New Builds
A new build is a brand new dwelling, such as a house on a garden plot, a replacement dwelling, or a small apartment block. AVA Home Design takes new builds across London and the Home Counties from feasibility and concept design through full planning permission and building-regulations drawings, including the supporting reports a council asks for.
A new build is the most ambitious project we take on, and the one where early feasibility work matters most. Before anyone commits, we appraise what a plot can realistically take and what the council is likely to accept, so the budget goes into a scheme that can actually be approved.
We design new dwellings that add value and respect their street, manage the supporting reports a council requires, and follow the application through to decision. We have won appeals for clients where the planning inspector described the design as "an example of a good design".
Types
- Garden or infill plot
- A new house on part of a garden or a gap in the street. Turns on access, privacy, parking and the character of the area.
- Replacement dwelling
- Demolishing an existing house and building a larger or better one in its place, assessed against the original and the plot.
- Backland development
- A dwelling behind existing houses, where access and overlooking are the key tests.
- Small apartment block
- A modest block of flats, addressing unit mix, amenity, parking and minimum space standards.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I build a house in my garden?
- Building a separate house on part of a garden, or a backland plot, needs full planning permission and turns on access, privacy, parking, the character of the street and the impact on neighbours. We carry out a feasibility appraisal first, so you know the realistic chance of approval before committing money to a full design.
- What is a replacement dwelling?
- A replacement dwelling means demolishing an existing house and building a new one in its place. It needs full planning permission, and the council assesses the new size against the original, the plot and the street. We design replacements that add value while staying within what the council will realistically accept.
- How long does a new build take to get permission?
- A full planning application is usually decided in 8 to 13 weeks after validation, longer for larger schemes or where reports on flood risk, ecology, trees or transport are required. We manage those reports and the officer dialogue, and where an application is refused we advise on revision or appeal.
- Do I need building regulations as well as planning?
- Yes. Planning permission decides whether you can build; building regulations decide how. A new build needs full building-regulations drawings covering structure, insulation, fire safety, drainage and ventilation, plus an overheating assessment under Part O. We produce both the planning and the technical packages.