R Elliott Associates Ltd

REA Ltd have extensive experience of working with heritage and listed properties across a wide range of different building types, including country houses, churches, and cottages. We work regularly with historic buildings of different construction such as brick, stone and cob, as seen in the diverse range of buildings in the New Forest area and beyond. Our aim is to conserve and enhance our built heritage for future generations and help owners and those responsible for historic and listed buildings.

We work with special attention and care when working with heritage buildings, providing our clients with expertise and technical advice for both heritage planning applications, repairs and renovation, and work proactively with Conservation and Planning Officers. Whilst the historic environment is a complex subject, managed by a range of planning legislation and planning policies, we have a good understanding of local and national conservation guidelines, ensuring that our work aligns with the standards required in this field.
As each historic building is unique, we tailor our services to the specific needs and requirements of each project.

Our IHBC and RICS conservation accredited staff would be pleased to advise on extensions, alterations, defects and repairs, and can guide your project through the appropriate stages, such as Listed Building Consent.
If you are planning a renovation or repair to your listed or heritage property and need consultancy and guidance, please get in touch.

REA Ltd’s seasoned team of engineers and designers can boast years of experience in creating steel structures designed to stand the test of time. From initial concept to design completion, we are dedicated to providing the best and optimal solutions for your project, whether it is a single beam or a steel-framed building.
We use integrated space-frame analysis to allow all the structural components of the building to be assessed together, ensuring the maximum benefit from load-sharing systems are derived resulting in the most economic member size.
As no two projects are alike, neither are our solutions, and we understand the unique requirements of each project and customize our steel designs accordingly. Whether you are a householder, commercial client, or architect, we believe in a collaborative design process, working closely with you to understand your goals and preferences.
Our involvement across many projects over the years has given us a breadth of experience including:
• Simple beams and columns
• Portal frames
• Steel frame buildings
• Connections
• Platforms / mezzanine floors
• Staircases
• New build houses
If you have a project that requires structural steel design, whether conventional or one-off, get in touch with us to discuss how we can help you with this.

Timber elements are used in the majority of buildings due to its strength and versatility as a construction material, and it can be used for many different applications. Since it is such an important material, timber frame and SIP (Structural Insulated Panel) design are integral facets of REA Ltd’s structural design services.
We are able to accommodate timber structures from virtually any sector, residential, commercial and industrial using up to date 3D and 2D analysis and design to benefit your project.
Our main use of timber frame is for domestic alterations and new construction, whether it’s a complete new build with load bearing stud walls and large trussed roofs, or a basic elements such as floor joists & rafters. R Elliott Associates regularly use timber for its cost effectiveness in domestic construction.
Alternatively, the use of SIP panels can lead to quicker construction timelines with off-site preparation leading to reduced time on-site in construction. SIPs enable faster, streamlined building processes, particularly for new-build properties, saving you time and money without compromising quality.
Both timber frame and SIPs offer eco-friendly construction, reducing waste and minimizing environmental impact. As sustainable building practices are the future, the use of renewable materials is an important part of this.
Typical uses for timber include:
• SIP installations
• Roofs - Rafters, purlins, binders, ridges
• Dormers - Pitched and flat roof
• Joists - Floor and ceiling
• Beams and columns
• Load bearing stud walls
Let us know if you have a project that has structural timber elements and we will discuss this with you to see how we can help you with this.

The challenge of a new build house is a big undertaking and has many different stages and hurdles to consider. As new-build designers, REA Ltd have helped realise our clients’ ambitions for their proposed dwelling, whether it be in a modern or traditional style, and whether it is a forest cottage, an urban town house, or something larger.
As each client is unique, so is their dream home. We'll work closely with you to create a personalized design that suits your lifestyle and preferences and we value your input and feedback throughout the design process.
Our experienced and passionate team have a deep understanding of design principles, local planning rules, building regulations, and construction practices. If you’re looking to self-build your own home, we are here to help you through the process, from initial concept to full design, planning permission, building regulations approval, and beyond if required.
Our 3D CAD images can also help clients visualise the building as well as providing planners and the general public with another means of appreciating the proposal during a planning application.
We stay updated with the latest architectural trends and technologies to provide you with modern solutions that are both functional and visually stunning, and we also look to incorporate sustainable design practices where possible, using eco-friendly elements to reduce your carbon footprint and lower your energy costs.

Building regulations refer to the minimum standards for how a building is constructed. The regulations are developed by the UK government and approved by Parliament. They are complex and far-reaching, but essentially make sure that building or alteration work completed achieves or betters minimum standards of safety and energy efficiency. Some aspects that they cover include: thermal insulation, roof construction details, foundation types, and wall build-ups.
Once planning permission has been granted, we may need to finalise the technical specifications of your project by preparing building regulation drawings for a building control application. The Building Regulations process is different from Planning Permission, but is most likely to be required as well, as approval is often needed before undertaking construction of, or changes to, buildings. Besides ensuring that your work has been carried out in accordance with the Building Regulations, the approval documents will also be needed when selling the property.
REA Ltd can prepare the Building Regulations detailed drawings and specifications required for your project as required for approval by Building Control, whether this is the local authority or a private inspector. We also help with work that involves a listed building and more complex applications are required to protect the character of the building.
Most projects will require a structural design (also known as structural calculations) to be submitted as part of the building control application. We can prepare the structural design report for your project as part of our combined Building Regulations and Structural Design package
The Building Regulations drawings and Structural Design calculations are also useful for obtaining quotes from builders for your works, which helps with planning and budgeting for the construction stage of the project.

