Architectural Design& Build Specialistsacross Lincolnshire

Flood risk and surface water

Large parts of Lincolnshire sit low, drained and managed. Flood zones, internal drainage board consent and surface-water attenuation are ordinary planning considerations here rather than exceptional ones, and they can dictate finished floor levels, the footprint and even whether a site is developable at all.

We establish the flood and drainage position before the design is fixed, so the scheme is shaped around the requirement rather than retrofitted to satisfy a condition after approval.

Open countryside planning policy

Building in the Lincolnshire countryside is policy-constrained. New dwellings outside settlement boundaries need a specific route: conversion of an existing building, replacement of an existing dwelling, or a case built on the merits of the site. Applications that ignore that arrive dead.

We identify the correct route first, then design a scheme that fits it, and set the argument out in the application so the case officer is not left to construct it for you.

Exposure and older fabric

The Wolds and the coastal strip get weather. Driving rain on exposed elevations, wind loading on tall gables and solid brick or stone walls with no cavity are normal here, and a detail that works in a sheltered town street will fail on an open ridge.

Our building regulations drawings deal with the exposure category, the insulation strategy for solid walls and the junction details, rather than leaving them for the site to improvise.

Services, access and distance

Rural sites are frequently off mains drainage, sometimes off mains gas, and occasionally have a single-track access that a delivery lorry cannot use. Each of those has a design consequence and a cost consequence, and both are routinely underestimated.

We check services and access early and price them into the cost plan, because a package treatment plant and a strengthened access track are not small line items on a rural budget.

Which parts of Lincolnshire do you cover?

All of it, plus immediately over the border into Nottinghamshire. As a working rule we travel to sites within about an hour of LN8 3SB, which covers Lincoln, Newark, Gainsborough, Louth, Horncastle, Sleaford, Scunthorpe and Grimsby.

How quickly can you visit a site elsewhere in the county?

Most of Lincolnshire is well within an hour of us, so site visits are typically arranged within a few days of your first call. Enquiries are answered 7am to 5:30pm.

What does a project cost in Lincolnshire?

It depends on scale, the state of the existing building and the specification. Rather than quote a headline figure, we cost the scheme in-house as we design it, so you see a realistic number while the design can still be adjusted.

Do you deal with every district council?

Yes. We prepare and manage applications to City of Lincoln, West Lindsey, North Kesteven, East Lindsey, South Kesteven, North Lincolnshire, North East Lincolnshire and Newark and Sherwood.

Can you convert an agricultural barn?

Yes, barn conversions are one of our core areas. The first job is confirming the planning route the building qualifies for, because that determines what the finished design can realistically be.

Do you offer emergency call-outs across Lincolnshire?

No. Our work is planned design and construction. We are contactable 7am to 5:30pm.

Are you insured for work across the county?

Yes. We carry £5m public liability cover, and every member of our build team is a CSCS card holder.

Do you take on commercial work in Lincolnshire?

Residential is the core of what we do, but we take on commercial projects where design, cost control and delivery need to sit with one team.