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Drawing standard - elevations

Elevation drawings show what a building will look like from the outside.

In most cases, two separate sets of elevation drawings will be required:

  • ‘existing’ elevations - showing the building as it is now
  • ‘proposed’ elevations - showing how the building will look after work has been carried out

Elevations should show or indicate:

  • a scale bar or a measured dimension
  • a scale of 1:100 or 1:50
  • whether the plan is existing and proposed
  • every elevation of the building, e.g. front, side(s) and rear and state the direction in which each elevation faces, e.g. rear (south)
  • for extensions to existing buildings - show every elevation of the proposed development in situ with each relevant elevation of the existing building
  • the whole of any existing building to be altered/extended so that the relationship of the new building/extension to the existing can be clearly seen
  • outline elevations of other buildings that are close to the development. For example, a side extension close to neighbouring dwelling
  • the property boundary
  • the colour and type of finishing materials to be used (e.g. the colour and type of brick, render, roof tiles)
  • building(s) to be demolished
  • details of external materials – please ensure that all materials are described in detail, including the colour of each material
  • the position and size of all windows and doors (existing and proposed)

You need to describe what the roof covering, wall facing, window frames, and doors will be made of and their design, eg ‘double roman concrete tiles’, ‘roughcast render’ etc.

If the proposed materials will match exactly those of the existing dwelling, this may be stated on the plans.