Ask the Experts Grand Designs Q&A: Oct '09

Date Published:

03/09/2009

Quantity surveyor

I have a tight build budget so my architect has suggested I use a quantity surveyor to cost my project. I¹m worried this is just another expense to eat into my already limited funds. What do you advise?

Deborah Saunt says As a professional, I often get asked if something is worth it ­ another consultant on the design team, a higher quality material, and high technical specification for equipment and so on, and in my opinion there are economies of scale where the cost at the outset is definitely worthwhile when it is balanced with the risks you are trying to mitigate.

Basically, sometimes, it is a false economy to scrimp on something when it will save you money in the future, and you should try to assess its value over a longer period as opposed to just your immediate cashflow. In the case of a quantity surveyor I would always advocate their involvement on substantial residential building projects where cost control is imperative. Not only do they offer advice at every step of the way as the design evolves, they also help judge and negotiate cost variations once you are on site. Their expertise involves providing critical information on establishing your initial budget so you are aware of all the likely risks and what your contingency should be.

Then they will help develop these budgets into cost plans once the design evolves, so that before you go out to tender they should be able to provide a pre-tender estimate. This will allow you to predict where you might have to make savings or omissions when the real costs of your dream home arrive. This above all allows you to be forewarned and hence forearmed.

Obviously you can go ahead without a quantity surveyor and closely manage the budget with your own expertise and that of your architect, who should be able to provide you with a general forecast on cost. But it is worth noting that, unless you specifically ask an architect to provide cost planning services, they may not be able to help you as much as you might like. Equally, that could also be a fee saving on your tight budget if you have your own financial expertise that will allow you to build up and manage your own budget, especially if you are also managing the works on site as your own project manager.

See next month's issue for further information on how you can keep your project on budget

I'd like to build a home office in my garden. Will I need planning permission for this? If not, how big a studio can I build before I have to apply for planning permission?

Roger Estop replies says Planning rules allow potentially generous structures in your garden without the need for a planning application. The key point is that a garden room (such as the one above from Ecospace; ecospacestudios.com) is for the home and householders only, not for separate, self-contained use as a workspace or home for others. Building without a planning application is based on not upsetting the neighbours. So you have to stick to single storey, keep well away from the boundaries and not take up more than half your garden.

This creates amazing opportunities for large gardens, and in small gardens the rules allow you to build right next to a neighbour¹s boundary if you don't go higher than 2.5m, and if you want a pitched roof rather than a flat roof the ridge can be up to 4m high. Within these constraints you can create a home office, workshop, sauna, retreat, but there are a couple of things to remember. First, the structure is still subject to building regulations on safety and robustness. And second, the neighbours still need cuddles and communication, so let them know what you are thinking before you start.

This edition of Ask The Experts is taken from the October issue of Grand Designs magazine. If you would like to subscribe for as little as £9 then head here to find out more.