Our Process | Sphion

Take a look at our 10 step process to working with us

1- Phone Consultation – No Charge

Discuss your project and ideas with our architectural technologist who will be happy to discuss options and assess your project's needs and viability.

2- Design Consultation – Fixed Fee Invoiced on appointment £95.00 per hour

Site Visit and inspection fees are £195.00 and are non refundable for any cancellations

What is an architecture consultation?

A design consultation gives you our expertise for a limited time at a reasonable price. Think of a design consultation as a house call: we visit your home, discuss and sketch possibilities, and answer basic questions about costs and construction alternatives for various home improvements.

What to expect?

We can explore your vision, the placement of a needed expansion, re sculpt facades, correct balance and composition, or could facades, and add visual interest. We can even recommend how to avoid common mistakes made with additions and renovations.

Most conceptual possibilities were explored during the design consultation. Depending on the project's complexity and available documentation some consultations may take longer.

After the consultation a letter will document the results and conclusions of the designed consultation, it will be prepared to provide to you. The design consultation is a stand alone service. You are not required to retain us for the duration of your particular project. In some cases, the consultation will be all the architectural services required. All drawings created join your consultation are yours to keep, and share with your builder, and may also be used to guide less involved renovations. The design consultation is a standalone service. Subsequent architectural services if needed can be discussed and reviewed during or after the design consultation.

Getting the most from your design consultation

The following items help us give you the most useful recommendations in the least amount of time. Have copies ready before the consultation begins.

Site survey. prepared by a surveyor locates your house relative to property lines, driveway, and servitudes. This is often included with your closing documents.

Photographs of the exterior or/and interior. We frequently approximate what your additions may look like by drawing directly over a good snapshot take photos of the front sides and rear of your home don't tilt the camera for down assist distorts the image. Please send over to our info@sphion.co.uk email.

Restrictions ( if applicable). Covenants and Restrictive covenants. These covenants can limit the materials, establish mandatory building setbacks, and require the approval of any plans. Look at your deeds/ closing documents for these. If you aren't sure if your tenure has such restrictions we will check for you.

Floor plans. A copy of your home’s plans is the best record, though many older homes don't have these. If the original plans are unavailable, cheque your deeds/tenure/documents for a plan that may have been included in the appraisal or in the description of the property.

Your inspiration board. No two homeowners prefer the same materials, colours, fixtures, or appliances. To help us learn your preferences, tear out pages from favourites home improvement magazines illustrating the feel you want.

Placing a note on each of the items that caught your eye. If you wanted to provide paper cutouts and digital images these can also be included.

What does it cost?

A design consultation takes two to five hours additional consulting time is offered at our normal hourly rates.

Travel time within the Blackpool area is free. For locations outside this area travel charges or a day rate are easily negotiated in advance. With appropriate photographs and documentation, the consultation may be conducted virtually online through teams. Many of our out-of-town clients have preferred this option. Call or e-mail for further details..

3- Feasibility / Survey – Fixed Fee

We will visit your site to conduct a thorough survey, allowing us to produce a set of initial plans which will include accurate measurements and land properties to enable us to design your detailed 3D plans. We provide the lead design role and we brief and coordinate the work of consultants who are appointed by the client. There is a comprehensive outline of this at the bottom of this page.

4- Feasibility & 3D Designs – Fixed Fee, Invoiced Weekly or Monthly

Following the measured survey, we will discuss ideas with you and generate a set of detailed 3D plans, allowing you to have an accurate picture of what your finished project will look like – internally and externally, from material used to how large a space will be. We will continue to work with you, going through designs until you are happy.

5- Planning Application – Fixed Fee, Invoiced At Submission Of Application

We will prepare detailed documents and accompanying drawings of the project for your application. When necessary, we will speak in front of the planning board on your behalf in order to give your project the highest chance of approval. If your application is refused, we can exercise our right to appeal or submit a revised proposal based on new designs.

6- Building Control / Building Regulations Applications - Fixed Fee

This stage determines how the building stands up, how it resists the weather and how it keeps ventilated, warm or cool. Although there is room for interpretation in some of the Regulations, this is chiefly about compliance. Drawings are prepared at 1:50 scale and are accompanied by a general specification.

7- Construction Drawings – Fixed Fee Invoiced On Completion Of Drawings

Where the client wants a building that celebrates attention to detail, it is important that drawings at 1:20 and 1:5 scale are produced. These give clear instructions to make the building, and to ensure that the original conception is not watered down by misinterpretation. There may be occasions when a project needs to go to tender; in this circumstance we have to collate the relevant documents and ensure that if a contractor is involved, we have all the correct documents which can become a substantial task.

8- Appoint A Contractor – Project Management % of build costs

Sphion Ltd will happily advise you on tendering and selecting a trusted and capable contractor that is right for your project. When going to tender the same process applies as mentioned in point 7.

9- Appoint A Contractor – No Charge (Or Fixed Fee For Tendering The Project)

Sphion Ltd will oversee the construction, ensuring standards are being met and dealing with any on-site alterations that may arise. We keep in regular contact with you in order to keep you completely in the loop at all stages of the build. Alterations / additions are covered by hourly rates.

10- Completion!

Your project is complete and ready to enjoy.

Planning Consultants

We provide the lead design role and we brief and coordinate the work of these consultants who are appointed by the client (approximate fee bands for a 'bespoke family house' are given in £100’s after each; plus VAT):

Land Surveyor – to provide an electronically measured survey of the site and building before the design work can commence. (5-10).

Arboriculture / trees – to identify and survey those affected on site during the early design process. (5-10).

Ecology – to survey and recommend action to avoid disturbance to wildlife, prepared to coincide with their seasonal movement and submitted with the planning application. (5-15).

Highways (less often with single house commissions) – specialist advice on vehicular movement and highway safety. (5-10).

Planning Consultant – We have a strong level of experience within planning and can provide assistance with planning issues. We spend much of our working time designing and sometimes there is a need to engage a professional who can interpret policies, and case precedent, to fully establish the regulatory framework. We work alongside consultants productively, and the advice we give you will synthesise the input of each. (15-25).

Acoustics (rare in private work) – to identify and contain unwanted noise. (7-10).

Energy (usually at the technical stage, post-planning) – to measure the building’s energy requirement, specify its thermal performance, and advise on renewable sources. (5).

Structural engineering (at the technical stage) – to provide calculations to ensure the structural performance of the building. In projects where the structure is designed to be visible, to provide a sensitive and creative role in support of the design. (20-75).

Mechanical and electrical consultant (used on larger projects) – in projects where the complexity of the heating, plumbing or electrical services is such that they need to be designed and drawn alongside the technical drawings prepared for the building fabric, an m&e consultant may be appointed. Care must be taken to ensure that the specification is appropriate to the (domestic) commission. (20-40).

Quantity Surveyor – on projects where financial control is governed by a bank or if there is unusual complexity, a QS is required. (20-60).

Party Wall Surveyor – for legal agreements necessary when building close to neighbouring boundaries. (20-40).

Historic Building Consultant – often we produce appropriate supporting statements but it can be invaluable to engage with specialist heritage support in critical cases. (15-30).