Whether it's planning permission, building regulations, drawings or construction related. We provide expert advice in our complimentary consultation.
While the profession of architecture and the architect's job is conducted more and more via. a computer, on calls and online. The importance of having local knowledge and contacts is also more important then ever.
In our experience, dealing with the local planning authority in Bury - whether that's about a Victorian style house of a heritage building like a church - has been easier as time has gone on, we become familiar with their method of enforcing the planning rules and Bury building regulations while Bury council also recognises us.
This isn't just the case for red tape exercises, even when dealing with Parish councils and architectural styles in the area (for instance a lot of the Edwardian stone buildings with their large masonry blockwork) this familiarity allows us to deliver unique results tailored to our client's needs.
The majority of our clients from Bury will be homeowners, usually looking to conduct house extensions, renovations to buildings, new build one off houses and dormer roof conversions. These projects continue to present new and unique opportunities for interesting design and personal projects for people.
For instance one recent project we had was for a musician on Callender street which involved a home design with a music and drum studio. Another project on Bolton street focused on creating an open plan kitchen living space on the lower ground floor or basement level of the house given it's odd layout.
In every case, we focus on providing designs that are unique to your needs and can provide bespoke residential architecture through key stages such as:
- The first site visit and the measured survey of the existing building. Learn more here
- First draft designs and design revision meetings. More details here
- Planning application submission and management. Details on these services
- Building regulations approval and construction working drawings. How this process works
- Coordination with key consultants such as Bury building control and a structural engineer. See how we provide this
- Tendering to Bury builders Our tender process.
These cover the main services, but you can see a larger list here about our extended services.
Even in cases where we have people conducting property development in Bury, we can provide feasibility studies early in the process so you have the answers you need.
Bury town is home to many small businesses of varying types, we often engage clients regarding commercial architect services such as shopfronts, catering businesses and sports centres.
Emphasize the architect’s ability to create functional, aesthetically pleasing spaces that align with Bury’s commercial growth.
The key item we try to put at the forefront is that design should be about making smart decisions in order to get a better result, not simply spending more money. That's typically what we offer commercial clients, make smart design choices we have the maximum impact or accommodate as much of what you need in the most cost effective manner possible.
This goes for Bury commercial property design as well as retail architecture you might find on the high street. Our goal is to provide the best return on investment through creative decision making which considers all the overheads as well as the aesthetic part.
Bury has a lot of historical character with it's mix Edwardian, Victorian and arts and crafts style buildings. It's pretty common that we need to take conversation and historical design into account with the projects we do there.
I often like to talk about our sustainable design expertise alongside this, as much of the time with existing buildings we will take the approach of 'if it isn't broken don't fix it'. Typically the two can coexist and - ideally - compliment each other.
We marry conservation with expert knowledge and certification in PassivHaus which is the gold standard in energy efficient design. You can find a full overview by clicking here. Typically retrofitted PassivHaus (called EnerPHit) can be suitable for even the most stubborn property with the right approach.
Conservation areas are everywhere in Bury, so it's important that an architect working in Bury understands them, here are some of them:
Bury Town Centre Conservation Area - which protects the centre and historic core of the town. See the map
Ainsworth Conservation Area - Covering the 19th century stone terraces along Church Street made of stone. See the map
Holcombe Village Conservation Area - Conserving the small agricultural hamlets and stone buildings reminiscent of the West Pennine Moor. See the map
Ramsbottom Conservation Area - With a lot of stone architecture many of which are heritage listed buildings. See the Map
This is just a small selection, you can see the full list and connecting information on Bury's planning website here.
Listed buildings will require even more care and attention when working with them and Bury is home to many of them. Again it's something we've learned to do well through practice and repetition working on these buildings and gaining listed building consent with Bury council. Some of the notable listed building in Bury include:
- Bury Parish Church
- Radcliffe Tower
- Bury Art Museum and Sculpture Centre
- The Castle Armoury
Before you start on your journey to get planning permission for a project in Bury. It's important to know what type of application you need and what chances you have of gaining planning permission for your project.
We'll usually be able to provide this information in our free consultation or as part of a feasibility study. Either way, it's ideal to get input like this right at the beginning.
After this, an important question to ask is - do you need pre-application advice for your project in Bury? - again this is typically something we can advise on. Pre-application advice can be useful where your project is complex and needs initial input before putting together a more detail application to Bury Council.
After this point you should be in a position to start producing drawings and statements for your application. These will normally include:
- A location plan (can be purchased from the planning portal or produce by an architect)
- A site block plan
- Plans and elevations.
Once these documents are finalized, you should be able to submit your material in a planning application and pay the Bury council application fee.
After this stage you may need to get in contact with Bury Council or provide them access to your project address so that they can conduct their assessment. Typically you can reach Bury council planning department on:
Email - development.control@bury.gov.uk
Phone - 0161 253 5432
If you're looking to go deeper into the planning process you can visit the planning portal for a national overview or for Bury council specific information you can see Bury Council's Local Plan.
A location plan is normally a 1:1250 scale ordnance map showing the location of the planning application site amongst the local area.
While a guide can outline most situations, every project is different and sometimes you get a better idea when viewing a project.
Throughout the website you can find many case studies of house extensions, new houses and outbuilding projects in and around the Bury area. But just to show you an example from recently, here's a link to the planning approval the house and garage conversion project for the drummer and musician.
Here's what some of our clients in the area have said about our services to date recently:
"It has been a pleasure to work with Sean and Maverick. I have found them professional, knowledgable and responsive. In addition, they are well connected and have built a network of trusted supporting contractors. Combined with a clear pricing structure, and outline of services, I would not hesitate to recommend them."
Andrew Shannon
"Dealing with Sean has been a great experience as it was our first time using an Architect, Sean was really informative and understood our goal from minute one and shared lots of great ideas,
Maverick was prompt and efficient in the measuring survey and the whole process was completed shortly after with drawings being freely available for distribution
Would highly recommend"
Mark Cleator
An architects floor plan for a recently built home renovation on Bolton Road.
Clients have often told us that there was a combination of factors that made them choose us for a project in Bury. While every client didn't give the exact same reasons, a few common points came up with all of them:
Laying out a clear plan - from the get go we believe an informed client is the best client. We want you to be in the know, construction can be stressful at the best of times but being informed and prepared makes all the difference.
Fixed costs - unlike traditional architects who may charge a percentage fee, all our fees are fixed up front so you know exactly what you'll spend.
Speed and efficiency - not to be confused with rushing, we've made small advancements over the course of 10 years which have added up to a superior workflow for speed and quality for our clients.
Clear design and communication - the best designs can be communicated simply and we pride ourselves on our ability to provide the best solution while showing you why it's the best.
If you'd like to know more about our work in Bury or would like to have a chat, feel free to book in a free consultation by clicking here or scrolling below.
Our focus is on producing the best quality architecture with a solid plan and no unpleasant surprises.
Having worked in the construction industry and within architecture for the last 15 years, I've seen everything from the very best to the very questionable.
My focus over the last 6 years has been on bringing the very best in energy efficient architecture and high design to the small scale.
Find out everything you need to know to design and build your project in Bury by speaking with one of our expert architects.
