back to listings SME Profile: FORM GB Ltd

Form GB

66B Cromwell Road
London
SW19 8NA

T: +44 (0)20 8404 0726   /   07982 911 136

E: design@formgb.co.uk

W: www.formgb.co.uk

 

About Us

We offer a bespoke architectural and project management service which streamlines the process for our Clients from concept through to completion and beyond with solid aftercare.

We differ from most practices as we approach the project from a development, architectural and construction industry viewpoint, having several years of experience working in each of those fields. Therefore, we are in a unique position of being able to offer insight into the processes involved within each, saving considerable amounts of work, time and fees by working only alongside trusted associates and industry leaders that can be suited to any size project. Our expertise lies in high end residential architectural services for private development and refurbishment, ideally placing us to help our Clients achieve their dream homes no matter the size. Not only can we undertake a full architectural service but also have many trusted practices with whom we partner and can resource from including interior designers and small to medium sized architectural firms.

We work with and not against the contractor and find that this positive pressure means our projects finish on time and on budget. For smaller projects we know local smaller builders whom we can project manage throughout the build to ensure quality and workmanship. When undertaking larger work we project manage and provide contract management services on the highest specification residential projects throughout London and the South West to ensure that all elements of work have been carefully considered and vetted to protect your investment.

Our vast experience covers the entire market from small extensions and refurbishments of terraced houses to Grade Listed Conservation Area town houses in London’s most prestigious boroughs as well as £7 million luxury private residential developments in the suburban parts of London.

Whether your needs are epic or small you can trust us to look after you and your property.

  • 20 years experience in the London prime residential market.
  • Excellent local knowledge, good ties with small builders and large contractors, engineers, party wall surveyors and other consultants.
  • All encompassing service which can be tailored perfectly to each clients needs, we will do our best to advise you as to what is necessary and what is recommended for each project.
  • Streamlined service, stripping out any unnecessary admin with a design and build ethic and direct communication with contractors to offer the best possible build value.

Services

FEASIBILITY AND INITIAL DESIGN

We have helped many Clients get the most out of their properties. We show early in the project what is possible with the property you own or are looking to own and can advise on expected budgets for the options presented in order for you to gain the most from your investment.

PLANNING CONSULTATION AND APPLICATION

Our extensive knowledge of local planning laws allows us to quickly advise you where we think your project may encounter difficulties. There are unfortunately some things that will not be allowed, none the less we have never been thwarted even in the most austere situations where we have had to retain facades in order to get planning for a Clients dream home. We know the planners, we know how they think and we know what they will accept and what they will not. We can represent you at appeals or resubmit your plans for projects that you have previously had rejected if we feel that you have a chance and have often successfully been granted planning where others have been rejected. We have also achieved planning approvals for Clients who have commenced their build without approval, just see our testimonials.

So whatever your problem please consult us, perhaps there is another way…

PROJECT SPECIFICATION / DESIGN DEVELOPEMENT

Having worked with some of London's top high end residential architectural practices and interior designers, we have a wealth of knowledge about how to make a home. We always encourage the use of interior designers but we can also guide you through the process, providing you with schedules for finishes that need to be considered in order to complete your home and can either point you in the right direction to allow you to spread your design wings or be there with you for every decision.

It’s not just the finishes that matter. The structure and services of the building must be fully considered. The good news is you can leave it all to us, we will take your brief and design your services so that your home is well insulated, warm, beautifully lit with customisable low energy lighting and most importantly structurally sound so that it will last for generations. We undertake full lighting and electrical design and specification as well as basic mechanical services design to include drainage of foul and surface water systems and primary hot and cold water supplies.

We can go further still and incorporate the latest green technologies into your house to help drive down running costs and offset your CO2 footprint, if this is you then we would love to hear from you and have the opportunity to help you realise your green home, we have already built developments to Code for Sustainable Homes Level 4 and above so we know Green…

TENDER PACKAGE PREPARATION AND ANALYSIS

You have a design that you love but how much is it going to cost and who will build it? We can help.

