Fees & Services
What We Charge
Clear, honest fee structures — by stage, by project, by scale.
Fees & Services
Clear, honest fee structures — by stage, by project, by scale.
Upfront & Transparent
Architects' fees vary significantly by project type, complexity, and scope of service. What most people want to know — and what this page sets out — is roughly what a project like theirs is likely to cost in architect's fees.
We typically charge fees as a percentage of construction cost, broken into RIBA work stages. For smaller or well-defined pieces of work we'll propose a fixed lump sum instead. Either way, you'll know what you're paying before we start, and fees are staged so you only pay as work is delivered.
All figures on this page are indicative — every proposal we send is tailored to the specific scope and site. Use this as a reference, not a quote.
Request a Fee ProposalFees By Stage
Most UK architectural work is organised around the RIBA Plan of Work — eight stages from initial brief to in-use. Typical percentage splits for a full service are shown below.
Initial meetings, site survey, brief development and feasibility. Often delivered as a fixed fee.
Sketch design options, massing, initial layouts — the "what if" stage. Pre-application advice from the planning authority if appropriate.
Design development, coordination with engineers and consultants, planning submission and approval.
Construction drawings, specifications, building regulations approval. This is the largest single stage by volume of work.
Tender, contract administration, site inspections, issuing instructions and managing variations during the build.
Snagging, practical completion, defects period, final certificate and handover of O&M documentation.
Stage percentages above refer to the split of fees across stages, not fees as a percentage of construction cost. For the latter, see the matrix below.
Fee Matrix
Fees are typically a percentage of total construction cost. Smaller, simpler projects sit at the higher end; larger, repeat-pattern projects at the lower end.
| Project Scale | Typical Construction Cost | Full Service Fee | Planning-Only Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small extension Side return, single-storey rear |
£75k – £200k | 10% – 14% | 4% – 6% |
| Large extension Two-storey, wraparound |
£200k – £500k | 9% – 12% | 3.5% – 5% |
| Whole-house renovation Full refurbishment + extension |
£350k – £1.2M | 8% – 11% | 3% – 4.5% |
| New build house One-off home, bespoke |
£500k – £2.5M+ | 8% – 12% | 3% – 4.5% |
| Listed building Heritage alterations & restoration |
Varies widely | 10% – 15% | 4% – 6% |
| Commercial fit-out Office, hospitality, retail |
£100k – £1M+ | 7% – 12% | By negotiation |
All percentages are indicative and exclude VAT. Complex sites (listed buildings, AONB, conservation areas, contamination, party wall matters) typically attract a premium. Disbursements (printing, travel outside our regions, specialist surveys) are charged separately at cost.
Worked Examples
Three realistic examples showing what full-service fees look like for typical projects we take on.
Example A
Single-storey rear extension, kitchen reconfiguration, bi-fold doors. Residential, standard planning.
Construction: £180,000
Fee at 12%: £21,600
Typical programme: 9–12 months
Example B
Victorian terrace, full refurbishment, loft conversion and rear extension. Conservation area.
Construction: £850,000
Fee at 10%: £85,000
Typical programme: 18–24 months
Example C
One-off contemporary house, AONB site, coastal location. Full bespoke design.
Construction: £1,600,000
Fee at 9%: £144,000
Typical programme: 24–36 months
How Billing Works
Percentage-based fees. Agreed at the start based on anticipated construction cost. Invoiced in stages as each RIBA work stage completes, so you know exactly what you're paying for and when.
Lump-sum fees. For well-defined pieces of work (feasibility studies, planning-only applications, single-service projects), we'll quote a fixed fee instead — a single agreed figure with no surprises.
Hourly rates. Used for very small tasks, changes outside the agreed scope, or ongoing advisory work. Our hourly rates range £85–£150+VAT depending on who's doing the work (director, senior architect, technician).
No mark-up on disbursements. Printing, statutory fees, consultant fees and travel outside our regions are billed at cost with no mark-up.
Free initial consultation. The first conversation — phone or in person — is always free. No fee until you've seen a written proposal and chosen to proceed.
What's Included
Included
Sketch design, developed design, technical drawings, specifications, schedules. All drawings suitable for planning, building regulations and tender.
Included
Full preparation and submission of planning applications, listed building consent, pre-application advice, Design & Access Statements.
Included
Tender, contract administration, site inspections, valuations, handling variations, snagging and final certificate.
Not included: statutory planning fees, building regulations submission fees, structural engineer, MEP engineer, quantity surveyor, party wall surveyor, topographical survey. These are separate third-party costs which we coordinate on your behalf.
Request a Fee Proposal
Tell us about your project and we'll send a written fee proposal within one working day. No surprises, no small print.
Get a Proposal