How We Work – More Information

Every building is bespoke, but we follow a process of bringing in resources as required:

Site Visit

Our building designer will meet with you to discuss your ideas, take measurements and discuss any council planning requirements.

Building Design & Quotation

We provide a detailed design and quotation. This includes initial drawings and finishing suggestions. We do not charge for this service.

Planning Application

Most buildings require full planning permission.

Many of our planning applications are successful simply because Rookery has:

• Years of experience. We have hundreds of successful planning applications behind us.
• Long-standing relationships with local planning authorities across Hampshire, Surrey and West Sussex and knowledge of any local conditions and regulations.
• Experienced designers who will propose designs taking into account their planning knowledge.

We can manage the entire planning application procedure on your behalf. 

Our service includes:

• Preparation of application forms and site visits to gather photographic support.
• Commission of scaled elevation and plan drawings for proposed and existing buildings.
• Supply and completion of relevant Ordnance Survey maps.
• Supporting statement including Design and Access Statement and Heritage Statement if required.
• Ecological Survey.
• Arboricultural Impact Assessment.
• Landscape Mitigation Strategy.
• Discharge of Conditions.
• Regular liaison with local authorities throughout the process, identifying and addressing any issues that may impact the planning decision.

For those buildings not requiring full planning permission then we still need to apply to the council for a Certificate of Lawfulness. This is a similar process to the full planning application but incurs a reduced Local Authority fee. 

The following building criteria must be met:

• The building is sited behind the principal front elevation of the house but within your garden curtilage.
• The building is sited at least 2 metres from a boundary.
• The building ridge is under 4 metres high (with a pitched roof).
• The building is only one storey.
• If your property is within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), National Park, or Conservation Area the proposed structure will also need to be sited behind the house but entirely within 20 metres of it.
• If your house is listed we will need to seek Listed Building Consent for the development.

Programme of Works

Once planning and our quotation are approved we will propose a programme of works.

Construction

The first step in construction is the groundwork. We have long standing relationships with groundwork organisations who deliver excellent work and understand our ethos of customer service.

Time to build your Rookery Barn!

Our health and safety trained staff will take the utmost care of your property by providing barriers, site signage and welfare facilities. When the project manager is happy that works can proceed safely then our groundworkers will demolish, sculpt and prepare the ground ready for an appropriate foundation for your building.

Building regulations approval is required if the building is over 30 square metres internally or is within 1 metre of a boundary. We will apply for approval, arrange for the inspections to be carried out and provide you with a completion certificate at the end of the project from our approved independent inspector. 

In the meantime, our workshop team will be working to ensure your building is ready once the foundations are ready. Once the building has passed all of our quality checks it will be delivered to our site team to erect the oak frame.

No stopping and starting, when we commence work our carpenters are assigned to the project until completion. We will manage any scaffolding requirements and the installation of the roof. We provide regular process updates and site visits and of course, the site is completely cleared at the end of the project.

As part of our turnkey service, we offer to take care of the entire internal fit-out including first and second fix carpentry, lining, insulation, flooring, electrics, plumbing, decoration and installation of kitchens and shower rooms.

Completion

No project is completed until the project manager has carried out their final review and the customer has confirmed they are pleased for the building to be completed.