Project process

WHAT WE DO

At NLPR, Design & Build isn’t just a service—it’s the cornerstone of our philosophy. Since the beginning, we have continuously refined and expanded our offerings to deliver excellence at every stage. Our diverse team offers a wide range of specialized skills spanning interiors, architecture, and construction, allowing us to provide a seamless concept-to-completion product.

We craft extraordinary living spaces that are thoughtfully designed and executed with precision to maximize contemporary living requirements. Each project is customized to reflect your unique style, budget, and personality, highlighting your individual tastes and design flair.

By taking responsibility for both design and construction, we eliminate the disconnect between concept and execution. As the contractors ourselves, we ensure that every design is grounded in feasibility and informed by a realistic understanding of costs, guaranteeing a smooth and successful project from start to finish.

TRADITIONAL MODEL

The traditional architect model adds myriad layers of cost, complexity and conflicting objectives, with no fixed point of contact or clear line of communication. The design often evolves with no real-time cost consideration or understanding of the buildability of the proposed scheme. This can result in delays, hidden costs, miscommunication and ultimately makes the construction more costly and stressful and takes longer to deliver.

DESIGN & BUILD

Having one clear point of contact & responsibility not only saves doubling up on fees but also saves time, by having all stakeholders feed back to the one central point of contact, supplemented by a clearly structured channel of communication between client and NLPR . Market costs and design feasibilities are continuously fed back into the design process, with all parties working towards a common goal.

DESIGN BRIEF & SURVEY

The initial step is for us to fully understand exactly what you want to achieve. We carefully listen to your requirements so that we can design a solution that fits within your budget. After an initial site visit, we prepare a detailed design fee proposal & initial consultation cost estimate. Upon instruction we conduct a full measured survey of the property.

DESIGN STAGE 1 – CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT

This conceptual stage is a very enjoyable and collaborative process where we work with you to refine the optimum layout for your needs. We offer a full architectural CAD drawing service supplemented by 3D visuals, from basic sketch up to detailed CGIs, to help you fully visualise the proposed scheme.

DESIGN STAGE 1 – PLANNING

Once the concepts are signed off, we submit the required planning or permitted development applications & manage the planning process during the statutory ten-week process. We pride ourselves on maintaining over a 90% success rate for planning applications & have successfully designed and submitted hundreds of complex planning schemes for London properties of every shape, scale and hue.

DESIGN STAGE 2 – CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS

In preparation for the tender pack we produce a detailed technical drawing package for construction & building control approval, integrating the structural engineer’s drawings and any other third party specialist information. We work with a handful of trusted third-party engineers who design and produce full structural drawings and calculations, and any construction method statements required. Typically this stage begins after planning permission is granted, however we can start this process earlier if we are reasonably confident of securing planning approval. Clients who are keen to start construction often decide it is worth the risk of proceeding with elements of this phase while awaiting planning permission approval.

PARTY WALL AWARDS

In most cases structural works will involve a party wall agreement. We will recommend a surveyor who will issue the relevant notices as early in the process as required. As this can be a long lead item we generally recommend starting this process as early as possible in the design phase.

DESIGN STAGE 2 – INTERIOR DESIGN

When you are spending significant sums on a project the finishes are crucial. We offer a full or hourly rate interior design service that seamlessly integrates with our architectural design process, to help you specify finishes, sanitaryware, colour schemes, fixtures & fittings as required.

NEGOTIATED TENDER & CONTRACTING

Whether we are pricing off our own tender pack or a third party we produce a fully itemised and costed scope of works, ensuring our prices remain as competitive and comprehensive as possible. We are transparent with our pricing and will work with you to cost engineer the final scheme as required to fit your budget. Once the construction package is agreed we issue a JCT or FBM contract and deposit invoice to secure the start date.

MEET THE TEAM

Prior to starting on site, we set you up on our project management software and introduce you to your project & site manager, your key contacts throughout the build. We use bespoke project management software to produce dynamic timelines, log meeting notes and upload progress pictures, keeping you fully updated through every step of the project. You can download our app via smartphone or tablet or simply log in on your desktop PC.

PRE-COMMENCEMENT

During pre-commencement we create a dynamic timeline that highlights key stages and client milestones and is then dynamically updated through the build to track any changes to the critical path. We also notify all relevant parties to satisfy statutory obligations, such as building control and other applications to relevant authorities.

THE BUILD

The site will be kept clean, tidy and fully compliant with Building Regulations and Health & Safety protocols throughout the build. Works will be carried out as efficiently as possible. Your project manager will meet you on site every week, with meeting notes and progress pictures updated every week, tracking each stage of the build. Payments received are documented so you have a reference point for managing your project cashflow, and any cost variations to the contract price are communicated and approved via the software.