning application to show specific location of your site.
What is a Party Wall?
A party wall (occasionally parti-wall or parting wall, also known as common wall) is a dividing partition between two adjoining buildings that is shared by the occupants of each residence or business.
In order to undertake any building work on or near this specific wall you will need a Party Wall Award. This type of wall is usually structural thus it vitally important application is submitted 30 days prior to any work and obtain the above approval.
For more information please refer to the government website guide to Party Walls, or you can read our post how to get a party wall award for your project;
What is Permitted Development (PD)
You can perform certain types of work without needing to apply for planning permission. These are called “permitted development rights”. Usually many domestic house in the UK will have PD rights and can undertake certain form of extension and miscellaneous work. However, it is to be noted PD authority can be altered under certain conditions such as Conservation Areas and or be omitted via Article 4. For more information, please see below;
What is Planning Appeal?
You will require a planning appeal under the following condition, if planning decision is adjourned or you sense the decision is incorrect then this mechanism will allow you the opportunity to make an appeal to an independent Planning Inspectorate who will assess the case in a impartial manner.
What is Planning Committee?
Each planning application is delegated to planning officer however if for any reason an complaint is received or you feel it needs to be transferred to Planning Committee within the local authority. A planning committee in the United Kingdom is a committee of local authority councillors that sit as the local planning authority to determine planning applications. Advice is usually given to the committee by planning officers who provide a recommendation for approval or refusal.
What is Planning Use Classification?
Planning use classes are the legal framework which determines what a particular property may be used for by its lawful occupants. In England, these are contained within the text of Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987 (Statutory Instrument 1987 No. 764).
However,not every use of building is assigned a Class under this legislation. Examples of these include theatres, scrap yards, petrol stations, nightclubs, and casinos, and these are known as sui generis uses.
You will need to formally submit a Planning Application to obtain necessary consent to change the use of your site or building.
What is Rights of Light?
Right to light is a form of easement in English law that gives a long-standing owner of a building with windows a right to maintain the level of illumination. It is based on the Ancient Lights law. The rights are most usually acquired under the Prescription Act 1832.
This would need to be determined and assessed at planning stage and would require analytical assessment to determine if your project or associated work has impact of light to your adjoining neighbour.
In effect, the owner of a building with windows that have received natural daylight for 20 years or more is entitled to forbid any construction or other obstruction that would deprive him or her of that illumination. Neighbours cannot build anything that would block the light without permission. The owner may build more or larger windows but cannot enlarge their new windows before the new period of 20 years has expired. For more information please see RICS website via the guide to Rights of Light.
RIBA Stage 4 - Technical Design
What is an Approved Inspector?
During this stage you will hear the word an ‘Approved Inspector’ being mentioned during discussions.
Approved inspectors are companies or individuals authorised under the Building Act 1984 to carry out building control work in England and Wales alternative to using local building control department.
What is Building Control?
Building regulations are minimum standards for design, construction and alterations to virtually every building. The regualtions are developed by the UK government and approved by Parliament.
The Building Regulations 2010 cover the construction and extension of buildings and these regualtions are supported by Approved Documents. Approved Documents set out detailed practical guidance on compliance with the regulations.
Building regulations approval is different from planning permission and you might need both for your project.
You can apply to any local authority building control department or Approved Inspector for building regulations approval.
What is Building Regulations?
Building regulations are minimum standards for design, construction and alterations to virtually every building. The regulations are developed by the UK government and approved by Parliament. You can apply to any local authority building control department or Approved Inspector for building regulations approval.
For further information please see the following website; Gov.UK website.
What is NBS or National Building Specification?
NBS a UK-based system of construction specification used by architects and other building professionals to describe the materials, standards and workmanship of a construction project.
At Architect’s HQ Ltd we implement NBS to drawings and specification to provide latest accurate information to each project.
What is ‘Passivhaus’ or ‘Passive House’?
It is term used within this stage quite often to implement a certain standard in a building, for which thermal comfort can be achieved solely by post-heating or post-cooling of the fresh air mass, which is required to achieve sufficient indoor air quality conditions – without the need for additional recirculation of air.’ This means that a traditional heating or cooling system is no longer essential.
What does ‘U-Value’ mean?
U-values (sometimes referred to as heat transfer coefficients or thermal transmittances) are used to measure how effective elements of a building’s fabric are as insulators. That is, how effective they are at preventing heat from transmitting between the inside and the outside of a building.
The lower the U-value of an element of a building’s fabric, the more slowly heat is able to transmit through it, and so the better it performs as an insulator.
Very broadly, the better (i.e. lower) the U-value of a building’s fabric, the less energy is required to maintain comfortable conditions inside the building.
RIBA Stage 5 - Construction to Stage 6 - Handover
What is AI?
Architect’s instruction. Construction contracts generally give the contract administrator, ie. Architect, the power to formally issue instructions to the contractor. These instructions can be called ‘contract administrator’s instructions‘ or ‘architect‘s instructions‘ (AI’s) however if the client instructed the contractor without a formal instruction this would be seen as risk to the project and outside the scope of the agreed works and is not covered by contractors insurance or cost.
What is Build Over Agreement and when do we use it?
A build over agreement is a Local Water compnies seal of approval for the building work you plan to have carried out over or near a public sewer owned by them. It gives assurance that you have given the sewer the correct clearance from your new foundations.
In Yorkshire area Yorkshire Water are responsible so they will need to check the design and give their approval. You can apply online on the Yorkshire Water website or in other areas please consult with your local provider to seek necessary approval.
What is Contract Administrator (CA)?
