About

How we started.

Design Build Developments was is a company formed in 2003 originally as the build arm of a property development project. The founder and Managing Director of Design Build Developments, Ivor Crandon, has been involved in construction since 1979. He studied Civil Engineering for 5 years with the Greater London Council. He obtained his structural qualifications at Westminster College obtaining ONC and HNC in Civil Engineering before embarking on a post graduate course in structures and highway engineering in 1985, obtaining a Diploma in the subject.

Following the disbanding of the G.L.C. in 1986, Ivor joined a small Architectural practice obtaining ‘top up’ academia relevant to residential construction as opposed to structures. He was an Architectural Technician for three years with a company named John Smith Associates. In 1988 he formed his own Architectural Practice employing two Architects and dealing with small residential and commercial developments.

Following the recession of 1990 Ivor formed a building company called Design Build UK Ltd and ran it for 10 years culminating in a contract to build ‘The Rest Zone’ substructure in The Dome. The company was sold shortly after this. In 2003 he established the company now known as Design Build Developments Ltd, for which he has worked for since.

How we can Help.

Since the development company was formed in 2003, the expertise obtained throughout his career has enabled Ivor to incorporate the many activities that he has been involved in and oversee them in the business plan of the company. This knowledge is of immense importance to an end user.

As a building contractor through the 1990's Ivor realised that the role between end user and building contractor, normally adopted by a proffessional such as an Architect, is often an expensive route for an end user in the small build market, especially when The Architect's fees are in excess of 10% of the build budget. Also the employment of an Architect before the build costs have been budgeted (estimated) can lead to a project being shelved or vastly altered post obtaining planning and building regulations simply because the end user realises that they cannot afford to build the design.

The many strings to Design Build Developments mean that there aren't many aspects of development that we cant be involved in, although we prefer to build out our own projects ourselves, we can always agree to oversee end user projects and source a reputable local builder on their behalf.

For an overview of the type of activities we can help you with click here