Architects - Frequently asked Questions
What type of architectural practice are you?
The root of our practice is residential design. From remodelling of houses and homes to extensions, loft conversions, and new build houses. We specialise in transforming properties across London and Surrey, with particular expertise serving clients in Wandsworth and throughout Southwest London.
We also have extensive experience working with developers for small to medium residential development opportunities. We have recently helped a developer gain planning consent for a small block of 10 apartments in Southwest London, and also eight apartments in Cranleigh, Surrey. Our portfolio showcases how we approach each project with fresh eyes, whether we’re working in Chelsea on period property renovations or designing contemporary new builds.
We strive to unlock the hidden potential in homes and developments, securing planning permission and delivering imaginative projects on tricky sites. You can explore our full range of projects to see how we’ve transformed challenging spaces into stunning homes.
Can you help me design a rear/side extension, loft conversion, or new build house?
Yes, we can help you with all of the above. We specialise in innovative and clever ways to extend existing homes, as well as designing new homes to suit modern family life. Whether you’re looking for architects in Hampstead to navigate conservation area requirements or need expertise in Richmond for a riverside property extension, we bring local knowledge to every project.
We understand the planning restrictions and consider buildability and construction matters to suit your budget, whilst always referring back to the brief that we’ve worked up with you. Our aim is to ensure the final solution gives you what you need (it will be you living there, not us) and future-proofs your home for years to come. We’ve found that thoughtful design at the outset saves both time and money during construction.
What is the difference between planning approval and building regulations approval?
Planning permission and building regulations approval are both essential steps in the construction or renovation of a building, but they serve distinctly different purposes. Understanding both is crucial for any homeowner embarking on a project.
Planning Permission ensures that your project complies with local planning policies and environmental considerations. It focuses on the design, scale, appearance, and impact of the proposed development on the surrounding area and neighbours. It’s typically required for larger projects or those that significantly alter the exterior of a building. Having worked extensively in Islington, we know that each council has its own planning policies and preferences. What’s acceptable in one borough may not be approved in another.
Building Regulations Approval deals with the safety, structure, and functionality of the building itself. It ensures that your project meets the Building Regulation standards for key points like fire safety, energy efficiency (Part L is particularly stringent now), structural integrity, plumbing, and electrical systems. This approval is necessary for the construction phase, regardless of whether planning permission is required. You can learn more about how we manage both processes throughout your project.
In short, planning permission regulates how a building fits within its environment, while building regulations approval ensures that the building is safe and habitable. We handle both seamlessly for our clients.
Can you guide us through the design, planning consent and construction phase of work to our house?
Depending on the scale of the project, the architectural process can be complex and involves numerous stages. We offer a flexible service and can support you from inception to completion of the works on site. Our preference is always to design, plan and administer the works on site until the project is finished, as it’s the best way to ensure your vision becomes reality. However, we can tailor our input to suit your requirements.
We follow the RIBA Plan of Work stages, taking you from initial feasibility studies through to practical completion. Our experience in Battersea and across South London means we know which contractors deliver quality work and which planning officers appreciate good design.
Each stage has clear deliverables and milestones, so you’ll always know where you stand. We believe in transparent communication throughout, ensuring no nasty surprises.
Can you help with tendering the project and managing the contractor on site?
Yes, we can assist with both the tendering process and on-site contractor management. Once the design phase is complete, we prepare detailed tender documents to invite bids from builders that are suitable for your project. We’ve built strong relationships with quality contractors across London and Surrey, from Fulham to Guildford, and we know who’s right for different types of projects.
We also offer project management services, overseeing the construction process to ensure the project runs smoothly and stays on schedule. This includes dealing with contractual certification, which honestly can be a minefield if you’re not familiar with JCT contracts. We work closely with the contractor on-site, ensuring that the design intent is followed, quality standards are met, and any issues are promptly addressed, always keeping you informed. Regular site visits mean we catch problems before they become expensive mistakes.
What locations do you cover?
We serve clients across London and Surrey, bringing architectural expertise to residential projects throughout these regions. Our practice works with various planning departments and local contractors across numerous boroughs and districts.
In London, we cover North London areas including Barnet, Muswell Hill, and Hammersmith. We also serve South London, including Merton and Ealing, alongside the other London areas mentioned throughout these FAQs.
Our Surrey coverage includes town centres like Guildford and Woking, riverside communities such as Walton-on-Thames and Weybridge, as well as Esher, Epsom, and Leatherhead. We also cover Kingston and can work in Windsor and the surrounding areas.
Whilst these are our core service areas, we’re happy to discuss projects in neighbouring locations. Good design principles apply wherever the project may be. If you’re unsure whether we cover your area, please contact us to discuss your project.
Why do I need an architect?
An architect brings expertise in design, planning, and problem-solving to ensure that your project is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. But it’s more than that; we see possibilities you might miss. We help transform your ideas into a clear vision, providing creative solutions while adhering to building regulations and budget constraints.
