Kevin’s Luxury Kitchen Extension for His 1930’s semi in Surbiton – May 2020
Kevin’s iPlans Experience - in his own words
We have been living in our current house for over 30 years, building an attic extension to provide two extra bedrooms about 28 years ago. The kitchen had always been cramped with a working floor space of about 10 X 4 feet. Too small for more than one person to work at a time, with very limited storage and worktop space.
Over the course of time, we moved our washing machine, dryer, rarely used utensils and non-perishable items to the garage, using it as a sort of utility room. This was inconvenient but workable.Last year we decided to extend our kitchen, incorporating the dining room.
In September we made a prior approval application which was refused by Kingston Council in November. It was apparent that the council would deal with subsequent applications at the outer limits of the time allotted by statutory regulations.
Something, that had delayed a similar extension build conducted by my son during the previous year.I was resigned to a long drawn out process, whilst talking to my son about the anticipated problems, he suggested that I use iPlans as he had been advised they were efficient and reliable
I made contact and I think within two days Anthony Bray had visited me, discussed my plans and offered me useful advice. Within seven days of the initial contact the plans were drawn and the planning application was submitted. We then waited for a response from the council, which consisted of a mistyped letter! Luckily, they informed you, with the statutory date for a decision, so I settled down to wait until mid- January.
A few days before that date a representative arrived took a few photos and left. He was unable/unwilling to discuss anything. I had at my initial interview with Anthony, so decided to use a private inspection company, something I hadn’t previously known existed. So I began the process of using the company recommended by iPlans.
My builder was unable to start the work until the last week in February. He planned to complete all the outside work prior the demolishing the old kitchen. He did not need access to any other part of the house until about three weeks into the job. I had chosen this company, as over twenty years previously, he had built an extension for a friend and I could find no negative comments about his work or his team on the internet, but many positives.
It rained every day for the first three weeks but only half a day was lost to the weather.
In mid-March the coronavirus lockdown began, this resulted in a ‘panic’ part delivery from the kitchen suppliers, which left my dining room floor to ceiling with boxes.
I had agreed with the builder that as there had been no physical contact with his workers and none was anticipated they could continue (They had brought their own toilet). Materials were hard to find but he managed.
Building inspections ceased to be personal but continued via the internet. I asked the builder if the inspection regime was satisfactory and he said yes. The building work was finished within the original time quoted of eight weeks.
The kitchen fitting was delayed as the delivery was not complete, and the company was in lockdown and uncontactable until two weeks ago. It is now fitted. Everything is now completed with the exception of a new skirting board and furnishing both, awaiting the opening of the relevant stores
To sum up: - iPlans were outstanding in the speed and efficiency they dealt with the whole matter, the building inspectors equally so.
“iPlans were outstanding in the speed and efficiency they dealt with the whole matter”