Projects We Undertake
House Extensions
House extensions can give you more usable space while improving how your existing home works for everyday life. We undertake projects ranging from smaller additions to larger extensions involving internal and external remodelling.
Current requirements often include larger family kitchens, additional bathrooms, home office space and improved connections between existing rooms. Our professional service can include preparing planning drawings and detailed building regulation drawings as the project progresses.
Whether you are considering a single-storey or two-storey extension, we develop the architectural plans around your requirements while considering planning, construction and Building Regulations from the outset.
Loft Conversions
Loft conversions can be an effective way to create additional habitable space within the existing structure of your home.
An initial inspection allows us to consider the feasibility of the proposed loft conversion from practical, structural and cost perspectives. We can then develop the design and prepare the appropriate building plans, planning drawings and building regulation drawings required for the project.
Our loft conversion services are available to homeowners in Solihull, Birmingham and across the Midlands.
Garage Conversions
Garage conversions can allow you to make better use of space that is already part of your property.
A full or partial garage conversion can create additional living space while retaining storage where required. We can prepare the architectural plans and construction information needed for the project, including planning application drawings where necessary and building regulation drawings for the technical stage.
Our garage conversion services cover Solihull, Birmingham and surrounding areas of the Midlands.
New Build Houses
For new build houses, we provide fully technically resolved architectural drawings and building plans, working closely with you as the design develops.
We provide comprehensive floor plans, elevations, and cross sections, adding deeper technical detail as your project moves from planning through to building regulations approval.
For new builds and extensions, energy efficiency is central to our design process. We advise on construction methods, high-performance insulation, sustainable materials, and integrating renewable technologies to ensure your building is both compliant and cost-effective to run.
Our architectural planning services for new build houses are available across Solihull, Birmingham and the wider Midlands.
Listed Building Consent and Conservation Area Consent
Projects involving listed buildings or properties within conservation areas often require additional care at the planning stage.
We have decades of experience dealing with Local Authorities on this type of work. Our architectural drawing services can include the planning application drawings and supporting design work required when seeking listed building consent or conservation area consent.
Requirements can vary according to the property and proposed work, so we will discuss the project with you and explain the relevant planning considerations before preparing the application.
Statutory Consents
Permitted Development Rights
Some properties benefit from permitted development rights, which can allow certain extensions, alterations or garden buildings to be carried out without a full planning application.
The rules can be complex and depend on the property and proposed work. We can help you understand whether permitted development may apply and whether a planning application is likely to be required.
Planning Permission
Many house extensions, loft conversions, garage conversions and other building projects require planning permission.
Where planning permission is needed, we prepare the planning drawings and can submit the planning application on your behalf. We also liaise with planning officers during the application process and, where necessary, discuss appropriate changes within the current submission.
Our experience includes dealing with Local Authorities across Solihull, Birmingham and other parts of the Midlands.
Building Regulations Approval
Building Regulations approval is generally required when extending, building new, converting space or undertaking structural alterations to a property. Building regulation drawings are more detailed than planning drawings. They set out the technical construction information needed by Building Control and give your builder a much clearer basis for pricing and carrying out the work.
We can prepare these building plans and liaise with Building Control to obtain plans approval before construction starts.
Do I Need Planning Drawings and Building Regulation Drawings?
Planning Permission vs. Building Regulations: The Difference
It depends on the project: some work requires both Planning Permission and Building Regulations approval, while other projects skip planning permission entirely but must still meet Building Regulations Approval.
• Planning Application Drawings: Focus on what is being built and whether the proposed development is acceptable in local planning terms.
• Building Regulation Drawings: Focus on how it will be constructed, ensuring the work meets required technical and structural standards.
Because they serve entirely different purposes, planning drawings and building regulations drawings should never be treated as the same thing.
If you already have planning permission from another architectural consultant or practice and now need detailed drawings for construction, speak to us before proceeding. To take responsibility for the accuracy of the building regulation drawings, we may need to carry out our own survey and prepare the scheme from our own measurements rather than altering drawings produced by another consultant.
Professional Architectural Services in Solihull, Birmingham and the Midlands
Choosing the right architectural professionals is about more than obtaining a set of drawings. You need to understand what is being designed, which approvals may apply and what information your builder will eventually need.
Dilworth Design is a CIAT registered architectural technologist practice based in Solihull. Our professional architectural planning services and architectural drawing services are available for projects throughout Birmingham and the wider Midlands.
Whether you are planning house extensions, loft conversions, garage conversions, new build houses or work requiring listed building consent or conservation area consent, we can help you understand the process and produce the architectural plans required for the appropriate stages.
