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Services
Scale 1:100
New homes, extensions, renovations and planning drawings: what each covers, how a project runs and how our fees work.
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What we design
Scale 1:100
Homes only, for the people who will live in them and for small developers. Here is what each service covers and what you have in your hands at the end.
New homes
A house designed around your plot, your budget and the way you live, from the first site visit to the drawings your builder prices from.
What you get
- Site survey and design brief
- Two concept options with sketches and a 3D view
- Planning drawings and the application
- Construction drawings for builders
Extensions
Rear, side and upward extensions that add space and daylight without losing the character of the house you already love.
What you get
- Measured survey of the existing house
- Layout options for the new space
- A check on whether you need planning permission
- Drawings for building approval
Renovations and conversions
New layouts for tired houses, loft and garage conversions, and older buildings given a second life.
What you get
- A walk-through to see what can change
- Proposed layouts and a list of works
- Notes on structure and services for your builder
Planning drawings
Already know what you want to build? We prepare the drawings and documents your local planning office asks for, and answer their questions.
What you get
- Existing and proposed plans and elevations
- Site and location plans
- The application, submitted for you
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How a project runs
Scale 1:50
Five stages, in this order. You can stop after any of them, and you always know the next stage’s fee before it starts.
Stage 1
Brief
We visit, listen and measure. You tell us how you live, what is not working and what you can spend.
Stage 2
Concept design
Two or three ideas as sketches, plans and a simple 3D view. We refine one until it feels right.
Stage 3
Planning
We prepare the drawings, submit the application and deal with the planning office until a decision.
Stage 4
Technical design
Detailed drawings and notes so builders can price the same thing and building control can approve it.
Stage 5
Build
Help choosing a builder, and site visits while the work goes on, as often as you need us.
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How our fees work
Not to scale
You choose one of two ways to pay, and we confirm the fee in a letter before any work starts.
A percentage of the build cost
Usual for new homes and large extensions: for example 8 to 12% of the construction cost (example), spread across the stages.
A fixed fee per stage
Usual for smaller extensions, renovations and planning drawings only. You pay each stage as it is finished.
| Stage | What you get | Fixed fee |
|---|---|---|
| Brief and survey | Site visit, measured survey and a written brief | $650 |
| Concept design | Two options with sketches, plans and a 3D view | $2,400 |
| Planning | Planning drawings, the application and follow-up | $1,900 |
| Technical design | Construction drawings, notes and a schedule of works | $3,600 |
| Build | Site visits and help with questions from the builder | $110 an hour |
Example prices for a single-storey rear extension. Your fee depends on the size and complexity of the project and is confirmed in writing first.
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Questions about planning and timelines
Not to scale
The questions homeowners ask us most. If yours is not here, call the studio: a short conversation usually answers it.
Do I need planning permission?
It depends on the size of the work, where the house is and the local rules. Many small extensions do not need a full application; new houses and larger changes usually do. We check this for your address at the start, before you spend money on drawings.
How long does a project take?
Every project is different. As a rough guide, the design stages take a few weeks to a few months, and the planning office then takes its own time to decide. We give you a timeline for your project after the first consultation.
How much will the build itself cost?
We cannot price building work, but we help you set a realistic budget early and design within it. The technical drawings let builders give you comparable quotes.
Do you take on small projects?
Yes. A loft, a porch or a new layout downstairs gets the same care as a new house. For small jobs a fixed fee per stage is usually simplest.
Can you find a builder and visit the site?
We can send the drawings to builders you choose or suggest local builders to ask for quotes, and visit the site while the work goes on. The building contract is between you and your builder.
What happens at the first consultation?
We meet at your home or in the studio for about an hour, talk about what you want to change and what you can spend, and tell you honestly what is possible and what the next steps would cost.
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Start with a conversation
Scale 1:100
Tell us about your house or your plot and what you would like to change. We will suggest a time for a first consultation, at your home or in the studio.