We consult with one of our specialist Quantity Surveyor associates to prepare an in-depth budget and cost plan as well measured pricing documents or on smaller projects offer an in house service producing Schedules of Work documents for builders to be able to price on a level playing field. Once the prices are received back we can analyse the returns and ensure that each is priced correctly and account for any discrepancies so that you can see a true cost from each of the tendering contractors. We interview each tenderer and visit their works to determine who we feel are the best placed to achieve the quality required within the timescales and budgets available.

PROJECT CO-ORDINATION AND MANAGEMENT

We act as your lead consultant throughout the build.

This means you only need to come to us and we will cover everything else. Smaller projects require less time and we find fortnightly site visits usually enough. On larger projects we co-ordinate all the separate contracts together, we will ensure the Engineer is issuing the Contractor everything they need to build, we will ensure the interior designer meets their design targets so that your project does not become delayed because of long lead items, we make sure that your Joinery firm are looked after on site and co-ordinate them with the main contractor. We engage your consultants such as the party wall surveyor to make sure that your neighbours have no reason to halt the works and we ensure all planning conditions are signed off.

We make sure the builder has all the information they needs on time so that they can not claim delays and to ensure the efficient and timely delivery of our projects.

BUILDING CONTROL

We know buildings and how they should be built. In fact we are one of four practices recommended by the Wandsworth LABC (Local Authority Building Control).

We engage Building Control from an early stage, especially on larger projects and have very good relations with the LABC and several approved inspector firms. We make sure that the building meets the latest acceptable standards as set out under the Building Regulations or where we can we better them. We submit our plans early so that we dont miss anything and we work with the Building Control Officers to ensure the building is properly detailed and built inline with the details and specifications produced by us giving you the reassurance that the building is correctly and soundly built to the latest safety and wellbeing standards.

SNAGGING AND QUALITY CONTROL

We have gained a reputation in South West and Central London for our exceedingly high-end finishing standards.

We understand that there is a quality versus cost parallel however we do not accept poor finishes under any circumstances. We will not accept poor plumbing or partially working electrics and incomplete and buggy AV systems. We are here to make sure your home works as it should and looks its best. We personally walkthrough each of our projects prior to completion, checking everything in excruciating detail and establishing lists of all incomplete or defective works. We then issue these lists to the contractor to allow them the chance to put right. We have had many moans and groans to these lists but once completed not once have the contractors said that the little extra effort wasn't worth it in the end.

We feel that our Clients are certainly worth the extra effort. We are proud of our work and happy in the knowledge that our Clients receive exceptionally well detailed and executed work.

AFTERCARE AND DEFECTS

Goodbyes are always sad, though after having undergone a large refurbishment many of our Clients are happy to have their home back to themselves at last, and we like to keep it that way.

We stay out of your way but are always just a phone call away. We won’t leave you without heating and hot water or not knowing how to make the underfloor heating warmer and personally meet with you to hand over and re-run through services handovers. Buildings are like living things, they breathe and move, things can and do go wrong at times, but rest assured that we understand the systems that we have specified and installed and can advise you on how to make them work and in most cases offer fixes on the spot. Where we cannot find an immediate solution we can place calls to the manufacturers and installers and organise a rapid response repair where required.

We are here to help, we designed your home and we know how it works, so why call anyone else?

TURN KEY SOLUTIONS

For those who just want the house and don’t want the hassle we offer a turn key service.

You take us to the property, set the brief and the budget and we will do the rest, that's right, all of it, leaving you to relax. We will show you progress on your project via monthly reports from the concept stages all the way through to the build showing you key stages of your project and at the end organise the logistics for your move. We will then invite you for the key date, this is they day you can turn the key to your new home, finished, furnished, cleaned and we can even mood set it for when you come home with aromatherapy and your bar stocked with your favourite drinks. We personally take you on a tour of the house and its services and hand over the garage fob before we say good bye and leave you in a property of the utmost quality and delivered in an impeccable manner.

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