Self-build home: Prepare a detailed design
Introduction.
In this stage, we attribute design activities to ‘designers’. These may be architects and engineers, a design and build contractor, or a kit house supplier. If a kit house supplier is only supplying the house itself, additional design consultants may be required.
The detailed design process takes on and develops the agreed concept design. By the end of the detailed design stage the design should describe all the main components of the building and how they fit together, but the works will not yet have been defined in packages to obtain prices for construction. Detailed design should provide sufficient information to make building regulations applications.
The designer should co-ordinate consultations about the functional aspects of the detailed design with the self builder and should also co-ordinate consultations with the building control body. This may result in amendments to the design.
An elemental cost plan and cash flow projection should be prepared.
During the detailed design stage the designers may require input from the suppliers of goods and services that will be used in the construction of the building. It is important to ensure that pricing and contract conditions have been settled with these companies before any commitment to use their services is made, or it should be made clear that there is no commitment to use them for construction.
The designer will co-ordinate the incorporation of designs by specialist suppliers or contractors into the overall design and will source necessary samples of materials, components and assemblies for approval by the self builder. It may be appropriate to arrange visits to the specialist contractors' and suppliers’ premises to assess samples or mock-ups and to witness tests.
At the end of the stage, the designer should submit a full set of project drawings, specifications and a cost plan to the self builder for comment and approval before progressing to the next stage. For a full description of the aspects of design that might be developed during this stage, see Detailed design.
NB where the proposed development affects a party wall or party structure, it may be appropriate to issue party wall notices and to appoint party wall surveyors at this stage.
Featured articles and news
Plumbing and heating for sustainability in new properties
Technical Engineer runs through changes in regulations, innovations in materials, and product systems.
Awareness of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism
What CBAM is and what to do about it.
The new towns and strategic environmental assessments
12 locations of the New Towns Taskforce reduced to 7 within the new towns draft programme and open consultation.
Buildings that changed the future of architecture. Book review.
The Sustainability Pathfinder© Handbook
Built environment agency launches free Pathfinder© tool to help businesses progress sustainability strategies.
Government outcome to the late payment consultation, ECA reacts.
IHBC 2025 Gus Astley Student Award winners
Work on the role of hewing in UK historic conservation a win for Jack Parker of Oxford Brookes University.
Future Homes Building Standards and plug-in solar
Parts F and L amendments, the availability of solar panels and industry responses.
How later living housing can help solve the housing crisis
Unlocking homes, unlocking lives.
Preparing safety case reports for HRBs under the BSA
A new practical guide to preparing structural inputs for safety cases and safety case reports published by IStructE.
Male construction workers and prostate cancer
CIOB and Prostate Cancer UK encourage awareness of prostate cancer risks, and what to do about it.
The changed R&D tax landscape for Architects
Specialist gives a recap on tax changes for Research and Development, via the ACA newsletter.
Structured product data as a competitive advantage
NBS explain why accessible product data that works across digital systems is key.
Welsh retrofit workforce assessment
Welsh Government report confirms Wales faces major electrical skills shortage, warns ECA.
A now architectural practice looks back at its concept project for a sustainable oceanic settlement 25 years on.
Copyright and Artificial Intelligence
Government report and back track on copyright opt out for AI training but no clear preferred alternative as yet.
Embedding AI tools into architectural education
Beyond the render: LMU share how student led research is shaping the future of visualisation workflows.
Why document control still fails UK construction projects
A Chartered Quantity Surveyor explains what needs to change and how.
Inspiration for a new 2026 wave of Irish construction professionals.
New planning reforms and Warm Homes Bill
Take centre stage at UK Construction Week London.