Services
At forma, we create thoughtfully designed homes, offering services from early concept ideas and planning applications to detailed 3D models and visualisations.
Following the RIBA Plan of Work, our process ensures a clear, structured journey from concept to completion. Whether you’re exploring options, preparing a planning application, or seeking high-quality visuals, we tailor our approach to your project.
See our testimonials to discover how we’ve helped others bring their homes to life.
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Design Stages, explained:
Stage 1: Preparation and Brief
We will meet via video to discuss your aspirations and create a brief that sets out everything you want to achieve. We’ll take time to understand how you use your current spaces – helping us identify opportunities to improve their function and flow. As part of this stage, we will also produce a preliminary set of drawings of the existing site and any buildings. To enable us to do this, we will ask you to procure a topographical and building survey. These drawings will act as a foundation to the subsequent stages.
Stage 2: Conceptual Design
At this stage, we use your brief as a guide to explore a range of design options and establish the overall direction of your project. The process begins with a series of sketch ideas that highlight key considerations, including layout and flow, views and sunlight, and scale and form. These sketches are then developed into more detailed plans and 3D models to help visualise and refine the design. You’ll be involved throughout the process, with video meetings to review ideas, share your thoughts, and help shape the concept.
Stage 3: Spatial Coordination
At this stage, we will finalise the design based on your feedback and ideas developed in previous stages, and submit a planning application to your Local Planning Authority. This typically includes a full set of drawings, along with a Design and Access Statement, which explains the design rationale, how the proposal responds to your brief, and how it fits with its context. Once submitted, the application will be publicly available, allowing neighbours and statutory consultees to comment and offer feedback.
Stage 4: Technical Design
At this stage, we prepare the detailed technical drawings needed for building regulations approval, which ensures your project meets national standards for safety, energy efficiency, and construction quality. These drawings show material build-ups and construction details required for the approval process. A structural engineer will need to be appointed separately by the client to provide input regarding the structure, and depending on the project, other consultants may also be required.
Once the drawings are submitted, building control may provide feedback, which will be incorporated until the drawings are approved. Once approved, the drawings can be sent to builders so they can provide accurate quotes for construction.
Thinking about a project or just have a question? We'd love to hear from you! Please feel free to get in touch via our contact page below.