Jim wrote:
Rob wrote:
I'm in the process of getting plans together for a small (3m x 1m) two
storey extension. I've had all the plans done, and the architect's just
sent off the building regs application to the LA.

I've just had a letter from an engineer, sent on the architect's
invitation, quoting £450 plus VAT and expenses to specify the
foundations. I hadn't expected this - I'd sort of assumed it was
included in the architect's £1000 fee. Anyway, just have to be done I
suppose, but is the fee about right?

We have just had foundations put in for a two storey extension and the
question of foundation depth was answered by our groundwork contractors
in conjunction with the building inspector without involving any type of
engineer at all. But we're in a nice ground conditions and it's a
conventional house.

Do you have a non-conventional design or difficult ground conditions?
(where are you?)

FWIW our structural engineer charges 60 + VAT per hour, so that's a lot
of calculations you're talking about.

I should add, if you're going for full plans building regs approval, one
approach is to just wait for the building inspector to come back with
their comments: either the plans have enough information for them to
pass or they haven't - they will ask for the calculations they need and
there's no point having them done on the offchance.