architects
Our Architectural fees
​Initial consultation - We will come and see you free of charge for an initial 1 hour meeting.
We will then do any required research which will enable us to put together a fee proposal and appointment letter for you. This includes inital advice relating to relevant planning policy, local contextual considerations, review of historical architectural designs, review of scope, careful consideration of brief and budget and advice regarding any requirements for external consultants. All advice and work towards the appointment letter, following the intial meeting is chargeable even if you don't decide to appoint us.
So once we've met and had the intial meeting you can consider carefully if you'd like to invite us to put together a fee proposal for the project. If you do go on to appoint us this chargeable time is normally absorbed into the fees moving forward.
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Design work up to planning - We usually agree a fixed fee for these feasibility phases up to the Planning level design which will be set out in your appointment letter along with a detailed brief which can be worked on between us before we are appointed if needed. In some cases hourly rate work might be more appropriate. For example if the brief is not totally clear or there are multiple options to explore.
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Technical design - For this phase the time needed can vary considerably depending on the complexity of your scheme and the level of input you want when the project is on site therefore how much you want to have resolved upfront, therefore we usually charge this at an hourly rate to keep it fair but we'll give you an estimate of what to expect based on our other similar projects. In this phase we ensure that as much built information as possible is detailed, so that tendering contractors can price the work accurately.
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Construction and handover phase - We normally take on the role of consultant, advising when specific questions are raised or extra information is required and then producing the final record of as-built information at the end. This is also charged at an hourly rate. If full contract administration is needed we can discuss this further at the technical design stage. We also work with project managers in some instance who will oversee the work and manage the budget.
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Principal designer - The Building Safety Act 2022 requires compliance of the design to be demonstrated throughout the design phases and into construction. We are expected to be performing this role which is mainly an administration and record keeping role, mainly elaborating on what we already do, so also charge this at an hourly rate but on small to medium sized projects this is not an honerous role if the contractors and clients are organised and fulfil their role in good record keeping and updating us as required of any changes to the drawn information.
Fees and costs
Your biggest question after deciding to look at our services is likely to be 'so how much will this all cost?'
Some costs you will be expecting. They include planning submission fees, building control fees, the cost of the construction work itself as well as the architects fees of course. However there are other costs you may not be aware of, such as structural engineering, ecology surveys, flood risk assessments, geotechnical investigations, SAP calculations, kitchen design, administration, and other specialist consultants' fees.
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From initial discussions and during the refinement of the brief, we can assess your budget in context of these costs and will flag up as many as possible of the probable fees that you will need to consider from the outset. From the start we encourage you to be realistic about what is achievable within your budget as this is a key consideration.
The benefits of having a RIBA Architect appointed for the design work can end up being significant. We can offer the experience and expertise needed to navigate the process of design, procurement, statutory regulations and the many other hurdles that you'll need to get over to realise your ambitions. It can be a complicated process and is often not a straight line to the finish; and it's therefore important not to miss critical steps. Our experience means we can properly guide and advise you at every turn.
The high quality of the design and the creative ideas that we can provide you with are reflected in our fees but we are efficient and focused in how we work and working with us will add value to your property by having a bespoke, fully considered, Architect-designed home.
Fixed fee or hourly rate?
Each project is unique and presents its own challenges. Often for the early phases we can give you a fixed fee so you have peace of mind on what fees you are committing to.
We can't guarantee a positive planning decision but we have a good track record for designs that have gained planning approvals in west dorset and east devon over the past decade and pride ourselves in designing appropriate and sympathetic architecture that is non contentious by its very nature.
Our fixed fee reflects the value we add through clever design solutions, good relationships and knowledge of the local planning authority and the resources we need to deliver your project to a high standard of design and service for you. Of course there is some contingency built in too for revisions and unforeseen challenges so that we don’t have to come back to you for additional fees later.
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Our relationship with you is key to the success of the project and so once we've met we will assess how clear the brief is, how many options we may need to explore, how detailed the design may need to be. Where it is not possible to work out how much time it will take us to resolve the brief, this is when hourly rate working is the most appropriate and fairest way to charge you.
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Our current hourly rates for 2025 are:
​Director - £105 per hour (plus VAT)
​Architect/Principal Designer £90 per hour (plus VAT)
Overall Fees
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​As a rough guide our fees tend to work out to be approximately 8-9% of the construction value for all phases of the work. Roughly 3-3.5% at planning stage, another 2-3 for detailed technical design stages and a possible 2-3 for subsequents stages on site, depending on our level of involvement.
Construction costs
We cannot give cost certainty upfront as there are so many variables that can effect the cost of a project. However, we can apply a rule of thumb to anticipate likely construction costs which is currently around £3,000 per sqm for residential projects. This assumes a good quality of specification and complexity. There will be variation from this figure depending on current construction costs, the site itself, the builder chosen, any planning constraints, the complexity of the design, external influences, your desired level of finish and the level of design input you wish us to have throughout the construction phase, but this is a good starting point.
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Let's say you wanted a 24 sqm new living room extension (6m x 4m), we'd estimate the construction contract value (exlc 20% VAT) to be £75,000. ​Do remember though, if alterations to the existing house are required including upgrades to heating or plumbing systems, new windows elsewhere in the house or any other 'knock on' work then of course this figure will go up.
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Other consultant's fees
Most projects will require additional statutory information, each of which may need a specialist consultant to address these points for planning, building control, or construction safety.
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We can discuss rough estimates of costs for these consultants with you based on past projects, but your appointment will be with them directly. Sometimes having these consultants on board as early as possible can save you money down the line.
This list is not exhaustive, but are some of those whom we encounter being needed the most. We can also suggest names of firms we have worked with successfully in the past.
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Measured and topographical surveyor - At the outset of the project we need measured information of what you already have on site.
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Contamination/ dangerous building materials - Depending on property type, having the specialist removal of Asbestos or RAAC prior to work starting may be required.
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Ecological consultant - There are protected wildlife species and habitats that could affect your project, a specialist can assess potential impact and any mitigation necessary.
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Arboricultural specialist - There may be specimen trees on or adjacent to your site which could affect your project or vice versa.
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Flood risk assessor - Your site could be at risk of flooding or have already flooded, a specialist can analyse the potential impacts of your development and look at what measures are needed to protect your home long-term.
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Geotechnical specialist - As we are a practice based on the coast, we often have sites with unique ground conditions that require assessment to determine the risks of development and the foundation type needed.
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Structural Engineer - Their input on key junctions, structure and calculations will be needed for building control.
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SAP assessor - They analyse the predicted performance for Building Control, and produce your EPC as well as other technical calculations.
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M+E Engineers - They work out the ventilation, plumbing, green technologies, electrical requirements of your build, in collaboration with your builder, plumber and electrician.
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Project Manager - You may choose to have a project manager overseeing the whole build process, keeping it simple for you.
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Quantity Surveyor - You may choose to appoint a quantity surveyor to price the work, to ensure you're getting value for money from tendering contractors, they then hold the purse strings throughout the build and can often save you money overall.​​​​​​