The Planning System

The lecture in week 4 which taught by Sam Moorwood was about the planning system in United Kingdom. Throughout the lecture, I am able to understand about the planning system and the related acts and regulations to be apply in the development of a construction project. The planning system is different compare with the planning system in Malaysia. The regulation that used in United Kingdom is Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and Malaysia is using Town and Country Planning Act 1976 (Malaysia). Both of these acts are imposed in the legal planning framework. (Please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2)

Figure 1: The planning system – United Kingdom (MILT, 2014)

Figure 2: The planning system – Malaysia (academia.edu, 2014)

During the lecture, Sam Moorwood had taught us that how to obtain information from the Sheffield City Council website. This able to help me on finding information for the assignment and the information will be more accurate. The information that I can find in the website are proposal map, Sheffield City Policies and Sheffield Core Strategy. Moreover, the information that I can obtained from the website such as the zone and usage of land, requirement for the planning permission, conservation regulatory framework and restriction on development. All of these information had help me in finalizing the type of development to be constructed for the proposed land and also the regulations and requirements to be imposed for the development.

Figure 3: Sheffield City Council (Sheffield City Council, 2014)

Through this lecture, I had learn on how to manage the information and decision making as stipulated under the CIOB competencies frameworks. As there are some information which available in the Sheffield City Council website are not relevant to the development. Therefore, I had learn that we shall eliminate some unrelated information so that we can make a correct decision by understanding and utilize all the information adequately. 

Please feel free visit my padlet wall about proposal development of MATILDA STREET =D
http://padlet.com/yeewen92/matildastreet

Site and Location Analysis

Throughout the lecture in week 3 which taught by Tim Jones, I have learned that what factors that needed to be considered for the development. In addition, such task have been done before in the previous college which I need to propose a development and think what factors that should be included and considered in the development. The challenging part of this task is that it is different compare with the previous one as we need to redevelop a building and relate it with the construction regulations and culture in United Kingdom. There are some new factors that needed to be considered which I had learned during the lecture are referring to the old maps to consider the past uses of the buildings and the presence of wildlife as there is strict enforcement in the actions to be carried out. The new knowledge may improve my experience for the involvement in the initiation stage of the development through the consideration the factors.

In addition, Tim Jones mentioned that we shall focus on the intended final building that we had plan to complete for the assignment then think about what problems will be associated during the development to complete the intended final building. This principle will be useful and it can be apply in the future when there are any problems associated in the work and life. Moreover, it can prevent me from too focus on the existing problems of the building such as the defects of the building and the problems that I will be face in the process of completing the final intended building. 

Please feel free visit my padlet wall about proposal development of MATILDA STREET =D
http://padlet.com/yeewen92/matildastreet

Site Inspection - Matilda Street

Matilda Street 

On 10th June 2014, I have assigned to carry out a site visit to Matilda Street in order to prepare a proposal of development. This inspection was carried out with my group-mates and it was lead by Mr. Dave Weatherall. It just needed 5 minutes walking distance from Sheffield Hallam University Main Campus. The usage of the subject property is for storage and it was unoccupied during the inspection. Mr. Dave Weatherall had distribute equipment (measuring tape and laser tape measure) in order to help us for the inspection. The building consist of 3 levels which the ground floor is used for storage, first floor is empty and second floor is more like for office usage when we having our inspection on that day. The shape of the site is more likely a rectangular shape and there are some spaces around the building which is for car parking.

The exterior condition and environment of the building was acceptable and didn't found out much problem on it. During the inspection, we found out that the entrance of the building was narrow which was inconvenient to access and the interior of the building was placed with many furniture which caused the spaces of the ground floor pack and difficult to walk around for inspection. The interior of the building was found that in a bad condition which there are visible cracking on the wall and ceiling. In addition, in the building also found out that the fire escape staircase was made by wood and the staircase in the building was cover with carpet which were inappropriate used of materials. Moreover, the carpet of the staircase found that was tear off which is very dangerous if fire disaster happen. Photos below shown that the condition of the ground floor.

Ground Floor 

Staircase - Carpet tear off

The second floor of the building was empty and found out that there are some visible crack on the wall. There are also some mould and fungus found on the brick wall and the wiring was placed disorderly. Photos below shown that the condition of the first floor.

Cracking - Wall

Mould and Fungus on brick wall

Wiring placed disorderly

The third floor of the building is more likely for the office spaces. The condition of third floor was bad because we found out that there were a lot of mould on the ceiling and wall, ceiling fallen, deterioration of ceiling and wall cracking. Photos below shown that the condition of the third floor. 

Ceiling fallen

Mould on the ceiling

Deterioration of ceiling

Wall cracking

ceiling fallen - causes cement fall all over the floor

mould and fungus found on the ceiling and wall

The inspection was carried out by observing and investigating the current condition of the building. Besides that, we also measured the size of the building and determine the usage of the building in order to prepare the proposal of development in the future.