At Architect’s HQ Ltd we recommend for you to hire our services to act as Contract administrator for your construction contracts. In the construction industry, the contract administrator is the individual responsible for administering the construction standard contracts and to ensure work on site is in accordance to your drawings and specification.The contract administrator‘s role will generally include: Inviting and processing tenders.
What is CDM?
?The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015
Whatever your role in construction, CDM aims to improve health and safety in the industry by helping you to:
- sensibly plan the work so the risks involved are managed from start to finish
- have the right people for the right job at the right time
- cooperate and coordinate your work with others
- have the right information about the risks and how they are being managed
- communicate this information effectively to those who need to know
- consult and engage with workers about the risks and how they are being managed
The HSE publish guidance on the CDM requirements on their web site.
What is HSE?
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is the body responsible for the encouragement, regulation and enforcement of workplace health, safety and welfare, and for research into occupational risks in Great Britain.
In regards, to the construction industry they provide vital guidance on CDM and need to be notified via F10 notification if works fall under following For some construction work (work lasting longer than 30 days with more than 20 workers working at the same time, or involving 500 person days of work), you need to notify HSE of the project as soon as possible before construction work starts.
Onus is placed on the Client to recruit Planning Supervisor to hire a principal designer is required to plan, manage and coordinate the planning and design work.
What is Interim Payment Certificate?
Interim certificates provide a mechanism for the client to make payments to the contractor before the works are complete or pending payment owe to the builder during the work based on our valuation to the work done on site.
The Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act, states that a party to a construction contract in excess of 45 days is entitled to interim or stage payments.
What is JCT?
The Joint Contracts Tribunal (JCT) was formed by the Royal Institute of British Architects(RIBA) in 1931 when the first JCT standard form of building contract was issued (although the forms were not referred to as ‘JCT’ until 1977). JCT became a Limited Company in 1998.
It now produces a range of standard forms of contract for the construction of buildings accompanied by guidance notes and other standard forms of documentation to provide a fair process to manage the project between all concern parties.
Architect’s HQ Ltd will recommend the appropriate form of contract and can also offer the services to act as Contract Administer for any JCT contract.
What is Practical Completion?
Practical Completion is not defined in the standard JCT suite of building contracts but the works are generally considered to be practically complete when there are no outstanding defects (except for minor items or snagging) and the building can be put to its intended use.
The contract administrator certifies practical completion when all the works described in the contract have been carried out.
What is Tender?
A tender is a submission made by a prospective supplier or builder in response to an invitation to tender. It makes an offer for the supply of goods or services.
We follow fair and transparent process by providing the same information to all parties to ensure that all tenderer’s cost returns can be judged impartially.
Common terms/phases used across all stages:
What is ARB?
Architects Registration Board – ARB was established by Parliament in 1997 to regulate the architects’ profession in the UK.
It holds a register of all architects and one can search to check if their architect or practice they going to employ is listed if not they are not allowed to practice as an architect.
What is BIA?
The development of basements beneath an existing property is an increasingly common way to extend, particularly in urban areas where other options are limited. New basement development, or extension of existing ones, has been recognised as a potential problem in terms of local flooding, groundwater flow and ground movements. These issues can impact upon neighbouring properties and multiple basement developments in the same area can have a cumulative effect.
Many of the intercities boroughs now require completion of Basement Impact Assessments (BIA) for all planning applications proposing basement development. Initially, a Stage 1 Screening assessment is required, which is followed by more in-depth investigation and more detailed analysis if problems are encountered.
In order to complete a full BIA, three assessments are typically required:
- Surface Flow and Flooding – which must be completed by a hydrologist or specialist engineer, with appropriate chartered status
- Subterranean (Groundwater) Flow – which must be undertaken by a hydrogeologist with chartered geologist status
- Land Stability – to be completed by a ground engineer with adequate chartered status
What is BIM?
We implement Building Information Modelling to obtain the benefits to ensure each project is accurately drawn and the latest information is delivered and communicated quickly between each partnering consultant such as Structural Engineer or Mechanical Engineer.
By using softwares compatible with BIM such as Autocad or Revit or Archicad we design 3D components into 2D elements simultaneously and undergo clash detector to minimise potential conflicts on site between each service element.
What is CAD?
Computer Aided Design software has changed the way the world works, particularly in architecture. It has replaced traditional drafting and design methods like pen and paper, allowing industries to plan, simulate and produce their new ideas in a single program.
What is Chartered Practice?
The professional designation ‘Chartered Practice’ is legally protected by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). This means that only architectural practices that are accredited by the RIBA can use the label ‘RIBA Chartered Practice’, use the logo, and include or display the certificate in proposals, bids or offices.
Architect’s HQ Ltd are in process to be an RIBA Chartered Practice. and shall announced it soon.
What is CIL?
Section 206 of the Planning Act 2008 gives ‘charging authorities’ (generally the local planning authority) the power to charge the community infrastructure levy (CIL). It is a charge that local authorities can choose to impose on new developments (ie.more than 100 square metres of new space) to fund local infrastructure.
In Manchester or Leeds there may be may CIL charges, one by the local Council and one by the Mayor.
What is QS?
Quantity surveyors (sometimes referred as QS for short or can be called as cost consultants or commercial managers) provide expert advice on construction costs. They help to ensure that proposed projects are affordable and offer good value for money, helping the client and the design team assess and compare different options, and then track variations, ensuring that costs remain under control as the project progresses.
Please follow the link below to a page regarding;
What is RIBA?
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) is a professional body for architects primarily in the United Kingdom, but also internationally recognised institution for its betterment of architecture overall and sets high standard of service from its members, founded for the advancement of architecture under its charter granted in 1837 and Supplemental Charter granted in 1971.