BLACKAMOOR DEVELOPMENTS
Architectural Services
DESIGN | BUILD | EXTEND | MODIFY | ENHANCE
Experience Behind Blackamoor Developments
Blackamoor Developments takes its experience from a blend of three complimentary factors:
- A 35 year career in architecture
- A degree in building surveying
- Rounded and real-world construction knowledge
Previous Work
Blacka Moor Road - The Brief
Taking a very dated, old-fashioned existing property on a large, south-facing plot, the brief here was to create a contemporary living space with traditional ties. The clients wanted to respect the local feel yet produce a statement property with longevity in its appeal.
They wanted a family home first and foremost, with spacious rooms and areas for entertaining inside and outside. The clients also wanted to retain some character in the finished project citing that often new properties are just some square rooms and flat ceilings.
The Design
The design took all those elements of the brief and created a 3 metre frontage extension allowing the overall look of the property to be transformed; a complete roof removal to add a 3rd storey for extra accommodation, as well as extensive remodelling to create the desired interior layout. The design also included a total remodel of the rear of the property to create a large orangery with bi-fold doors, and a level patio with fire pit, pizza oven and barbecue.
Bringing Vision to Life
The external boundary treatments and surfacing were designed with complementary materials and reference points.
Finished Product
Blackamoor Developments' role in this project was comprehensive across every RIBA work stage from feasibility, initial designs, planning permissions, building regulations, approval, cost control, contractor selection, technical design and full project management/coordination through construction to client occupation.
Dore Road Case Study
Our Brief
Blackamoor Developments were appointed by the client during her initial stages of looking to purchase the beautiful (but neglected) coach house just off Dore Road.
Our brief was to inspect the property from a general viewpoint given its age and time on the market.
That inspection was very revealing. As well as being in a very poor state of repair internally with damp areas, unsafe wiring and inoperable heating, of much more concern was the non-compliant and (very unsafe) creation of a loft conversion by the previous owners. All the core elements of a compliant loft conversion, namely means of escape in a fire, fire separation, safe access and egress, proper insulation and ventilation, and structural integrity, had been disregarded.
This would explain why the agents had only marketed the property has a '2/3 bedroom'. In reality, it was a 2 bedroom.
Surveys, Feasibility and Purchase
Blackamoor Developments carried out detailed surveys to assess the implications, mainly from a headroom viewpoint, of creating a compliant 3rd storey bedroom and ensuite, and arranged budget costings.
The client used this to successfully negotiate overall sale price reductions.
It was then full speed ahead to prepare and submit a regularisation application to building control. For those that are not aware, this involves basically assessing what year the non-compliant work was installed and applying the regulations from that time (30 years ago in this instance!), not the current regulations.
Building Regulations and Construction
We successfully obtained retrospective building regulations approval and project managed the whole construction process including a new roof, new second floor, structural alterations, new staircase, new fire doors, new fire escape, plus complete rewire as well as remedial specialist for rising damp dry rot.
Little Norton Lane Case Study
Feeling settled in a lovely property set in a superb location, the clients really didn't want to move their young growing family. The existing layout of the house was constrained due to the existing conservatory suffering from the classic issues of too cold in the winter, too hot in the summer, and the kitchen/utility layout being too small and not set up for modern family living.
Blackamoor Developments designed a full width orangery with sliding doors onto the rear garden and structural alterations to the existing rear wall of the house allowing a square open plan kitchen/living/diner to be created and obtain planning permission for the work in summer 2025.
Blackamoor Developments then engaged in contractor negotiation to assist the client in getting the right builder for a price within budget. Private building control and structural consultants have been commissioned by Blackamoor Developments.
Works start on site in March 2026, finished photos to follow... watch this space!
Contact Us Today
Want to explore possibilities to modify your existing home? Or are you looking to buy, but not sure where to start? Give us a call or drop us a line to discuss!
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