Architects’ fees vary depending on the location and complexity of the project and level of service expected from them.  Some architects will base their charges on a percentage of a total project cost, others as a fixed price lump sum or on a time charge basis.

Like all professional services, architectural fees are not cheap.  It might be helpful to view the fee as an investment – in the context of the construction cost, our fee is small, but engaging with an architect is certain to add value to your property.

Our fees vary depending on our scope of work and on what it is that you’re hoping to achieve.  Once we have spoken with you, and possibly visited your project, we will prepare a fee proposal for your consideration.  We usually present our fees as options: Basic; Standard; Enhanced.  The options will be specific to your project.  It will give you the opportunity to consider how much value you would like for us to add.

Our proposal will typically include for all stages of the project – from the initial design stage through to monitoring works on site.  We break our fee down into the RIBA’s work stages, allowing you to select all or part of our services.

Our fees for each work stage are typically lump sum, as this gives you cost certainty.

As a guide, depending on our scope of work, our fee could be 4-12% of the construction cost.

Remember that you’re not just paying for drawings, you’re paying for our skills and expertise; our ability and keen motivation to engage with you to create the best outcome for your needs, property and budget.

Read more about architects fees and what we charge here.

Yes, we do.  We offer a free Pre-Design Virtual Meeting where you can show us around your home and we can discuss your ideas, aspirations and requirements.  We will answer questions about the process, time frames and associated costs.

Alternatively (or following an initial call or virtual meeting) for a small fee we offer a Pre-Design Site Visit Assessment, where we would meet you at to your home or property to have a more in depth conversation about your project.

Drop us an e-mail and we will gladly send you more information.

You should first consider whether the other designer is offering a comparable service.  We are always happy to review a competing quote to see if we are able to reduce our scope of services to match.

Every architect has a different way of working and will provide you with a different experience and solution.  We suggest that you choose your designer on the basis that you like them; that they understand what it is that you’d like to achieve; that you feel that you can work with them for the duration of your project.

We offer a friendly and professional service and aim to understand what you’re hoping to achieve and to exceed your expectations.

We are experts at designing schemes that meet the requirements of planning departments.  We work hard to gain successful outcomes for our clients no matter where a project is located.

We have found that the appointment of a planning consultant on a tricky site can improve your chance of success.  Planning consultants understand planning policies in great detail and speak the same language as the planners – so can really help argue your case if need be.  We have good working relationships with a few planning consultants and will recommend one if we feel it to be appropriate for your project.

We’ve written a couple of Journal posts about the Principal Designer and other dutyholders.  You can find one of them here.

Chances are that you definately need both a CDM Principal Designer and a Building Regulations Principal Designer.  It does depend on the nature of the work that you’re having done, and who is carrying out the work.  So have a read of that Journal post, it should answer a few questions – or give you good questions to ask your Architect.