MWS Design are a small company based in Market Harborough in the UK. We offer a variety of services to companies and individuals in the East Midlands of the UK. MWS Design work in various fields loosely based around design and drafting.

 ARCHITECTURE

This is the core work of MWS Design. Generally taking commissions for architectural design for mainly domestic and some commercial projects. Projects are taken from initial concept to completed building. Most of our work is small domestic building work from small extensions to developments of two or three new houses.

Concept Design

MWS Design undertake site visits, feasibility reports and site appraisals. We try to give user-friendly assistance and advice (the first consultation is always free). This initial consultation allows clients to assess project implications and practicability at an early stage. We can then produce sketch schemes and outline proposals for preliminary meetings with Planning Officers

Planning

In the UK most new buildings need Planning Approval. This deals with what a building looks like, where it is positioned and how it affects it neighbours and surroundings.

There are various different approvals dependant upon the type of building work and where it is proposed. (Outline Consents, Change of Use, Full Approval, Conservation Area Consents, Advertisements and Listed Building Applications). We prepare and submit all types of applications

Some work is exempt from Planning Approval, notably some small extension on the rear of houses and bungalows. This is known as permitted development. We will advise if a client's proposal may be exempt or may be adjusted to simplify the Planning process.

Proposals are designed and submitted to the local council for approval. The planning process is a mixture of official requirements and personal appraisal by council planning officers. This usually takes about two months and will sometimes require some negotiations to achieve all or the majority of a client’s requirement and still satisfy the planning department.

(Harborough District Council, Kettering Borough Council, Corby Borough Council, Rutland County Council)

Building Regulations

In addition to Planning Approval most building work also needs Building Regulations Approval. This deals with the detailed construction of buildings. The regulations control how buildings are built to ensure the health and safety of people in buildings is safeguarded.

The Building Regulations deals with many aspects of construction chiefly categorised as the Structural Stability, Resistance to Water and Weather, Energy Conservation, Access requirements to Office, Shops, Factories and Public Buildings. The local council also generally oversees these regulations.

MWS Design produce detailed design proposals including Construction Design, Simple Structural Design and Heat Loss Calculations.

On-site Work

The majority of our clients do not require this service, but we do give this additional service to some of my clients that do not feel altogether happy dealing with Building Contractors and getting a project off the ground. We can offer any level of service from an inspection of the work to full project co-ordination. This will invariably be tailored to a particular clients requirement.

Visualisation

Where project require MWS Design also produce projectl visualisation. Mark Shrive has been working on building visualisation since 1992 when he began using CAD (Computer Aided Design) in the form of AutoCAD v2.6 and a Unix based package called SONATA. He has since worked on many projects using many systems from AutoCAD of various incarnations to 3D Studio Max.

Most of this work has been in the form of animation, edited and titled, and laid to VHS for client viewing. But also as photomontages blending computer generated visuals into photos.

 CONTACT

MWS Design
4 Hillside Road
Market Harborough
Leics
LE16 7PG
UK

Phone(01858) 432901

Fax (01858) 440916

E-mail sales@mwsdesign.co.uk

Please e-mail us with questions and comments about this web site - or just to say hello!

Last modified: September 8, 2003

Note: Please remember that the information regarding the UK Planning Laws and Building Regulations are given for guidance only. If you need to know more about how these might affect you please contact your local council or MWS Design.