Practical issues for PCCs to consider
PCCs often need to take professional advice about issues relating to the maintenance or development of their church building. This should normally be obtained from their nominated Quinquennial Inspection (QI) architect or surveyor, as that person will have demonstrated an appropriate level of knowledge and experience of working with churches up to and including the grade listing of the church in question. This is particularly important for churches listed Grade 1 or 2*.
Parishes are often working to tight budgets and so a PCC might try to develop proposals without the professional input of their architect/surveyor. However, engaging your architect normally pays for itself in the long run in terms of saving time, energy and money by getting a project on a firm, competent footing right from the start.
If you do engage an architect or surveyor who is not on the DAC-approved list, you should make sure they are experienced and knowledgeable about church buildings up to and including the grade listing of your church, and that they are familiar with worship needs and the practicalities of church activities. Otherwise any work proposals may prove unsatisfactory at a later stage in the faculty process which can be time-consuming and expensive for the PCC to correct.