2. preliminary enquiries

• In order to judge the feasibility of a project the architect or engineer should consult the local planning authority
• The intention of development plans is to balance business, residential and community needs and at the same time protect areas from the adverse effects of development
• The starting point for the local planning authority in considering any planning application will be the development plan
• The local planning authority will also be able to provide a water table, information on the liability to flooding and information on the nature of the subsoil
• A site visit at the beginning of each project is absolutely essential to understand the full scope of the job
• The house the Rowns are living in at the moment is a 3 bedroom semi
• The Rowns are thinking of something between 150 and 200 sqm
• American gallon


  Not equal to a British gallon
• American gallon


  3.785 litres
• British gallon


  4.546 litres
• Plot


  The piece of land intended for building purposes
• Plot


  • It undergoes changes during the development becoming first a construction site and then a property or estate
  • It may be developed which means all services (water, electricity and possibly gas) are provided, partially developed, or undeveloped with no services whatsoever
• Land register


  Contains information about the legal and economic status of all estates
• Standard ground value


  The square metre price according to area and possible usage
• Floor space index (FSI)


  Used to control the amount of construction in a certain area
• In the UK the site boundary is indicated in red, in Germany red is used to highlight the new construction whereas the site boundary is indicated in green
• Ordnance Survey


  The national mapping agency of Great Britain
• Considerations when making plans for a plot of land

  • Is there access to the plot?
  • What are the approximate dimensions of the plot?
  • Is the ground level or inclined?
  • If there are existing buildings, where are they positioned?
  • What about the orientation of the site?
  • Where does the sun rise and set in relation to the plot?
  • What are the general characteristics of the landscape, planting and trees?
  • Are there any buildings adjoining or overlooking the site?
  • What about services such as sewers, water, electricity, gas and communications?
  • Does the neighbourhood have special features that might affect the scheme?
• Survey


  The activity of taking measurements and performing levelling operations to ascertain the various levels of the ground
• Noun + noun collocations with 'survey'

  • Building surveyor
  • Land surveyor
  • Quantity surveyor
  • Surveying authority
  • Surveying vehicle
• Facsimile (fax)


  Faxes are employed for urgent matters which need to be transmitted and received the same day. Faxes are still ideal for sending sketches directly to the building site. In comparison to an email, a fax is immediately visible.