lounge extension, planning approval.

pete1975

we do i start,   i need some help.  first time extension people.   i have had drawings and also structural drawings and we have planning permission.   ive since started to look at builders using a site not sure if i can mention it, but you post a job up and builders contact you.  had around 5 come round and waiting on some quotes for some.  
one builder came round,  he is easy to talk to and nothing is any trouble,  he has about 5 reviews on the site and they are good.   he did say he can start straight away, mentioned this to someone at work and they cause some doubt in my head, basically said a good builder never sits around,  how come they can start your job straight away,  like literally in the next week or two.

there is a manhole in the front of the proposed extension, we lifted the cover and there is several pipe outlets, i flushed the toilets and no water so i believe it to be rainwater not sewers.   builder said ring water company which is anglia and they said lift manlid cover if it has several pipes then it will be shared and will probably require a build over agreement.   i need to find someone to do a survey on the drains and i guess i will have to go back to the water company.   

i came home and thought i will do a bit more googling and on the gov website , company fillings,  it shows the following
why would a company have a compulsory strike off?

13 Jun 2023

First Gazette notice for compulsory strike-off

14 Jun 2023

Compulsory strike-off action has been discontinued

there have been fillings since then

27 Jun 2024

Micro company accounts made up to 30 November 2023

thanks,  we are completely overwhelmed by it all if im honest.   


also someone said i need to get building regs drawings,  who do employ to do them? and what do they cover that the plans and structural drawings dont.

thanks to all

maman

I can't comment on the pipework but we recently had an extension built. It did involve moving a manhole but that was all part of the planning. 

We employed the architect who did our drawings to project manage and he tendered for builders etc. We chose him because he'd recently done the same for a neighbour's house and we'd noted the quality and efficiency of that work. All went smoothly.

If possible I'd ask around in your street (we have a residents' website) for word of mouth recommendations for builders. 

Doozergirl

Strike off would be for bot completing your annual confirmation statement in time. 

A lot of these people are builders, first and foremost, not administrators.  That isn't really a sign of anything. 

If you want a builder that has been properly vetted via background checks, and had their work inspected, then the only organisation doing that is the FMB.  They are a not for profit and reject around 20% of applications - the drive is for quality, not charging for leads.  

Your builder will also have access to a decent contract and you will have the free mediation service if anything does go wrong.  

www.fmb.org.uk 

Building Regulations drawings detail exactly how the extension will be built to meet the planning regulations.  They are more detailed than the plans required to obtain Planning Permission.  

FreeBear

pete1975 said: one builder came round,  he is easy to talk to and nothing is any trouble,  he has about 5 reviews on the site and they are good.   he did say he can start straight away, mentioned this to someone at work and they cause some doubt in my head, basically said a good builder never sits around,  how come they can start your job straight away,  like literally in the next week or two.

Any decent builder will have no need to use a checkatrade type platform to find work. Most will have work booked in for the next six months, if not longer. Whilst you might find someone that can make a start next week, they could be bouncing between a stack of projects, and you'd only see them for a few hours at a time. Time scales will grow longer, and you could still be waiting for completion this time next year.

Ask your architect for recommendations and any friends or work colleagues that have had work done recently. And certainly follow Doozergirl's advice regarding FMB membership. 

SadieO

FreeBear said:

pete1975 said: one builder came round,  he is easy to talk to and nothing is any trouble,  he has about 5 reviews on the site and they are good.   he did say he can start straight away, mentioned this to someone at work and they cause some doubt in my head, basically said a good builder never sits around,  how come they can start your job straight away,  like literally in the next week or two.

Any decent builder will have no need to use a checkatrade type platform to find work. Most will have work booked in for the next six months, if not longer. Whilst you might find someone that can make a start next week, they could be bouncing between a stack of projects, and you'd only see them for a few hours at a time. Time scales will grow longer, and you could still be waiting for completion this time next year.

We're having an extension done at the moment and we first spoke to our builder at the end of 2023. He was booked until November 2024. He's now booked up for the rest of this year. He doesn't even advertise, all his work (25+ years in the business) comes from word of mouth and repeat custom. 

OP, you'd be better off trying to get a personal recommendation, can you ask at work or friends of friends? Frustrating as it is to have to wait, as @FreeBear says, having to wait because builders have got months of work lined up is a good sign.