Chapter 1: Receiving the brief | Training by Recept Heritage

Heritage Design Risk for Architects0% complete · about 56 min left

1. Receiving the brief

Page 1 of 6 · Client enquiry received

Project moment

A homeowner has asked for a fee proposal for alterations to The Old Vicarage, a house they bought last year. Their enquiry describes a rear extension, ground-floor alterations, energy improvements and window work. They identify the house as Grade II listed, refer to a detached former coach house and boundary wall, and explain that records of earlier work are incomplete.

The client’s information is enough to begin a heritage review. It is not enough to define the heritage position, consent route or scope of advice.

Your task

Decide whether the client enquiry is enough to trigger a Heritage Record review, and identify the most useful first entry.

Use the Project Material on the right, then answer below. →Use the Project Material above, then answer below.

Subject: Request for proposal — alterations to The Old Vicarage, Ashcombe
Dear [Architect’s name],
We are looking for an architect to help us plan alterations to The Old Vicarage, Church Lane, Ashcombe, which we bought last year. We understand that the house is Grade II listed and would like advice on what may be possible, as well as a proposal for taking the project forward.
The main aim is to create a more useful kitchen and family space at the back of the house. We are considering a modest rear extension and some changes to the existing ground-floor rooms. We would also like to improve insulation, heating and ventilation, and review the existing windows, several of which are in poor condition.
We are also thinking about improving access to the garden. There is an old brick wall along Church Lane and a detached former coach house at the bottom of the garden. We are not proposing to alter the coach house immediately, but may want to consider it in future.
The previous owners carried out some work, including changes to the kitchen and windows, but we do not have a full set of drawings or approvals. We have attached the sales details, photographs and the information we received when we bought the house.
We would be grateful if you could let us know what information you would need in order to provide a fee proposal, and your likely availability and timescales. We would ideally like work to begin next spring, if possible.
Kind regards,
[Client name]

Available after you record your initial view

How each page works

Read the project moment - where the Old Vicarage project has got to.
Read your task, then check the Project Material. The client’s enquiry is already open for you.
Choose the answer you think is strongest. Any answer is fine - each one gets its own feedback explaining the reasoning.
Read the further analysis - a worked example and, where useful, a comparison.
Add the worked position to your Heritage Record. It opens in the Heritage Record tab and builds up chapter by chapter - it is what you take away from the course. Whichever answer you chose, the record holds the strongest position, as shown in the feedback.

Your initial view

What is the most useful first Heritage Record position in response to this brief?

Record what needs verifying: the current listing record, the approval records for earlier work, and the status of the coach house and boundary wall before work to them is assumed.No further heritage entry is needed at this stage. The client has identified the house as listed, so the architect can address heritage matters when developing the application.Record that listed building consent will be required for the extension, internal changes, window work and boundary-wall alterations.Require a full heritage impact assessment before providing a fee proposal, so that the scope can be priced on a complete understanding of the building.

1. Receiving the brief, page 1 of 6: Client enquiry received

1Project moment

Decide whether the client enquiry is enough to trigger a Heritage Record review, and identify the most useful first entry.

3Your initial view

Project moment

Your initial view