Concept design through to planning and Building Regulations drawings
Architectural Design
Architectural design covers turning a brief into buildable drawings — concept layouts, elevations and 3D visuals, then progressing an agreed scheme to planning-application standard and finally to detailed Building Regulations drawings a builder can price and construct from.
Definition
What Architectural Design covers
Architectural design is the process of translating what a client wants from a project into a set of drawings that can first secure planning permission (where needed) and then be built from. It typically moves through concept design (initial layout options), developed design (an agreed scheme refined in detail) and technical design (Building Regulations drawings with construction detail), with structural input coordinated alongside it rather than added afterwards.
Suitable for
- Extensions, loft conversions, new builds and full renovations that need planning permission or full Building Regulations drawings
- Clients who want a design developed by the same team who will go on to build it, so the drawings are grounded in what's actually buildable
- Projects in conservation areas or affecting listed buildings, where a design sympathetic to the existing property matters to the planning outcome
Not suitable for
- Very minor works that don't need planning permission or detailed drawings, such as like-for-like repairs
- Clients who have already appointed an independent architect and want to retain them for the full project — we're glad to work from their drawings instead
Process
How the work is carried out
- 01
Brief and site survey
Understanding what you want from the project, a measured survey of the existing property, and a review of planning constraints.
- 02
Concept design
Initial layout and massing options for your review, testing what the site and planning policy can realistically support.
- 03
Developed design
Refining the agreed concept into a full scheme — floor plans, elevations and sections — ready for planning submission where needed.
- 04
Planning submission
Preparing and submitting the planning application (or confirming permitted development where it applies), and handling any queries from the planning authority.
- 05
Technical design
Progressing the approved scheme to Building Regulations drawings, coordinated with structural calculations, ready to build from.
- 06
Handover to construction
Drawings and specification pass directly into the build programme, with the design team available through construction for any site queries.
Typical timescale
Concept and developed design typically take a few weeks depending on complexity; a planning application then takes up to 8 weeks for a decision (longer for larger or more complex schemes), and technical/Building Regulations drawings a further few weeks once the design is fixed.
Cost guidance
Design fees depend on project scale and the stages required (concept only, through to full Building Regulations drawings) and are quoted as a fixed fee once we understand the brief, rather than a percentage of an unknown build cost.
Limitations and exclusions
- Planning permission is not guaranteed — we advise on likelihood based on policy and precedent but the decision rests with the local planning authority
- Structural calculations are delivered through our structural engineering service, coordinated alongside the architectural design rather than included in it
- Party wall matters are a legal process between neighbours; we can recommend a party wall surveyor but do not act as one
Areas we cover
Architectural Design across Sussex, Surrey, Kent and South London
Local property styles, planning authorities and neighbourhood coverage for architectural design in each town we work in.
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FAQs
Architectural Design FAQs
Do I need an architect for a home extension?
Not always by law, but a well-developed design makes both planning permission and the build itself go more smoothly — particularly for anything beyond a simple single-storey extension. We can advise at the initial consultation what level of design your specific project needs.
Can you handle the planning application for me?
Yes, preparing and submitting the planning application (or confirming the project falls under permitted development) is part of the service, including responding to any queries the planning authority raises.
What's the difference between planning drawings and Building Regulations drawings?
Planning drawings show what the finished project will look like and are what the local authority assesses for permission. Building Regulations drawings come afterwards and add the construction detail — structure, insulation, fire safety and so on — that a builder actually prices and builds from.
Will the same team build what you design?
In most cases, yes — that's the value of having design and construction under one roof, since the design is developed by people who know what's actually buildable. If you'd prefer to tender the build separately once the design is complete, that's your choice; the drawings are yours either way.
Discuss your architectural design project
Tell us about the property and what you have in mind, and we'll arrange a site visit.
Last reviewed 2026-07-19.