Stages of Development
1. FEASIBILITY - establishing What, where, how
There are four key outputs of this stage:
1. Find a suitable site
2. Collectively decides what you want to build - the idea
3. Raise a small amount of money to get started - seed-funding
4. Establish your legal structure & governance
2. PLANNING - idea to design & getting Permission
The focus of this stage is to secure your site and turn your idea into a design. This stage runs until you submit a planning application or build order.
During this stage we help you to find a design team and secure funding to employ them. It's often best if the team are employed directly by you but we manage the team on your behalf and ensure they listen to you and turn your vision into a concept design.
The output will be a site, a design supported by your community and an idea of how much the project will cost. You will now have enough money to get through the next stage - procurement.
4. construction - getting it built
3. PROCUREMENT - GETTing a builder
A stage often overlooked during fundraising, occasional referred to as pre-construction. It starts once permission to build is submitted or secured (depending on your attitude towards risk). We help you to understand the risks and options.
During this stage the team will develop the important design details. We can help you to identify what's important to you and we can start a competitive tender process to find you a builder (Contractor). Depending on your preferred procurement route you might work with the contractor to develop these designs - again this will depend on your attitude towards risk.
At the end of this stage you will have planning permission & Section 106 & 278 Agreement, a detailed design and an agreed price from a preferred contractor. You will have secured all the funding required to see the project through to practical completion.
This starts once you have signed the contract agreeing a fixed price. The stage can also include enabling works.
During this stage your Detailed Design is turned into construction drawings and is built. We monitor the construction for you to ensure it is built in accordance with your vision. The contractor will need to discharge any planning conditions.
If you are holding onto the completed project you will need to put in place your management and maintenance regime.
You may also need to put in place long-term finance.
5. occupation - keys in hand
This is from the point at which the contract reaches practical completion. This is the point at which you get the keys to your beautiful new homes.