Reg. Office address:
W Sutherland riba
Chartered Architect
WS Architecture Ltd
Rydal Road
Ambleside
LA22 9BA

Co. No. 4678713

Tel 015394 34489

If you cannot find information on a particular topic please use this and I will do my best to answer any queries.

My practice is based in Ambleside, that's the village with the Bridge House (NT)

Much of my work involves altering old buildings or creating new buildings in traditional styles... such as this Listed Building conversion in Ambleside...

Listed barn conversion, Coniston...

Retail conversion, Grasmere...

House remodelling, Ambleside...

New house, near Coniston...

Barn conversion, near Windermere...

Cottage extension, near Hawkshead...

Outbuilding, near Hawkshead...

Cottage remodelling, Coniston...

Office conversion, Elterwater...

or just a porch, Ambleside...

and occasionally something a bit more minimalist, Ambleside...

• Do I need Planning Permission?... Almost Certainly! ..
  See Park Issues page.
  Look here for frequently asked questions about Planning in the National Park
  
• Building Inspector or Planning Officer..who does what?...
  See Technical Issues
• Already got your Planning Permission?...
  See Pause for thought here

• Curious about Computer Aided Design?...
  See Beginner's Guide to CAD
  
  

• Government's new National Policy Framework March 2012 - yes, the one that has been in the news
• LDNPA current policies links to documents May 2012
• Neighbourhood Planning - government guide to the proposed changes to the planning system involving localis
• LDNPA website page on Listed Buildings
• Site Waste Management Plans Regulation 2008 - from April 6th 2008 for construction projects over £300k
  - Smartwaste free software tools
  
• CDM Regulations Link to HSE site on Construction (Design and Management) Health & Safety Regulations
  with FREE leaflets
• Asbestos Surveys - free guide from HSE
• Gas Safety - Landlord's guide - HSE website
• Fire Safety - the new Fire Portal following the demise of Fire Certificates on 1st October 2006
• Fire Documents from Government relating to above
  
• Building Regulations latest documents
• Sprinklers/water mist systems in domestic buildings report from Building Research Establishment listed along with other matters related to review of Part B of the Building Regulations
  
• Party Wall Act Link to Government online booklet
  
• Equality Act Guidance Disability Rights
  
• HELM Historic Environment Local Management - English Heritage site aimed at Local Authorities
• Historic Scotland Technical Papers - excellent resource on the latest thinking on among other issues damp in solid walls and real World U-values
• PPS5 (March 2010) - planning for historic environment - free PDF download (superseded, for reference)
• PPS practice guide from English Heritage Now requires registration on EH website (May 2012)
  
• Images of England - English Heritage searchable database of images of Listed Buildings in England with the actual listing included (not exhaustive)
  
• Environment Agency for flood risk area maps
  
• Dept. for Communities and Local Government - PPS25 on Development in Flood Risk areas
• Environmental Permitting Regulations 2010 - 6th April 2010 onwards - implications for septic tank and treatment plants - Env Agency website guidance
  
• Customs website page for downloading guide on reduced rate and exemption from VAT on residential construction project
  Quick Customs Guide on construction vat rates
  
• Tree Preservation Orders - 2012
  
• Government Householders guide to planning
  Permitted development rights changed on 1st October 2008. August 2010 detailed guidance pdf
  
• Planning Policy Statement 3: Housing (PPS 3) - relates to Government policy on housing, including affordable rural housing
• Taylor Review on Rural Economy and Affordable Housing (October 2008) - direct download link to pdf of review.
• Are you at risk of radioactive Radon gas? - check here - latest maps and/or order postcode check online for £3.35. Implications for Building Regulations applications and protection measures.
• Indicative Atlas of Radon in England and Wales (pdf)
• Building Research Establishment (BRE) revised maps and guidance on Radon [November 2008]
  
• Community Infrastructure Levy to come in by Spring 2009 - government guidance
  
• Construction Occupational Health Management Essentials (COHME for short) new (Feb 08) HSE website tool to inform Designers and everyone involved in CDM and H&S at work
• The Association for Environment Conscious Building AECB
• Code for Sustainable Homes Technical Guide (March 2010 end of latest consultation) - includes download link to 2009 v2 of technical guide (foot of page)
• Energy Saving Trust - non-profit organisation website with useful links and information on energy saving
• Carbon Trust - set up by UK government - site with useful links regarding reducing carbon emissions
• Greenbook live - Building Research Establishment green specification guide online
• Greenspec - green specification guidance site
• Code for sustainable homes - UK government site
• energy4all - non-profit organisation expert in community-owned renewable energy schemes
• Biomass Energy website - government information site giving information on all aspects of biomass energy installations
• SPAB - society for the protection of ancient buildings
• STBA - sustainable traditional buildings alliance
• UBT - usable buildings trust - (the most amusing serious information site around :-)
• BIM (Building Information Modelling?) - What is COBie? Article by NBS' Dr Stephen Hamil on Government requirement for use of BIM on projects
• BIM Demystified - book by Steve Race - one of the few people who knows what they are talking about on this subject
  
  

Architecture Ltd