Home / How we work
Eight stages. You commit to one at a time.
Every project runs through the RIBA Plan of Work: the industry's standard stages, from the first idea to living in your finished home. Here is what happens at each one.
The stages
From a conversation to a finished building.
Strategic definition
Is the project worth doing, and what could it be? We start with what your address allows and what it could be worth, then talk it through with you.
Preparation and briefing
If you go ahead, we visit, measure the building, and agree a written brief: what you want, what it must cost, and when.
Concept design
We develop the design with you and sketch it up. For more complex projects, we can bring in our planning consultants or get pre-application advice from the council at this stage. We also recommend an early cost estimate from a quantity surveyor (QS), now or at the next stage, so you can see how the design sits with your budget before you go further.
Spatial coordination and planning
The chosen scheme developed into a planning application or a lawful development certificate, with the drawings, forms and statements the council expects. We handle the submission and the correspondence.
Technical design and tender
Once planning approval is in place, this stage comes in parts, and each can be quoted separately:
Construction drawings and Building Regulations
The drawings a builder can price and build from, coordinated with the structural engineer and submitted to Building Control for full plans approval.
Detailed specification
Electrical layouts, door and window schedules, finishes schedules and the written specification, so nothing is left to guess on site.
Tender
We invite prices from three or four builders on the same drawings and specification, and compare them side by side for you.
Building contract
A written JCT building contract between you and your chosen builder, ready to sign.
Construction
Once work starts on site, we can support you in two ways, together or separately:
Site oversight
We visit to check the design is being built as drawn, answer day-to-day questions from the builder and from you, and advise on any changes needed on site.
Contract administration
Where there's a building contract in place, we act as Contract Administrator: we certify payments for work done and agree changes in writing before they happen.
Handover
When the work is finished, we make sure you have everything you need:
Handover pack
Completion certificates, the health and safety file, the operation and maintenance manual, copies of warranties, electrical certificates, decoration schedules and more, all in one place.
Defects period
The months after handover when the contract requires the builder to put right any defects that appear.
Use
Once you've moved in, we're still here. If something isn't working as it should during the defects period, we can help you get it put right. After that, just ask: we're happy to help, and we'll agree any fee with you first.
Every project is different, so we design the programme with you, with care from the start.
Being straight with you
What's not in our fee.
Some costs sit outside any architect's fee, and we'll tell you about them at the start:
- 01Application fees payable to the council or the water authority
- 02Fees for external consultants and specialist surveys
- 03The building work itself
Get in touch
Tell us about your project.
Whether you're just starting out or picking up a project halfway, we'd love to hear from you.
Want the facts first? Start with the plotwise report by DZP. It comes with a free 30-minute call with a chartered architect. Or send us an enquiry, and we'll get back to you within one working day.
- Emailinfo@dzpstudio.co.uk
- Phone07508 382877
- StudioLondon & Essex
- HoursMon–Fri 09:00–17:00
Sat 09:00–12:00