Planning & Warrant Services
Ecotherm Planning & Warrant Services
Ecotherm Homes offers comprehensive planning and building warrant services, guiding you through every step of your self-build project.
From initial consultations and bespoke house drawings to site surveys, drainage design, and full planning and warrant submissions, our experienced architectural team ensures a seamless process. We handle the technical aspects, including SAP energy calculations and structural designs, while keeping you informed throughout.
Once planning and warrant approvals are in place, we support you during construction, helping with any required amendments and ensuring all regulations are met for the final Completion Certificate.
Let Ecotherm Homes turn your dream home into a reality.
Our 12 Stage Plan.
Arrange a meeting with Ecotherm Homes’ architectural team, either on-site or at our offices, to explore your design ideas and share your wish list, helping us create a customised design brief. Any available site history, title documents, or previous planning applications will be useful, so please provide any relevant details to assist our team.
A topographical survey may be necessary depending on your site, typically carried out by an engineer. We can recommend a qualified engineer, or if you prefer, we’ll work closely with the professional you choose.
The cost of the survey is separate and paid directly to the service provider.
In some instances, the local planning authority might require additional surveys, such as for trees, wildlife, contamination, or archaeology.
If needed, we can connect you with the appropriate specialists, with any associated fees paid directly to them.
A current Ordnance Survey (OS) map of your plot is required. Our architectural team can acquire a digital copy and review it alongside your title documents to verify boundaries and develop a precise site layout.
This will include the placement of your house, along with features like access roads, parking areas, gardens, patios, and any additional structures such as garages or bin storage.
Following your brief and initial consultation, our architectural team will create detailed drawings of your new home, including floor plans, elevations, site sections, a roof plan, and a general house section for your review and approval. If any adjustments are needed, just let us know, and we’ll make the necessary changes.
Please note that significant design alterations may incur additional costs, so it’s helpful to be as clear and precise as possible with your vision to ensure we get it right from the start.
You’ll need to hire a qualified engineer to complete the Drainage Design and Drainage Impact Assessment (DIA) for both foul and surface water systems. As part of this process, trial pits will be dug at various points on the site, requiring your presence and typically the provision of a mechanical digger. The engineer will carry out porosity tests, and once the results are available, they will develop a drainage plan.
Our architectural team will then integrate this drainage scheme into the overall house design and site plans for submission with both the Planning and Building Warrant applications.
Once you’re satisfied with the house plans and site layout, we will submit the planning application to the local authority on your behalf (application fees will need to be paid directly to them by you). A design statement may be necessary to support the application, and for more complex plots, we can assist in finding a Planning Consultant if you don’t already have one. Any fees for their services would be paid directly to the consultant.
After submission, we’ll keep you informed of any feedback or comments from the local authority. Should any changes be required, we will work with you to find the best solution. Typically, the planning department responds within 8 weeks, but if there’s a delay, our architectural team will follow up. The local authority will also handle neighbour notifications as part of the planning process. Additional fees may be required if your application needs to be advertised in the local press, which are paid directly to the council.
Once planning approval is granted, or at least initial feedback is provided, the drawings will be updated with all the necessary technical details for the building warrant application. Our architectural team will gather information from relevant professionals and submit the application to Building Standards for approval. We’ll monitor the progress of your warrant application and inform you of any amendments requested by the local authorities.
As part of the building warrant application, our engineer will provide a structural design scheme along with an SER Certificate for your property. This ensures that both the substructure and superstructure comply with building regulations, as required by the local authority. Before the structural design can begin, it’s essential to assess the ground conditions to confirm the suitability of the foundation design.
You may need to arrange and pay for an additional site investigation by a qualified professional, and the report should be provided to Ecotherm Homes. This investigation may be combined with the earlier drainage assessment if applicable.
A SAP Calculation is a necessary component of the building warrant application. After the house design is finalised and you’ve selected your specifications and heating systems, we will prepare the SAP Calculation. This will provide an assessment of the projected energy efficiency of your new home.
After receiving approvals from the local authority for both the Planning and Building Warrant applications, we will provide you with all the approved documents for your records. We will also supply extra copies for use on-site and for any required services.
Once your building warrant is approved, work can commence on your site. Don’t forget to submit the Star Form to notify the local authority before starting.
You are responsible for site health and safety and must familiarise yourself with the Construction Design and Management (CDM) Regulations. It’s essential to ensure compliance with all conditions set by the local authority and manage service applications and designs, such as roads, water, sewer, electricity, gas, telecoms, and environmental protection. We recommend appointing a building professional to oversee compliance with the approved plans, specifications, and building regulations during construction. Ecotherm Homes is not responsible for construction oversight or project management.
We also advise obtaining appropriate new-build site insurance and securing a structural warranty for your property.
During construction, changes may sometimes occur. If this happens, your drawings must be updated to reflect the actual build, and an Amendment to Warrant application may be required from the local authority before you can apply for completion (additional fees may apply). Please keep us informed of any changes on-site so we can update your drawings accordingly and provide guidance on best practices and solutions.
Once all work is complete and any amendments are approved, our architectural team will handle the application for the Completion Certificate. At this stage, the engineer’s Structural Form Q will be needed, and you’ll need to arrange an air tightness test so the results can be factored into the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) for your home. You will also need to provide certificates for electrical and fire alarm installations as part of the completion process.
The local authority will review all documents and carry out a site inspection. Any issues identified will need to be resolved before the final Completion Certificate is issued. While the list of requirements may seem overwhelming, we are here to support you throughout the process to ensure your dream home becomes a reality.