Our Fees

Architectural fees vary for each individual project, so it’s impossible to give you our fees without talking to you and establishing a few different factors.

Here’s a guide to how we price our architectural fees, complete with real examples of projects, transparent costs and the brilliant results we’ve achieved.

Charging the right fee is what allows us to achieve the best results for you. Our fees are affected by three key factors.

• Scale
  
  Ultimately, the size of a project has a direct influence on its cost and our fee. The project size affects how much work we need to produce and the value of the end product.
  
• Complexity
  
  This is key. A large project with no real complexity may require less work and effort than a small project in a tricky location or with a complex design or material palette. Some aspects of complexity are inherent in the site (topography, planning constraints, existing building etc) other aspects are a choice (design approach, material choices, complexity of form and structure etc).
• Performance
  
  The higher the building performance target, the more work will be required to achieve that performance. It may not need to increase the build cost significantly, but designing a project at a lower cost and higher performance requires up front investment in the design team to make that possible.

Read more on the RIBA website about how architects calculate their fees

• Measured survey
  
  Undertaking a desktop study and a measured survey of the existing building, or managing a topographical survey of a site.

• RIBA Stage 1: Preparation & brief
  
  We’ll complete a desktop study to understand any constraints which impact your project. We’ll then clarify your brief & project scope by creating strategic options. This will add significant value to your project.

• RIBA Stages 2: Concept Design
  
  We’ll use your brief to develop a design for your project.

• RIBA Stage 3: Developed Design
  
  This is where we use our expertise to guide your dream design through the planning process.

• RIBA Stage 4: Technical Design
  
  Bringing together the experience of your builder, suppliers & design team we’ll turn your vision into something which can be built cost effectively, safely & with a beautiful end result.

• Principal Designer Duties
  
  Required under Building Regulations Act 2023, Building Safety Act 2022 & CDM Regulations 2015

We advise allowing between 10% and 20% of the construction cost for professional fees depending on the scale of the project. Whilst this might seem like a lot, it’s always worth budgeting more of an allowance at the earliest stages to cover you than running out before the build or project is completed.

The percentage we recommend budgeting for will depend on the scale and complexity of the project. Project complexity is influenced by the design complexity; the contextual complexity (planning restrictions/ trees/ slope etc) and the target energy performance.

Grove House

Small extension

John and Julie wanted us to replace the existing, poor-quality extensions at the back of their new home in Oakham with something that gave them a better connection to their garden.

Aims

• An architecturally beautiful extension but with simple materials [mid build rate]
• Simple garage conversion [mid remodel rate]
• Building regulations performance [no uplift]

Ashland Road

Extension, remodel & retrofit

Sam and Tamara asked us to upgrade their cramped two-bedroom house into a functional, comfortable and low-energy four-bedroom home for their growing family.

Aims

• An architecturally sensitive extension with an uplift in materials [mid build rate]
• Extensive remodel [mid remodel rate]
• Improved thermal comfort [mid performance]

Craig Eiddew

Retrofit

Margaret and John asked us to make their bungalow on the West coast of Anglesey warmer, more environmentally friendly & more cost effective to run.

Aims

• A simple refurbishment with simple finishes, uPVC windows & minimal remodel [low remodel rate]
• Improved thermal comfort [mid performance]

The Orchard

Energy efficient home

This new build is Lee and Jaclyn’s dream home. Situated in the small rural village of Brattleby near Lincoln, it is light, spacious, and the perfect setting for Lee and Jaclyn to raise their young family.

Aims

• An architecturally restrained design but with uplifted materials [mid build rate]
• AECB standard thermal performance [high performance]