Project / Design Team
Design, Budgeting, Consents, Suppliers, Contractors, Timeline Management
The Project Team: Experts collaborating to bring your vision to life
A carefully assembled and well-coordinated design team are at the start of all successful projects. At Steele-Perkins, I work with a trusted network of specialists, tailoring the team to suit your project's unique style, scope, and budget. By appointing the core design team early, we ensure seamless collaboration, clear communication, and a structured pre-construction programme that sets the foundation for success.
The team collaborates through the RIBA Plan of Work, a structured framework that defines each stage of the design and build process. At Steele-Perkins Projects, I coordinate the team to ensure their work aligns with these stages, keeping the project on track, in synch, and according to the pre-construction programme. For more information on the RIBA Plan of Work, visit our blog.
Managing the Project Team
The Pre-Construction Programme is an essential tool in successfully managing the design phase of your project. It takes experience, collaboration, and proactive management to develop and maintain. As your Project Manager, I’ll delve into the details of the project from the outset, identifying what’s needed and when. This includes advising on specific surveys and applying for consents, licence applications, and their associated timelines—ensuring everything is prepared, validated, and delivered on schedule.
Without proactive management, the design phase will lose momentum, leading to delays, increased costs, and uncertainty about when the build can begin. I keep the pre-construction phase on track by forecasting and working to hit milestones. This approach ensures the build starts on time, backed by a professionally prepared construction package, including:
Completed designs and specifications.
Pre-Commencement Notifications
Pre-Commencement Building Control technical approval
A clear set of client requirements.
Construction Insurances
Contractual Documents
With this robust design and document package in place, your project is ready for a seamless transition into the build phase, reducing risks and setting the stage for success.
Architectural Design
Architects are at the heart of your project, from feasibility studies and conceptual designs for planning to technical drawings for Building Control compliance. They ensure the design reflects your aspirations while meeting technical, regulatory, and aesthetic requirements.
From extensions to bespoke new builds, I work with architects experienced in all types of projects, matching their expertise to your needs. Their role is integral in creating the layouts and detailed plans that set the framework for the entire project.
Interior Design
Interior designers focus on creating cohesive and inspiring spaces by selecting finishes, furnishings, and bespoke details that align with your style and enhance the functionality of your home. I’ll introduce you with specialists who bring creative vision to the project, ensuring your interiors reflect your taste and home’s character.
Energy and Sustainability Design
Achieving optimal performance and sustainability in your home requires a seamless integration of mechanical and electrical (M&E) design with eco-friendly solutions. This includes heating, cooling, ventilation, and renewable energy systems, all working together to enhance comfort and efficiency.
Energy efficiency begins with the building fabric and is supported by innovative services, such as renewable energy sources, smart technologies, and sustainable materials. Collaborating with specialists in these fields ensures your home is designed for performance, sustainability, and long-term cost savings.
Smart Home Design
Smart home specialists bring market-leading technology to your project, ensuring your home is functional and future-proof. From home automation to advanced security systems, they work to integrate the latest technologies seamlessly into the fabric and services of your build.
Smart home systems can control everything from blinds, heating, cooling, and lighting to more comprehensive setups by taking your ideas and developing them into a cohesive, tailored solution. Whether you need a simple system or a fully integrated approach, these solutions are customised to suit the specific nature of your project.
At Steele-Perkins Projects, we work with industry-leading specialists to design and implement systems that meet your needs, lifestyle, and aspirations. From concept to completion, I’ll coordinate the design and build process, ensuring every element is aligned with the broader project for a bespoke experience.
Structural Design
Structural engineers ensure the integrity and stability of your build, addressing everything that impacts loading and overall structural performance. Their designs are tailored to accommodate local ground conditions, nearby environmental factors such as trees or adjacent building loadings, the structure of your property, and the proposed changes.
Key to effective structural design is gathering accurate information, which may involve soil investigations, ground surveys, or opening up works to assess the existing structure. This ensures the design is both practical and aligned with the realities of your site.
