Building - Plan software

[Freakuk]

Hi all,

I'm looking to build a new garage/home office on an existing plot (building to be removed) and the plot size increased. I've applied for planning and provided some crude diagrams of what I am looking to do. But they have come back and asked for some additional details including more detailed drawings etc.

I don't want to buy software if I don't need to and I am pretty proficient with stuff like Visio, but I use a Mac and Visio isn't available on Mac....

I need to calculate total height etc so a more detailed diagram is required to continue with the application.

Any ideas?

[Mr Pointy]

Engage an Architectural Technician to draw it for you?

[blueg33]

Mr Pointy said:

Engage an Architectural Technician to draw it for you?

This

Probably a similar cost, less risk of mistakes, someone to go to if there is a mistake.

[Freakuk]

You don't need detailed plans at this stage according to the planning office, so I have submitted my own... they could well get rejected and it wouldn't cost me anything other than my time (historically there have been some issues with planning).

So I am just looking for a simple/cheap solution that I can use to spare the expense of an architect at this stage, assuming provisional planning is agreed then I will be engaging an architect.

[RedWhiteMonkey]

What do you mean by provisional planning approval? That isn't a specific term in UK planning. Generally speaking, unless you've applied for outline planning consent you will need to provide detailed drawings of exactly how the development would look.

[Freakuk]

RedWhiteMonkey said:

What do you mean by provisional planning approval? That isn't a specific term in UK planning. Generally speaking, unless you've applied for outline planning consent you will need to provide detailed drawings of exactly how the development would look.

Maybe my terminology, I have submitted my crude drawings they have asked questions and asked for more details on the drawings submitted. I have 28 days to respond or my application is closed, so I need some software to create better plans that will support the questions raised.

[RedWhiteMonkey]

Freakuk said:

RedWhiteMonkey said:

What do you mean by provisional planning approval? That isn't a specific term in UK planning. Generally speaking, unless you've applied for outline planning consent you will need to provide detailed drawings of exactly how the development would look.

Maybe my terminology, I have submitted my crude drawings they have asked questions and asked for more details on the drawings submitted. I have 28 days to respond or my application is closed, so I need some software to create better plans that will support the questions raised.

What have you actually applied for? Was it a full application, a householder application or an outline application (you normally have to tick something on the application form)? Or have you just submitted a pre-application inquiry?

[RATATTAK]

You can get AutoCad LT (for a Mac or Windows) on a trial basis for 15 days from Autodesk. That will enable you to get some drawings done if you know what you're doing. It will then be £60 per month thereafter for however long you need it. If you are not already a competent user, you'll probably give up after 1 month.

[jrb43]

Sketchup will work for what you want and is free. However, like most software of this nature, it has a not insignificant learning curve. On your time scale, pencil and paper probably best?

[blueg33]

Op should do it properly in Revit

[The Three D Mucketeer]

I've used free QCAD a couple of times on Planning Applications without any problems ... a bit tiresome but if you do i properly it will pass ... Pisses me off having to pay for the OS location plans though .

[RedWhiteMonkey]

The Three D Mucketeer said:

Pisses me off having to pay for the OS location plans though .

Unless you have your own cartographer I'd say it was pretty reasonable having to pay to use someone's intellectual property.

[The Three D Mucketeer]

RedWhiteMonkey said:

The Three D Mucketeer said:

Pisses me off having to pay for the OS location plans though .

Unless you have your own cartographer I'd say it was pretty reasonable having to pay to use someone's intellectual property.

Because it's a Government owned Organisation ( albeit a PLc) that I'm already paying for by my taxes

[zbc]

I use HomeByMe which is easy to use for simple plans in 2D and 3D and allows you to pull off rendered images too

[RedWhiteMonkey]

The Three D Mucketeer said:

Because it's a Government owned Organisation ( albeit a PLc) that I'm already paying for by my taxes

Ordnance Survey is funded through the sale of its data, none of your tax money goes to them.

[bobtail4x4]

would you try doing your own dentistry?

its all well and good producing a pretty drawing, but will it be buildable?

its too easy to end up with a structure where the roof wont fit/walls in wrong places etc
and thats before it has to comply with any Regs

[blueg33]

bobtail4x4 said:

would you try doing your own dentistry?

its all well and good producing a pretty drawing, but will it be buildable?

its too easy to end up with a structure where the roof wont fit/walls in wrong places etc
and thats before it has to comply with any Regs

Plenty of architects do that.....................

Last week

Client - the timberfarme wall panel is the wrong size
Ops Director - it isn't
Techical manager - its built to the drawings
Architect - bugger


The week before
client - the MVHR ducting doesn't fit
tech manager - well we allowed for 60mm ducting as per architect spec
Architect - bugger

several years ago

site manager - we are setting out the site, but one of the houses doesn't fit
MD - bloody land team, got the boundaries wrong
land Director - no we didn't
Architect - bugger

[bobtail4x4]

I often got people start work on a building notice,
asking about a plan was told "its all passed I have planning"
roof tiles at 12 degrees to get under a window,
120% of the floor area as wall glazing plus rooflights well over the 25% allowed
one gable wall 10m wide other side 12m wide etc etc

[48Valves]

blueg33 said:

Op should do it properly in Revit

Good luck with that. Even proper Architects can’t produce decent models with it.

Back in the day. I had a great side hustle knocking out planning drawings from Revit for extensions. It was so easy with a couple of templates. Change a few dims, update some notes. Kerching.