Getting started
Every project starts with a conversation to find out more about your project and how we can best help.

Tell us a bit about you and your project to see if we are a good fit for one another.

You will be able to either book in a discovery call or initial consultation immediately, or provide us with more information so that we can get in touch to talk further.

Our fees

Residential Projects

Nothing is too small, and up to a budget of £150,000 we offer set fee packages with additional services on request.

For larger projects on your home, we usually offer a ‘Full Architectural Service’. This will be a bespoke fee quote tailored to your project.

Who we work with is more important to us than what we work on.

Our Project Handbook download has full details of our fees and packages.

Commercial & Community Projects

Do you care about healthy spaces and want to make your workspace, shop, community space or studio somewhere people want to be? Whatever the size of your business or the space it inhabits, we can’t wait to get involved.

We’d much rather talk about people than projects, but we’re business owners too so we know the numbers also have to add up.

If you are a business, community group, or charity, please reach out for a conversation so we can better understand your project before providing a fee proposal.

We have close links with the local third sector and will always consider reduced fee and pro-bono work to support local not-for-profit organisations.

Our process
This is a brief guide of our usual process, from initial ideas to completed project.

Don’t worry about not being able to see the wood for the trees, we’re here to guide you through.

For many of our clients, it is the first time they have worked with an architect and the process can be more than a little unknown.

We know you don’t have the time to become experts in every aspect of the project, which is why we gently lead you through and manage potential challenges. We want you to feel in control by enjoying the rewarding parts whilst not being bogged down in the navigation. 

  • Stage -1 | Take root

    Every year we offer a limited number of no-charge face to face consultations, with a donation to a local charity, More Trees for BANES.

    These consultations focus on taking a mindful approach to building, whilst also giving back by planting trees.

    Find out more

  • Stage 0 | Initial Consultation

    All our projects start with a conversation. This is an initial consultation so we can understand a bit about you and your project and see if we are a good fit for one another.

    We can start with an informal chat over the phone, video call, or at our studio.

    Or we can visit you to talk face to face (we charge for our time but it is refunded if we carry out further design work).

    Or both.

  • Stage 1 | Brief & survey

    We kick-off with a meeting at your home to fully understand your wants, needs and non-negotiables, and together we’ll form a brief. 

    We’ll also initiate surveys and any investigations you’ll need from our trusted network of suppliers.

  • Stage 2 | Sketch design

    We work in hand drawn plans to present sketch design schemes to you, along with budget and planning advice for each option.

    We also discuss ideas for materials, glazing, design details, presenting precedent images to help you visualise ideas we suggest.

    We combine and revise your favourite scheme to your comments. This might have several rounds, which we don’t set a limit on.

    As optional extras, we can meet with planners for pre-application advice and model your favourite design in 3D so you can visualise how the interior spaces feel and see how the build looks from outside.

  • Stage 3 | Planning

    Once you have a design you are happy with, we turn those it into formal drawings. We take your final comments to tweak the proposals ready for planning. We’ll then submit it to the local authority for Planning or Lawful Development approval and act as your agent if negotiations are required.

  • Stage 4 | Working drawings

    Once your planning drawings have been approved, we’ll turn these into detailed technical drawings and specifications for pricing. We’ll help you obtain quotes and coordinate with other consultants, such as structural engineers.

    We’ll then send drawings to Building Control and help you find the most suitable contractor for your project.

  • Stage 5 | Site supervision

    Time to make the drawings a reality.

    One of our key roles is site observation, where we review the work taking place against the design. We meet with the builder before work starts and continue to carry out site visits to check progress and issue additional drawings as required. We also may produce site minutes report with a photographic record.

    We believe our involvement gives you the best chance of achieving quality construction that matches the drawings.

  • Stage 6 | Enjoy

    Put your feet up, and relax in your beautiful new space. We’ll support you moving in, ensuring that you have records of everything and are happy with the outcome.

Want to understand how we work in greater detail? Download our Project Handbook for a full guide to a typical project.

“Before we started we didn't really have any idea how critical the relationship between client and architect would be. Jenny gave us confidence and we always felt like she was fully invested in our project.”

Laura & Martyn

FAQs

  • In the UK, you do not require an architect to make a planning application, design or construct a building.

    However, architects are professionally obligated to design to a high standard and are covered by professional indemnity insurance should issues with the design arise. A draftsperson or building surveyor do not have the same obligations to meet a set level of construction design standards.

    Construction is an unregulated industry in the UK. There are no qualifications needed or professional standards that builders need to adhere to. With that in mind, if you choose a draftsperson or building surveyor and something goes wrong you may find yourself in the position that no one is obligated to put it right.

    When choosing an architect you should consider the value that they can add to your project, in conjunction with their fees and your total construction budget.

  • As architects registered with the ARB we have a code of conduct. Point 7 of this code is to “Be trustworthy and look after your clients’ money properly”. This includes your budget which we always help to manage, but unfortunately we are not cost professionals (this is the role of a quantity surveyor) so unable to price your build.

    We can aid in estimating a budget range by cross referencing square meter floor area costs with similar projects we have undertaken, and factoring in the other costs involved such as surveys, design fees, approvals, contingency and VAT.

    We do not control the cost of the construction of a project as this is calculated by the builder chosen to undertake the work.

    If you require a more accurate cost estimate prior to tendering for builders’ prices we are always happy to support you to obtain the services of a professional quantity surveyor.

    The cost of building generally

    The cost of carrying out building work is currently very high (The Building Cost Information Service Materials Cost Index has been at a 40-year high), due to Brexit, the Russo-Ukrainian war, and Covid. This is due to changes to demand, labour shortages and availability and cost of raw materials, and shows no signs of reducing at present.

    Unfortunately, most of the figures you can find on the internet are very out of date. We are experiencing overall costs to be approximately double that of 2-3 years ago: around £3,000-3,800 (excluding VAT) per square meter for a single storey extension.

    Having said that there are many factors that determine the cost of building or renovating your home. These include:

    • Cost of labour and materials at the time of tendering and building.

    • Availability of contractors.

    • The quality of materials that you want to use such as windows, roof, cladding, kitchens, wet rooms, floor finishes, heating system, house ventilation systems, utility connections, etc.

  • Working with an architect is a process rather than a product and that means it isn’t as straight forward as choosing a finished item. We cannot always control how long things take as architecture is a collaborative process.

    Sometimes projects can take a long time so we work hard to foster close relationships with our clients.

  • Specialist consultants and engineers required on the project will be appointed directly and paid by you. We act as lead designer and manage the process with them but will not be responsible for their work.

    Payments to others such as the local planning authority are also usually paid directly by you.

    You also need to take into account contingency, and VAT on all of the above.

  • In October 2023 the Building Regulations came into force. They included new statutory duties for all clients, designers and builders, to ensure that buildings are safe to build, occupy, maintain and demolish, and to ensure that they comply with the relevant requirements of the Building Regulations.

    The new regulaticns include the introduction of three formal roles:

    1. Client
    2. Principal Designer
    3. Principal Contractor

    As architects we take the approach that as the only or lead designer, undertaking the role of Principal Designer under both CDM 2015 and the Building Regulations is not optional.

    Unfortunately we cannot progress projects past RIBA Stage 3 (planning) unless we will be involved on site.

    We will require you to confirm in writing that you are aware of your duties so require you to understand what is involved.

    Further reading: The Building Regulations etc. (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2023

Lets work together
We’d love to hear more about you and your project, and see if we are a good fit for one another.