New Build

New build is the design and construction of a house from the ground up on a cleared or undeveloped plot. It suits private clients with a plot or a replacement-dwelling opportunity, and developers who want design, planning and construction handled under one appointment.

From plot to plan

Work begins with what the site allows: planning history, access, levels, ground conditions, trees, drainage and the character of what surrounds it. A replacement dwelling in a settled residential area is judged on massing and its effect on neighbours far more than on style, and it is cheaper to establish that at feasibility stage than after a refusal.

Performance built in

A new build is the one opportunity to get fabric performance right without compromise: airtightness, insulation continuity, glazing specification, ventilation and heat source resolved together rather than bolted on. These decisions are made at technical design, because they determine the structure and the services routes, not the decoration.

Programme shape

• Feasibility and concept — six to ten weeks
• Planning determination — typically eight to thirteen weeks for a full application in England, longer where consultation extends
• Technical design, building regulations and procurement — eight to twelve weeks
• Construction — generally twelve months or more for a substantial private house

Working with developers

For developers we can deliver design and build together, or take on construction of a scheme already designed by an appointed architect. Either way there is one accountable lead, one programme and written variation control.

Frequently asked questions

Do you build new houses from scratch?

Yes — AY Group delivers ground-up new build houses for private clients and developers, from feasibility and planning through to handover.

How long does a new build house take?

Allow roughly six to twelve months for design, planning and technical work, then generally twelve months or more on site for a substantial private house.

Can you take on a scheme an architect has already designed?

Yes — we regularly take on construction and turnkey delivery of a scheme designed by an appointed architect.