Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to Common Architecture, Planning & Construction Questions

At Lime, we provide a complete architectural and project management service — from property finding and feasibility studies to planning applications, cost plans, skilled trades and ongoing maintenance. This FAQ page answers common questions about design timelines, planning regulations, construction costs and how we deliver projects up to 40% faster.

Q. How quickly can we get to site with Lime in comparison to working with an architect only?

At Lime, we can offer you the following – an approach that gets you on site 40%
quicker by mobilising immediately after submission to the planners, using
the time they are determining their approval to provide a confirmed contract
cost and the relevant design information.

Total to get to site: 6-9months (this is assuming no delays and best-case scenario throughout)

Q. What about competitive tender – how do I know I am getting the best price for construction?

We know that we can deliver your construction at a cost of up to 20% less than the traditional route. How do we know this? Because we have been delivering projects via the traditional route for decades, and we therefore know what the order of savings to you can be, both in terms of minimising variations to the design, minimising fees for revisions to the architectural information and the delays that both of these causes to site works – all the while ensuring the highest quality finish you expect.

We encourage you to go out and find quotes from other firms, as we are confident we will beat them in price and in quality.

Q. What’s so different about Lime compared to an architecture practice?

Lime integrates the full range of consultant expertise required for the construction phase of a project right from the beginning. This allows us to streamline the process of developing architectural design by integrating construction expertise and cost analysis into each stage of development.

The traditional route with an architect normally only allows you to receive a confirmed cost for the construction right before you want to mobilise onto site works. The outcome of this approach is that you will have gone through all the design development up to this point without a clear idea of cost – and what happens more often than not is that when you do receive confirmation of the construction cost at this late stage in the process, it dawns on you that the designs you have developed are well above your desired budget. You are then faced with having to redesign and value engineer to meet your budget. This is incredibly inefficient and fundamentally frustrating as a client.

By integrating our construction expertise from the beginning, we are able to continually evaluate the implied construction cost with you as we progress through the design development process. This also means that by the time you have submitted your designs to the planners for permission to undertake the works, not only do we provide you with a worst case scenario maximum cost against the designs, but it also means that we can move swiftly through the next stage of technical detailed construction level information production far more efficiently – only producing the information and details we know we will need, and doing so with certainty that these details can be built in the most cost-effective way and won’t require endless revisions once we begin works on site. So, we can mobilise to site much more quickly and efficiently, reducing the time required significantly and cutting design production costs substantially too. This can mean saving several months in the overall project programme, and avoids delays once on site too. 

Onsite 40% quicker, and resultant construction cost savings of up to 20% when compared to the traditional route.

Q. I’ve started my project with another architect, but I’d like to explore the Lime approach – can I?

In short, yes! 

We prefer to work with clients from the outset of their project, as this is how we can guarantee the savings in time and cost that are our USP. However, we are here to help you no matter what stage your project is at, even if you have been working with another architect.

We will carefully appraise your project to discuss with you the merits of moving this over to us. If you are still at the early stages of concept design development now is a great opportunity for you to speak with us as you likely can still benefit from the savings we can bring to your project. If you have already achieved planning permission with a design, this may mean a more disruptive intervention in the process of your project, but we will be clear and honest about that and if it doesn’t look like there is a benefit for you bringing your project online with us we will tell you this. We will always work in your best interests, even if that means your project staying with another architect.

Q. I own a listed building, what are my options?

Lime Director of Architecture Jim is an accredited RIBA Conservation Architect with extensive experience of working with historic and grade listed buildings. 

Grade listed buildings are considered heritage assets of national significance. This means that there are constraints when making changes to them compared to non grade listed buildings. However, this doesn’t mean that change can’t happen. It simply means that any proposed change must be sensitively justified to the local authority conservation officer (CO), and for Grade II* and Grade I listed buildings, to Historic England as well.

Jim will talk with you about your listed building home and needs and will come up with a thorough and strategic plan of action.