B.E.L Group Ltd respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store and protect your information when you visit our website, contact us or use our architectural, planning consultancy and structural engineering services.

Our website address is:

https://belgroup.co.uk

Who We Are

B.E.L Group Ltd provides architectural design, planning consultancy, Building Regulations packages, structural engineering and related property-development services.

For the purposes of UK data protection law, B.E.L Group Ltd is the data controller responsible for the personal information described in this Privacy Policy.

Information We Collect

We may collect and process the following information:

Your name.
Your email address.
Your telephone number.
Your property or project address.
Information about your proposed development or project.
Plans, photographs, documents and supporting information that you provide.
Records of emails, telephone calls, WhatsApp messages and other communications.
Information submitted through our website enquiry forms.
Technical information such as your IP address, browser type, device type and how you use our website.
Payment, invoicing and transaction information where you appoint us.

Please do not provide sensitive personal information through our website unless it is necessary for us to advise you or deliver the service you have requested.

How We Collect Your Information

We may collect personal information when you:

Complete an enquiry or contact form on our website.
Contact us by telephone, email, WhatsApp or social media.
Request a quotation or consultation.
Appoint us to provide professional services.
Send us drawings, photographs, reports or property information.
Visit or interact with our website.
Communicate with us during a planning application, design project or construction process.

We may also receive information from third parties connected with your project, including planning agents, architects, structural engineers, contractors, surveyors, property owners, local authorities and Building Control bodies.

How We Use Your Information

We may use your personal information to:

Respond to enquiries and provide initial advice.
Prepare quotations and service proposals.
Arrange property surveys, consultations and meetings.
Prepare architectural drawings, planning applications, reports, specifications and structural information.
Submit and manage applications on your behalf.
Communicate with local authorities, Building Control bodies, consultants and other relevant professionals.
Administer contracts, invoices and payments.
Maintain accurate project and business records.
Improve our website and services.
Protect our website, business and clients against fraud, misuse and security risks.
Comply with legal, regulatory, insurance and professional obligations.

Our Lawful Bases for Processing

Under UK data protection law, we must have a lawful reason for using your personal information.

Depending on the circumstances, we may rely on:

Contract: Where processing is necessary to provide a quotation, take steps at your request before entering into a contract or deliver services you have appointed us to provide.

Legitimate interests: Where it is reasonably necessary to operate and improve our business, respond to enquiries, manage projects, maintain records, protect our legal interests or provide effective customer service.

Legal obligation: Where we must retain or disclose information to comply with tax, accounting, regulatory, court or other legal requirements.

Consent: Where you have actively agreed to a particular use of your information, including certain marketing communications or non-essential website cookies. You may withdraw your consent at any time.

The Information Commissioner’s Office requires organisations to explain why personal information is used, the relevant lawful basis and how long it is retained.

Sharing Your Information

We do not sell or rent your personal information.

Where necessary for your enquiry or project, we may share relevant information with:

Employees, consultants and subcontractors working on behalf of B.E.L Group Ltd.
Architects, structural engineers, surveyors, planning consultants and other appointed professionals.
Local planning authorities and other public authorities.
Building Control bodies and approved Building Control professionals.
Contractors and suppliers involved in your project, where authorised or necessary.
Planning Portal and other application-submission platforms.
IT, website-hosting, cloud-storage, email and communication providers.
Accountants, insurers, professional advisers and legal representatives.
Government authorities, regulators or law-enforcement bodies where required by law.

We only share information that is reasonably necessary for the relevant purpose.

Some information submitted as part of a planning or Building Control application may become publicly accessible through the relevant authority’s website or public register. This is controlled by the authority receiving the application rather than by B.E.L Group Ltd.

International Data Transfers

Some of the technology providers we use may store or process information outside the United Kingdom.

Where personal information is transferred internationally, we take reasonable steps to ensure that appropriate legal safeguards are in place, such as an adequacy decision or approved contractual protections.

How Long We Retain Your Information

We keep personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected.

