Separate the stage from the deliverable
A stage describes a part of the process; the deliverables schedule should identify the documents, decisions and services included in that part. ARB’s advice is to agree what work will be done, who is responsible and the limits of the appointment. Use the following to agree the work included in your appointment and any services commissioned separately. [1]
Brief, survey and feasibility
Our design service starts with an initial survey, followed by a proposal based on your brief and a planning submission.
Agree the survey coverage and the plans, elevations or sections to be supplied. Ask whether feasibility advice will be written and how site constraints, budget assumptions and further investigations will be identified.
Concept design
Ask which drawings or presentations accompany each option and whether visualisations are included. Agree the number of options and revision rounds and how approval of the preferred proposal will be recorded.
Record separately any elements left for later selection. Ask for the agreed design to identify unresolved choices rather than treating an illustrative finish or fitting as a priced specification.
Planning submission
List the application forms, drawings and supporting documents included, and identify separately commissioned specialist reports. Ask for a copy of the submitted package and agree the scope of council liaison, amendments and post-decision work.
Technical design
Our technical design service includes technical drawings and structural calculations. Agree the drawing register and specialist responsibilities for your project.
Ask for a drawing and calculation list, the specification level and responsibility for services design and specialist input. Distinguish information issued for pricing from information issued for construction, and agree who responds to building-control comments.
Construction and handover
Agree the reporting and site-visit arrangements, records of changes and completion checks. Identify the snagging records, as-built information, manuals, certificates and warranty documents applicable to your contract.
Agree how information can be used
Before appointing a separate builder or another designer, establish what information they will receive and what they may rely on. Ask whether editable drawings are available, whether there is a separate charge, and what permission is given to use or modify the design. These are questions for the appointment, not promises of unrestricted file ownership.
Agree the issue formats, drawing-use licence and editable-file arrangements. Ask how long records are retained and how revised information will replace superseded drawings.
Keep approvals separate from drawing delivery
Receiving a drawing package is not the same as receiving the relevant approval. GOV.UK distinguishes building regulations approval from planning permission, so the schedule should separately identify preparation, submission, responses and the eventual decision. [2]
Use the same distinction for excluded services: identify both who will arrange them and when their information is needed, rather than leaving an unnamed gap between appointments.