For community organisations · North London
What drawings do we need for a building grant or funding bid?
Clear drawings, visuals and design information that help community and sports organisations make grant and funding bids for new buildings.
Reviewed by Dor Cohen, RIBA Chartered Architect, ARB Registered
Funding-ready proposals in short
Most funders want to see a clear need, a credible design, an indication of cost and evidence the scheme can get planning. A concept design with plans, 3D visuals and an area schedule usually covers this. We prepare funding-ready packages at Stage 2 that you can reuse for planning later, so nothing is wasted.
Who it's for
- Sports clubs and charities applying for grants
- Community groups preparing capital bids
- Trusts consulting members before fundraising
What we deliver, stage by stage
Stage 0–1
Brief, need and site review so the bid tells a clear story.
Stage 2
Concept design and clear visuals your committee, members and funders can understand.
Stage 3
Planning application, including consultation with the bodies that usually have a say on your type of building.
Stage 4+
Technical drawings and tender support, so the budget you raised matches what gets built.
Planning and regulations that apply
General guidance only. Rules change and every site is different, so we confirm what applies to yours.
- Planning certaintySome funders ask whether planning permission is in place or likely. A pre-application response can strengthen a bid.
- Cost confidenceArea schedules let a cost consultant give an early estimate funders trust.
Local planning knowledge
Funding-ready proposals across North London and South Hertfordshire
Every council reads the national rules through its own guidance. Here's what usually matters in the boroughs we work in.
Barnet
Barnet Residential Design Guidance SPD
Barnet has many community, faith and sports facilities in residential streets, so neighbour amenity, parking and noise are usually the key planning tests.
Camden
Camden Planning Guidance: Home Improvements
Camden values community uses and resists their loss, which helps proposals that keep or improve facilities on site.
Brent
Brent Residential Extensions and Alterations SPD
Brent supports new and improved community facilities where they are accessible and don't harm neighbours.
Haringey
Haringey Local Plan and conservation area appraisals
Haringey looks for community buildings that serve local need and are well connected by public transport.
Harrow
Harrow Residential Design Guide SPD
Harrow supports community facilities that meet local need, with Green Belt policy affecting sites on its northern edge.
Hertsmere
Hertsmere Local Plan and Green Belt policy
Sports and community buildings in the Green Belt can be acceptable when they support outdoor recreation and stay modest in scale.
Is your site in a conservation area?
Enter your full address to check conservation areas, listed buildings, Article 4, Green Belt and flood zones before you design anything.
Check your address
Common risks and how we handle them
- Bids based on unbuildable designsConcepts are tested against policy and constraints before visuals are made.
- Paying twice for drawingsStage 2 work carries straight into the planning application.
Related
Questions
Everything you need to know about working with DOR Architects.
No, but we provide the drawings, visuals and design narrative that go into it.
Yes. The same visuals help members, neighbours and funders understand the scheme.
Before you set a fundraising target, so it reflects a realistic building.
Send us a WhatsApp message with your organisation and aims.
Yes. We're based in Golders Green, North West London, and work on funding-ready proposals across Barnet, Camden, Brent, Haringey, Harrow and South Hertfordshire. Each council has its own design guidance, which we check for your site from the start.
Use our free conservation area and site checker. Enter the full address and it checks conservation areas, listed buildings, Article 4 directions, Green Belt and flood zones, then explains what each means.
Councils aim to decide minor applications within 8 weeks and major applications within 13 weeks of validation. Pre-application advice beforehand usually adds a few weeks but reduces risk.
Tell us about your site
Send us a WhatsApp message with the address and your aims. We'll reply with next steps.