Project records, drawings, calculations, correspondence, contracts and invoices may normally be retained for up to six years after the completion of our services. Certain records may be retained for longer where required for legal, insurance, professional or regulatory purposes.

Unsuccessful enquiries and quotations may be retained for a shorter period unless there is a legitimate reason to keep them.

When information is no longer required, it will be securely deleted, anonymised or destroyed where reasonably practicable.

Website Enquiry Forms

When you submit an enquiry through our website, we may collect the information entered into the form, together with technical information such as your IP address, browser information, submission date and time.

We use this information to:

Respond to your enquiry.
Assess your proposed project.
Prepare a quotation or arrange a consultation.
Prevent spam, fraud and misuse of the website.
Maintain a record of our communications.

Submitting an enquiry does not create a contractual relationship unless and until our appointment and terms are agreed.

Cookies

Our website may use cookies and similar technologies. Cookies are small files stored on your device that help websites function, remember preferences and understand how visitors use the site.

We may use:

Strictly necessary cookies: These are required for the website to operate, maintain security, remember cookie preferences or allow forms to function.

Analytics cookies: These help us understand how visitors use the website, including which pages are viewed and how visitors reach the site.

Functionality cookies: These may remember choices or support additional website features.

Third-party cookies: These may be placed by embedded maps, videos, social-media services, analytics platforms or other external services.

Non-essential cookies should only be activated after you have provided consent through the website’s cookie controls. You can change or withdraw your cookie preferences at any time through the cookie settings available on the website.

You may also control or delete cookies through your browser settings, although disabling certain cookies may affect how the website operates.

Website Analytics

We may use website analytics services to understand visitor numbers, website performance, traffic sources and how visitors interact with our pages.

Analytics information may include:

IP address or approximate location.
Browser and device information.
Pages visited.
Time spent on the website.
Referring website or search engine.
Interactions with links, buttons and forms.

Where analytics cookies or similar non-essential technologies are used, they will be subject to your cookie preferences and applicable consent requirements.

Embedded Content and External Websites

Pages on our website may include embedded content or links from third-party websites, such as:

Google Maps.
YouTube or other video platforms.
Facebook.
LinkedIn.
Planning Portal.
Local-authority websites.

Embedded content may behave in the same way as visiting the third-party website directly. Those providers may collect information, use cookies or monitor your interaction with their services.

We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of external websites. You should review the relevant provider’s privacy policy before providing personal information.

Data Security

We use reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal information against:

Unauthorised access.
Accidental loss.
Misuse.
Alteration.
Disclosure.
Destruction.

Access to personal information is restricted to people who reasonably require it for their work. However, no website, email system or internet transmission can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

Your Data-Protection Rights

Depending on the circumstances, you may have the right to:

Request access to the personal information we hold about you.
Ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete information.
Ask us to delete your information.
Ask us to restrict how your information is used.
Object to processing based on legitimate interests.
Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent.
Request the transfer of certain information to you or another organisation.
Complain about how your information has been handled.

These rights are not absolute and may be subject to legal exceptions.

To exercise any of your rights, please contact B.E.L Group Ltd using the contact details provided on our website. We may need to verify your identity before responding.

Marketing Communications

We will only send marketing communications where we have an appropriate lawful basis to do so.

You may unsubscribe or ask us to stop sending marketing communications at any time by contacting us or using the unsubscribe option included in the communication.

We may still contact existing clients regarding active projects, quotations, invoices, legal matters or other service-related communications.

Children’s Information

Our services are intended for property owners, landlords, developers, businesses and other adult clients. Our website is not designed to collect personal information directly from children.

Complaints

Please contact us first if you have concerns about how we use your personal information so that we can investigate and respond.

You also have the right to make a complaint to the Information Commissioner’s Office, the United Kingdom’s independent data-protection regulator.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes to our services, website, legal obligations or data-processing practices.

The latest version will be published on this page with the date it was last updated.

Contact Us

For questions about this Privacy Policy or how B.E.L Group Ltd uses your personal information, please contact us using the contact information displayed on our website: