What type of drawings do you have?
"Drawings" can mean very different things, and the type you hold changes how ready you are for a builder quote. The most common confusion is between planning drawings and building-regulations (technical) drawings — they do different jobs.
Planning drawings are about what the building will look like and where it sits: floor plans, elevations and a site plan, drawn to show the local authority the design is acceptable. They usually do not contain the construction detail a builder needs to price labour and materials accurately.
Building-regulations drawings (sometimes called technical or construction drawings) go further. They show how the structure is actually built — foundations, wall build-ups, insulation, drainage, beam positions and connection details. These are the drawings a builder really wants in front of them.
If you're unsure which you hold, our plain-English guide on planning vs building-regulations drawings breaks down the difference and what each set typically includes.
Structural calculations and a clear specification
Two things turn a nice-looking plan into something a builder can price with confidence: structural calculations and a written specification.
Structural calculations (and the structural engineer's details that go with them) tell the builder exactly what steel beams, lintels or load-bearing changes are needed. Without them, a builder is either guessing or pricing in a generous allowance to cover the unknown — which inflates your quote.
A specification is the written list of what's actually being installed: the type of windows, the floor finish, the kitchen budget, the heating arrangement, the standard of fittings. Drawings rarely capture all of this on their own.
Planning and building-control status
Knowing where your project stands with the council is just as important as the drawings themselves. A builder will want to know whether you're cleared to start.
Ask yourself: has planning permission been granted, is it still needed, or does the work fall under permitted development? And separately, has building control been engaged, or is that still to come? Planning and building regulations are two different approvals — passing one does not cover the other.
If any of this is unclear, that's normal — but it's a conversation for your designer, a planning professional or your local authority rather than your builder. We don't give planning advice, and you shouldn't rely on a builder to confirm whether your project is approved.
Drawing pack readiness checklist
- You know whether your drawings are planning, building-regulations, or both
- Floor plans, elevations and a site/location plan are all present
- Drawings show a scale and are clearly dated
- Structural calculations and engineer's details are included (if steelwork or load-bearing changes are involved)
- A written specification or schedule of finishes exists, even a rough one
- Planning status is known: granted, not required, or under permitted development
- Building-control status is known: approved, in progress, or still to arrange
- Any conditions attached to a planning approval are noted
What to send WV Construction
When you're ready for a price, sending a complete package up front means fewer back-and-forth emails and a quicker, sharper quote. Here's what's genuinely useful for us to review your build scope.
- Your full drawing set as PDFs — plans, elevations, sections and the site plan
- Structural calculations and engineer's drawings, if you have them
- Any written specification, schedule of works or finishes list
- Planning reference number and decision notice, if relevant
- A short note on what you want included and excluded (for example, kitchen supply, decoration, landscaping)
- Recent photos of the existing space and access notes — driveway width, parking, side-access restrictions
- Your rough timescale and any fixed dates you're working towards
The simplest way to get this to us is via our already have drawings route, where we review the build scope, or our dedicated builder quote from drawings page. Both are built for exactly this situation.
Got your plans ready? Send them over and we'll review the build scope for your Wirral or Liverpool project.
Red flags a builder may need more information
Sometimes a pack looks complete but a builder will still come back with questions. Spotting these gaps early lets you fill them before quoting, so your prices stay firm rather than caveated.
- Planning drawings only — no construction detail, so foundations, beams and build-ups aren't specified
- No structural calculations where walls are being removed or large openings formed
- No specification — finishes, fittings and quality levels are left entirely open
- Missing dimensions or no scale on the drawings
- Old drawings that may not reflect the current property or current regulations
- Unresolved planning conditions that must be discharged before work starts
- No survey of the existing building, so the plans may not match reality on site
None of these mean your project can't proceed — they just mean a builder will quote with allowances and assumptions, which is less accurate than quoting from a complete pack.
If your drawings are incomplete
If the checks above have flagged gaps, you may need a designer to fill them before you go to quote. WV Construction is a building contractor, not a design service, so we don't produce planning or building-regulations drawings ourselves.
One useful external resource for homeowners across Wirral is SC Design Wirral, an independent architectural design and drawing service. According to their public website at the time of writing, they offer extension, loft and garage drawings, planning and building-regulations drawings, measured surveys, and builder quotation packs — the kind of pack designed to make pricing straightforward. You can visit SC Design Wirral to see what they cover, and our overview of SC Design Wirral explains where their service may help.
A well-prepared builder quotation pack brings drawings, structural information and a clear specification together so that every builder quotes on the same basis. That's the single biggest thing you can do to get accurate, comparable prices.
- Do you have construction-level detail? If you only hold planning drawings, you may need building-regulations drawings before pricing — see planning vs building-regs.
- Are structural changes involved? If walls are coming out, you'll likely need calculations from a structural engineer; a design service can arrange these.
- Is your pack ready? If yes, send it straight to us for a residential extension or other build review.
What this guide does not replace
This guide helps you sense-check a drawing pack before requesting a quote — it does not replace professional design, structural or planning advice. WV Construction is a building contractor and does not produce drawings, confirm buildability, or advise on whether planning permission or permitted-development rights apply. For planning and building-regulations questions, check with your designer, a planning professional or your local authority. Always confirm your project's approval status before work begins.How this fits WV Construction’s process
WV Construction works only across CH and L postcodes (Wirral and Liverpool), so when you send drawings we focus purely on the build scope for your specific project. We review what you hold, flag anything that's missing for an accurate price, and tell you plainly if a designer needs to fill a gap first.
If your pack is ready, the quickest start is our already have drawings route. If you're planning an extension, our residential extensions page explains how we work from your plans through to a finished build.
Common questions
Which drawing types should I check I have?
Look for two kinds: planning drawings (design, layout and elevations for council approval) and building-regulations or technical drawings (the construction detail a builder prices and builds from). Most extensions and structural jobs need both. Our planning vs building-regs guide explains the difference.
What should I send with my drawings?
Send your full drawing set as PDFs, any structural calculations, a written specification or finishes list, your planning reference if relevant, recent photos of the space, access notes, and a short note on what to include or exclude. The already have drawings route walks you through it.
My drawings are old — are they still usable?
Possibly, but check carefully. Older drawings may not reflect the current property, recent changes you've made, or current building regulations. A measured survey of the existing building can confirm whether the plans still match reality before you quote. See measured surveys for where one helps.
How do I know if my pack has gaps?
A quick test: can a builder tell sizes, structure, build-up, finishes and what's in or out of scope from your documents alone? If you're filling in details by phone or email, the pack has gaps. A complete set answers those questions on paper before anyone prices it.
Will WV Construction draw the plans for me?
No — WV Construction is a building contractor, not a design service, so we don't produce planning or building-regulations drawings. If your pack has gaps, an independent design service such as SC Design Wirral may help, and we'll happily quote once your drawings are ready.
Written by WV Construction; details about SC Design Wirral and TailoredQuote reflect their public websites at the time of writing and may change.