The journey to volume calculations in Objective Trapeze

Designed with planners, for planners. Calculating cubic volume has never been easier.

“Can we calculate volume with Objective Trapeze?”

That’s a question I heard numerous times since I relocated to the UK and started engaging with local planners. Fortunately, the answer is now a big YES!

Whether assessing proposed development in the Green Belt or applications for Lawful Development Certificates, planners often had to jump through hoops to determine the cubic volume of a building or roof extension.

It often requires multiple people to check and double-check for accuracy… which is important, but very time-consuming.

Simon Gould

Planning Manager, BCP Council

“When the building is an awkward shape, it can be a very long-winded exercise,” said Issy Howell, assistant planner at Stratford-on-Avon District Council.

“I have to use a combination of measuring tools in Objective Trapeze, a Word document to keep track of my work and an online calculator,” she added.

The planning team at Stratford-on-Avon weren’t alone in their challenges.

Simon Gould, Planning Manager at BCP Council, explained that volume calculations aren’t a daily occurrence, but getting it right can take a long time. “It often requires multiple people to check and double-check for accuracy… which is important, but very time-consuming,” he said.

Planning officers are constantly under pressure to determine applications accurately and quickly. Currently facing a rising number of planning applications across the UK, the best option to reduce backlog is to adopt tools that are purpose-built for the job.

With Objective Trapeze being a specialist tool for development management, our role is to empower our users to serve the community as efficiently as possible.

Challenge accepted

As part of our commitment to deliver outstanding solutions to our customers, we took on the challenge of making volume calculations quick and easy in Objective Trapeze Professional.

This wish expressed by Issy guided us: “It would be useful if we could measure multiple shapes in Objective Trapeze and it would calculate the volume for you… that would save us a lot of time.”

After a few rounds of co-design sessions with talented planners from around the UK and Gibraltar, our users now have access to an intuitive way of working out volumes.

Hip to gable conversion? You can now calculate the volume in minutes.

Roof structures worthy of a Grand Designs episode? We’ve got you covered.

“I can now quickly show agents or colleagues how I’ve calculated the volume, even with unusual roof types such as a catslide roof. Having this evidence gives myself and the team a lot more confidence,” said Issy, who anticipates the new volume calculations will save time and assist in many conversations.

And when it comes to working out percentages of volume increase in protected areas, all measurements and calculations are now in one place. And they can be saved with the drawing too.

I can now quickly show agents or colleagues how I’ve calculated the volume, even with unusual roof types such as a catslide roof. Having this evidence gives myself and the team a lot more confidence.

Issy Howell

Assistant Planner, Stratford-on-Avon District Council

“This gives us a more structured record of how we’ve worked out volumes, with everything easily saved in our system,” said Paul Naughton-Rumbo, Deputy Town Planner at the Government of Gibraltar.

At Objective, we believe that “our customers’ success is our success.” We’re excited about the benefits the new volume calculations bring to Objective Trapeze Professional customers and ultimately their customers.

A sincere thank you to Stratford-on-Avon District Council, BCP Council, Ashford Borough Council, Falkirk Council and the Government of Gibraltar whose valuable feedback greatly enriched the user experience. Their commitment to continuously improve the service they provide to the community speaks volumes. See what I did there?

Why not take a look at our 12-minute demo, where I talk through the highlights of Objective Trapeze? You can even see the Volumes Calculations feature first-hand.