If you have a particular defect or affected area that you are concerned about, whether it is a crack or something else, our engineering and surveying team can help you with this. Often, another surveyor will recommend further investigation (particularly if their firm do not have engineers as part of the team), or it may be an issue relating to roof and chimney defects or bowing walls, for example, that you have noticed on your property.

We will carry out a site visit and provide a report stating our diagnosis and recommendations for remedial works as appropriate. Our localised survey will focus on the relevant area and our report will provide a diagnosis of the building defect and provide appropriate recommendations for remedial works.

If the recommendations require design work to be undertaken to remediate the problem, we can offer a full service, including design and calculations for remedial works on supporting structures.

Examples of specific defects that we can assist with:
• Subsidence investigation - Cracking or bowing of walls or beams; suspected instability or movement of walls or floors (subsidence)
• Issues with specific aspects of the building or alterations, such as wall removals and loft conversions
• Roofing defects
• Chimney defects, or structural assessment prior to chimney breast removal
• Steel beam corrosion assessment
• Issues with brickwork quality
• Problems with supporting structures such as beams.

REA Ltd are experienced in providing planning services and regularly submit planning applications to Local Planning Authorities including New Forest District Council, New Forest National Park Authority, BCP Council, as well as others.
The range of planning applications that we prepare include:
• ‘Pre-application advice’ – informal advice provided by the council prior to a formal application
• ‘Householder planning’ – residential planning for new dwellings, extensions, etc
• ‘Full planning’ - for flats, commercial and industrial units, change of use, etc
• ‘Prior Approval’ - e.g. for larger home extensions
• ‘Approval of Reserved Matters’ – provision of details for discharging conditions
• ‘Lawful Development Certificate’ for Permitted Development works

Projects that have characteristics such as listed buildings, conservation areas, green belt, SSSI or other designations, will often require further reports or documents for the application.
To help meet these various requirements, we can prepare additional documents, such as Design and Access statements, Heritage statements, 1:10 drawing details, Construction Environmental Management Plans, in support of the application.
Where projects require the assistance of other professionals for input on ecology, trees, ground investigation, piling, fire, etc, we frequently work with local consultants to ensure the necessary information is provided.
Once an application is submitted, we monitor the process to make sure it runs smoothly until a final decision is made by the local authority. Where any conditions need discharging, we are happy to help with this or advise accordingly.

Concrete is used widely across all construction sectors and our team at REA Ltd have a broad experience in providing designs for residential, commercial, and industrial projects using this popular material. Working with our own architectural team or other architects and professionals, we collaborate throughout the design process to ensure a successful and well-integrated concrete structure.
Our designs comply with Eurocodes and Building Regulations, and include load analysis of dead loads (permanent) live loads (temporary) and other applicable forces, as well as structural analysis to check applied loads, and appropriate reinforcement that is based on tensile strength, durability, and corrosion resistance. This all helps us to choose an appropriate concrete mix based on the structural requirements, environmental conditions, and desired performance characteristics.
Although there are many different ways in which concrete can be used, some typical applications that we regularly encounter are:
• Pad foundations
• Retaining walls
• Beams and Columns
• Ground bearing slabs
• Raft foundation, piled raft foundations
• Concrete stair design

The surveys that REA Ltd provide comprise an inspection of properties that are usually being considered for purchase but can be carried out on any domestic dwelling. We look at a wide range of different aspects, including how the property is constructed, defects & deficiencies identified in the construction, and the cause of these and the required remedies, and maintenance issues and recommendations, so all key elements of the building fabric are covered.

The client friendly report that we provide is written in understandable prose and lists colour-coded condition ratings for the defects and maintenance matters. The report is written so that the defects are considered in relation to all the adjacent building elements, rather than split out into different sections, so that the cause and effect arising from any issues can be understood in context. The report is illustrated with photos for further clarity to help identify any issues and the location of these.

If you have a particular defect, or affected area, and are looking for diagnosis instead of a full building survey, we can help with this too. Our localised survey will focus on the relevant area and our report will provide a diagnosis of the building defects and provide appropriate recommendations for remedial works.

Drainage design can be provided as part of a project or as a stand-alone entity for both surface and foul water. We offer drainage support for your project from feasibility through to construction, whether in support of planning applications or simply due diligence.
Projects range from a simple connection to an existing network up to new residential drainage or flood attenuation measures in the form of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SUDs). SUDs can include measures such as infiltration is feasible, swales, filter strips and soakaways, which can make a significant reduction in attenuation requirements where infiltration is feasible, or alternatively, and where appropriate, discharge to a watercourse can provide a readymade disposal solution.
We are proficient at providing private drainage design to national standards and building control satisfaction, and our designs are prepared so they are compliant with the requirements of Building Regulations and NHBC Technical Guidance as appropriate. This service can include obtaining the necessary consents from bodies such as Southern Water, and any Building Regulations consents as applicable.