How we work
Eight stages, from the first visit to a year after you move in.
Every project follows the same path, the one most UK architects use. You can stop after any stage, and you only pay for the stages we’ve done.
Weeks 1 to 3
Brief and survey
We measure the house and the garden, write the brief down with you and agree a realistic budget for the build.
Measured drawings and a written brief
Weeks 3 to 8
Concept design
Two or three ideas, as sketches and simple card models, so you can see the choices before we pick one together.
Sketch options and a cost check
Weeks 8 to 20
Design and planning
We develop the chosen scheme, take pre-application advice if it’s worth it and make the planning application.
Planning drawings, statements and the decision
4 to 8 weeks
Technical design
Construction drawings with the structural engineer, the building regulations application and a written specification.
A package builders can price from
4 to 6 weeks
Choosing a builder
We send the drawings to up to three builders, compare the prices like for like and help you sign a standard building contract.
A tender report and a signed contract
For the build
On site
We visit every fortnight, answer the builder’s questions, check the work and agree each payment before you make it.
Site notes, valuations and instructions
Up to 12 months after
Handover
We list the snags, agree the final account and come back after a year to check anything that’s shown up since.
A finished house and the paperwork for it
Site visits every fortnight
Planning permission
What people ask us about planning.
General guidance for England. Every site is different, so treat this as a starting point and ask us about yours.
Do I need planning permission for an extension?
Not always. Many single-storey rear extensions are permitted development, within limits on depth, height and materials. Those rights are narrower for flats, listed buildings and homes in conservation areas. We’ll tell you at the first visit, and we can apply for a lawful development certificate so you have it in writing.
How long does planning take?
Councils aim to decide householder applications within eight weeks of validating them, and validation can take a week or two. For most extensions, allow three months from submitting the application. New homes and larger schemes can take longer.
What if my house is listed?
You’ll need listed building consent for any work that affects its character, inside or out, even if planning permission isn’t needed. Doing that work without consent is a criminal offence, so we always start with a careful survey of what’s original and write a heritage statement to go with the application.
What changes in a conservation area?
Some permitted development rights are removed or reduced, for example for side extensions, cladding and dormers. You also have to give the council six weeks’ notice before working on most trees. It rarely stops a good design, but it does mean the details matter more.
Is pre-application advice worth paying for?
For new homes, listed buildings and anything unusual, usually yes: it’s a cheap way to find out what the planning officer thinks before you commit. For a straightforward extension it’s often not needed. Councils charge for it, and the fee varies.
Isn’t planning the same as building regulations?
No. Planning is about whether you can build it and how it looks. Building regulations cover how it’s built: structure, fire safety, insulation, drainage and ventilation. Most extensions need building regulations approval even when they don’t need planning permission.
What happens if planning is refused?
We read the reasons with you and talk to the officer. Often a revised scheme can be resubmitted, and in England a resubmission of the same type within a year usually carries no council fee. If we think the refusal is wrong, we’ll talk you through an appeal.
Do I have to tell my neighbours?
The council will write to them when the application goes in, but we always suggest you speak to them first. If the work involves a shared wall or digging near their foundations, the Party Wall Act also applies and you’ll need to serve notice.
Start a project
Tell us about the house and what you’d like to change.
We’ll call you back within two working days. The first visit is £250, taken off our fee if you go ahead.