Throughout the process, I monitor buildability, ensuring that design proposals are practical and aligned with your budget. Structural designs are carefully coordinated with architectural plans and integrated into a pre-construction programme, including technical checks for Building Control compliance. I manage this coordination and oversee supporting surveys to ensure the design progresses efficiently and aligns with the project goals.
Designing for Health and Safety Compliance - A legal obligation
Health and safety in construction are legal obligations, with responsibilities shared by the client, the principal designer, and the principal contractor. At Steele-Perkins Projects, we break this down for you, ensuring you are informed and advised early to make confident decisions.
Your role as the client is crucial, and how you choose to procure your project will influence how health and safety are managed. Regardless of your approach, we prioritise your interests, providing guidance to ensure compliance and best practices.
We co-ordinate the three key stakeholders, ensuring the principal designer’s formal handover documents set the foundation for a safe and well-managed build. As a qualified SMSTS (Site Management Safety Training Scheme) professional, I understand precisely what contractors should deliver, when, and how, ensuring they operate safely and diligently throughout your project.
With our expertise, you can trust that health and safety will be managed to the highest standard, protecting both you and your project at every stage.
Specialist Design & Installation Packages
Some of a project's most defining elements come from bespoke, specialist-designed packages that require careful coordination with the architectural and structural design. This includes more significant components such as whole-house timber frame designs or oak frame buildings, where early-stage collaboration is critical to ensure considered integration with the overall structure.
Smaller but equally impactful packages, such as joinery for kitchens, studies, or snugs, home cinemas, libraries, clever storage solutions, and home bars, require detailed design. Using innovative materials, different textures, and fittings, these bespoke elements bring a luxurious and unique character to your home.
I help by introducing you to leading specialists, advising them, and ensuring their work is coordinated with the broader project. My practical experience, programming expertise, and deep understanding of building processes ensure these packages are delivered to the highest standards and scheduled efficiently into your project programme.
Party Wall Arrangements
Party wall surveyors are essential for projects involving shared boundaries or structures. Under the Party Wall Act 1996, they ensure legal compliance and maintain good relationships with neighbours. Their expertise is required for building on boundary lines, altering shared walls, or excavating near neighbouring properties.
I’ll coordinate the necessary information to facilitate the serving of formal notices and manage to integrate the Party Wall Surveyor’s work into the overall design and pre-construction programme. By addressing party wall matters early in the process, we ensure everything progresses smoothly, compliance is maintained, and relationships with neighbours remain positive.
Cost Planning - Budget planning and minimising risk
Effective cost planning begins at the conceptual stage, with outline budgets providing an early understanding of project feasibility. As the design evolves, the budget is expanded to include technical design details, ensuring every element is accounted for and tracked.
By managing the design and budget hand-in-hand, we create a clear, realistic financial plan ready for contractors to price, leading to an agreed contract sum. This proactive approach reduces the risk of unexpected costs during the build, providing clarity and confidence throughout the project.
How I Project Manage the Design Team / Project Team
As your Project Manager, I’ll oversee the design team's selection, coordination, and integration. From briefing professionals to managing their progress within the agreed programme, I ensure everyone is aligned with the project’s goals. Weekly updates keep you informed, and my hands-on approach ensures that every detail is carefully managed.
Daily Telegraph Homebuilding & Renovating Awards 2022
-
Pre-Construction
Planning persmission had been granted when our client appointed us. We agreed a Pre-Construction programme to advance design introducing and co-ordinating a design team, specialists surveys, specialist design and fit packages. We introduced contractors through a tender process and agreed a build contract with a Principal Contractor for ground works, and the build. Specialist packages included Oak frame, timber trusses, air source heat pumps, glazing, wood flooring, kitchen and utility joinery.
-
Spirit of Self Build highly commended: Hill Top House
Project Managers - Oliver Steele-Perkins & Jonathan Boyle
-
Construction
Steele-Perkins project managed the build, co-ordinating the programme with specialist suppliers, liaising with the design team, managing contractors. We carried out Contract Administration, Building Control stage checks and final sign off, Structural Warranty management and sign off, project handover.
Contact Oliver
Building the right team is the first step in creating a home that reflects your vision.