Architecture Sevenoaks – Residential Design & Technical Delivery

Yes. Under the Building Safety Act 2022 dutyholder framework, clients must ensure a competent designer is appointed to manage compliance with Building Regulations during the design stage.

For domestic projects in Sevenoaks, this means someone must take responsibility for coordinating the technical design before and during construction. Simply relying on a builder to “work it out on site” does not satisfy the dutyholder requirements.

When formally appointed, we plan, manage and monitor compliance throughout design and construction in accordance with the legislation.

Yes. We prepare and submit planning applications in Sevenoaks and West Kent to Sevenoaks District Council for:

• House extensions
• Loft conversions
• Renovations and reconfigurations
• New build homes

This includes conservation area projects and period properties where additional documentation may be required.

Once planning permission in Sevenoaks is secured, we move the project forward with detailed Building Regulations drawings so the scheme is technically buildable — not just approved in principle.

Yes. We prepare full Building Regulations drawings in Sevenoaks following planning approval.

These include detailed construction information covering structure, insulation, fire safety, drainage, and compliance with current Building Regulations. This ensures your house extension or loft conversion is technically resolved before work begins.

Yes. For most home extensions, renovations and new builds in Sevenoaks, properly prepared planning drawings and detailed Building Regulations information should be in place before construction pricing begins.

Under the Building Safety Act 2022 dutyholder regime, domestic clients must appoint a competent Principal Designer to plan, manage and monitor Building Regulations compliance. Without coordinated technical design and formal compliance oversight, cost uncertainty and avoidable variations are far more likely during construction.

At Carter Designs, we prepare detailed planning drawings and Building Regulations packages in Sevenoaks and, when formally appointed, act as Principal Designer — planning, managing and monitoring compliance throughout design and construction.

Cost increases often occur when builders price from planning drawings alone.

Planning drawings are prepared to secure planning permission in Sevenoaks. They are not detailed enough to define construction methods, materials, structural coordination or Building Regulations compliance. When pricing is based only on planning information, assumptions are made — and those assumptions frequently become variations during construction.

For house extensions and loft conversions in Sevenoaks, we prepare detailed Building Regulations drawings and coordinated construction information before tender. This allows builders to price a defined scope of work rather than guesswork.

Where required, we can also run a competitive tender process and place the builder on a written contract, helping control scope, variations and payment structure throughout the build.