Having worked on high-end renovations in Kensington and clever budget transformations in Brixton, we understand that good design isn’t about how much you spend. It’s about making smart decisions. An architect also coordinates with contractors, engineers, and other professionals to ensure the project runs smoothly, stays on schedule, and meets your needs.
By hiring an architect, you’re investing in experience specific to your project. We’ve learned from hundreds of projects what works and what doesn’t. You can read more about us and our approach to creating homes that enhance daily life.
Can you help me upgrade my old and dated house to a modern family home?
If you live in a period property or listed home, it may not suit the way a modern family now tends to live. Victorian homes were built for a different era with formal dining rooms, tiny galleys for kitchens, and no consideration for cars or home working. We specialise in providing creative design solutions to fully reflect your brief, allowing for all the necessities of modern life.
Whether you’re working with architects in Primrose Hill who understand Victorian terrace layouts or need expertise in Dulwich for Edwardian family homes, we bring both historical knowledge and contemporary design skills. We aim to design a space that is visually impressive as well as efficient and functional to suit you. This might mean opening up the ground floor for better flow, adding a contemporary glass extension that floods the space with light, or cleverly incorporating storage throughout.
The key is respecting the property’s character whilst making it work for 21st-century living. It’s a balance we’ve perfected over years of practice.
Do you provide 3D visualisation?
If 3D visualisation will help you get a feel for the design ideas, of course we can add this within our services. The level of input on 3D visualisation really depends on the complexity of the project. With simple extensions, we find that clients may have friends and family who have similar extensions and can visualise the design ideas, particularly in areas like Clapham or Putney where Victorian terraces follow similar patterns.
For more complicated extensions or unique designs, we can provide static 3D images or video fly-throughs. These are particularly useful when dealing with split-level extensions, unusual site topography, or when you’re trying to understand how light will move through the space during different times of day. Sometimes seeing is believing, and we want you to be completely confident in the design before we proceed to construction.
We have a difficult site – can you provide creative solutions?
We are passionate about combining our technical thinking and creative enthusiasm to put forward a design proposal to suit your needs. Difficult sites are actually our speciality, whether it’s a narrow plot requiring innovative thinking like projects we’ve delivered in Camden, or a sloping site needing careful level management as seen in Highgate.
With your involvement, the project design process tends to start with simple sketches, and through discussions with you, the design develops from there. We’ll explore multiple options; sometimes the third or fourth idea is the winner. We will always seek your input at each stage because ultimately, you know your family’s needs better than anyone.
Working from home has become essential for many families, and we’re adept at creating dedicated office spaces that can be closed off for video calls, whilst maintaining the home’s flow. Check our recent projects to see how we’ve solved similar challenges.
Can you help us with difficult planning constraints?
Yes. We pride ourselves on dealing with difficult sites and sometimes challenging neighbours. We also have a great track record gaining planning consent in Conservation Areas. Having worked extensively in Westminster and throughout Hampstead, we understand how to navigate strict planning requirements whilst still achieving your goals.
Conservation area constraints don’t mean you can’t extend or improve your home. It just means the approach needs to be more considered. We know which materials and design approaches planning officers favour in different areas. Sometimes it’s about using traditional materials in contemporary ways; other times it’s about creating clearly modern additions that complement rather than mimic the original.
We’ve also become skilled at managing neighbour consultations, often addressing concerns before they become objections. Good communication and thoughtful design usually win the day.
Can you help us with planning the application and dealing with building regulations approval?
We can assist you throughout the entire process of securing planning permission and ensuring compliance with Building Regulations. Our team is experienced in preparing and submitting planning applications to local authorities, and we provide support in addressing any requirements or concerns raised during their review process. Whether working with Kingston Council for projects in Surbiton or with more contemporary-minded planners in Hackney, we know how to present schemes for the best chance of success.
We also help navigate building regulations approval, ensuring your design meets all necessary safety, accessibility, and energy efficiency standards. Recent Part L changes have made thermal performance requirements much stricter, and we’re fully up to speed. In some cases, the detailed design stage will need input from other consultants such as Structural Engineers, MEP designers, or party wall surveyors. We can guide you through this phase, coordinating the team to keep everything moving forward. Our detailed process ensures nothing is overlooked.
Do you work with listed buildings?
We do have experience working on listed buildings. It leads to a further layer of planning approval, Listed Building Consent, and requires more detailed submissions. We would need to discuss your specific requirements in more detail to fully understand the scope of the works. Working in historic areas like Greenwich and prime locations throughout Chelsea, we’ve developed expertise in heritage matters.
We believe in conservation as it represents the essence of sustainability. The greenest building is the one that already exists. However, listed buildings need to evolve to remain useful. The key is understanding what makes the building special (its significance in heritage terms) and ensuring any changes preserve or enhance this. Sometimes this means using traditional lime mortars and timber windows; other times it allows for carefully designed contemporary interventions.
Each listed building is unique, and the approach depends on its grade (I, II*, or II) and what specifically is listed about it. We work closely with conservation officers to find solutions that work for both heritage and homeowners.