ADC Architects Ltd, Manchester, North West, UK: Contemporary Architecture, Building Conversions, Mixed Use Developments, Residential, Commercial and Leisure, Healthcare.

For a commercial or residential development of a site you will be expecting to maximise the value of your site, but would also hope to ensure that any development enhanced your reputation as a provider of a quality product. The first requirement is to meet with the demands and expectations of the local authority planning department.

The requirements of the local authorities seem to be getting increasingly demanding with many issues that need to be resolved before planning permission will be granted. Energy conservation and sustainable development have come to the fore, with the publishing of Planning Policy Statement 1: Delivering Sustainable Development published in 2005 and central government pressure to implement the policies.

It is also important to be aware that most local authorities will no longer considering "working amendments" for anything more than the most minor design changes, therefore the need to get the right solution early on is imperative. This requires serious consideration of the site and the resolution of issues of servicing, access, massing and materials, all of which we can analyse, explore and resolve for you and present you with drawings and computer modelling.

Building Regulations require a similar rigour to meet all the more recent legislation, in particular part L: energy conservation, part F: ventialtion requirements, part E: sound transmission between dwellings and part B: provisions for fire.

We can manage these issues for you and develop the detail design for building out through a "Design and Build basis" or a traditional contract.

Initially you may wish to assess the value of the land through feasibility studies, or assess the develpment potential before the purchase of a site. We will happily carry out such studies on a limited fee basis. Or apply for planning permission ony to add value to the land. In these circumstances the proposals have to be "real" to be convincing to the local authority and a prospective purchaser.

We will be happy to discuss your requirements with no obligation until we are sure we can assist you appropriately.

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