The cost of converting upper floors to Residential will be critical in terms of development viability, and there are obviosly many factors which will need to be taken into account. We would be able to provide an initial assessment which would be able to provide in basic terms how viable the scheme is, before the appointment or expenditure on any architects or other professionals. Working out from Day 1 as to whether a scheme will work, taking into account the state and nature of the building, other works, and fit out costs is the first step, which Ferriby are able to provide at no cost to yourself.

The question "Do I need Listed Building Consent?" is a common one. Basically any material change to a building which is listed will need Planning and Listed Building Consent. As such it is extremely likey that any internal alterations will require consent. With a Grade II* listed building where we were involved the only aspect that made a residential scheme viable was the creation of a single doorway. Clear sighted realisation of the practical issues from the beginning is therefore critical: if too many works are required or the Conservation Officer is alienated, consent could well be refused. Ferriby Design and Constuction Ltd have considerable experience of dealing with such situations.

If you own a property with vacant upper floors or ancillary accommodation to retail, the question as to whether you would need planning permission to convert Upper Floors can be daunting. In certain instances consent for one or two flats would normally be deemed. However change of use may well still be required. Larger schemes will almost certainly require planning consent. Understanding the process and issues can be complicated - we can help.

Choosing and running a project can be daunting. If you have concerns regarding choosing builders for the works, Ferriby Design and Construction Ltd can help with all appointments of the necessary professionals, including the builders. We will then actively manage the development with as many site meetings as are necessary. Keeping on top of a refurbishment is vital in being able to adapt and spot problems at an early stage, and is critical in terms of effective cost management.

If you own listed or problem properties and want advice as to how to convert a listed property to flats, Ferriby Design and Construction Ltd  have extensive experience of dealing with listed buildings (Grade 2 and Grade 2*, as well as properties in Conservation areas). With a listed building, often it is only one or two critical elements that make the difference between a viable scheme or not. Realisation of this from Day 1 is crucial from the all important initial meetings with the Conservation and Planning Officers. We are able to provide practical advice as to what is achievable in planning terms and how that relates to whether such a scheme would be viable in terms of cost and end sales from an early stage.

If you are looking how to convert the upper floors of a property or find out if you can, Ferriby Design and Construction Ltd have the practical experience to deal with all aspects of the development from the initial assessment through to the obtaining of the necessary planning or building regulation consents to the appointment of builders, and other contractors and to the fit out of the flat units through to the subsequent sales. In all a complete and practical hands-on development service.

If you have no money to convert upper floors, or finance is an issue, Ferriby Design and Construction Ltd are able to provide solutions. Every situation tends to be different: our case studies provide three separate situations, however we find that each situation tends to require a tailored response. We have carried out schemes where we have provided the finance in its entirety, we have joint ventured situations, sharing the cost of the development, and we have worked on various different profit share or fee arrangements. If project finance is not an issue but general assistance in advising and running the project is an option, we offer our practical and all encompassing project management services for a fee from beginning to end.

If you have concerns regarding the quality and standard fit out for new flats, Ferriby Design and Construction Ltd will be able to provide advice based on practical experience, taking into account cost and end user requirements.   These aspects can be critical and practical advice in terms of such basics from day one is essential in terms of being able to create the right sort of end product to be able to sell effectively. In addition we source our own kitchens and bathrooms, amongst other aspects which has considerable cost savings.

The question as to when you would need to appoint architects varies. We would initially assess and be able to provide input as to what is practical in terms of the size of the property, and the number of apartments/flats that can practically be provided in terms of the space available and the practical aspects of a conversion. Such an assessment will give a good idea as to whether the scheme is viable in terms of firstly planning and secondly whether there is an end market, and at what level, for any flats that are to be created. The appointment of the right architects, with a clear brief and instructions is important and our experience with dealing with such situations is condsiderable.