Costs.

Investing with Eyes Wide Open

One of the first questions clients ask is: “How much will it cost?”
Too often, the industry answer is a guess. Our answer is a strategy.

We believe that successful projects are built on commercial realism, not optimism. A building project is a significant investment, and it involves more than just bricks and mortar. It includes professional fees, statutory costs, VAT, and the finer details of the interior fit-out.

Our role is to give you the whole picture, the Total Project Cost before you commit to the build. We replace the uncertainty with a plan.

Construction Realities & Budgets

The Market Context; Construction costs have shifted significantly since 2019, with inflation often outpacing standard benchmarks. Relying on pre-pandemic prices or advice from friends can lead to unrealistic expectations. We provide up-to-date, market-tested guidance to ensure your budget is robust enough to deliver your vision in the current climate.

The Projects We Work On

We work on projects of all shapes and sizes across the South Downs, Surrey Hills, the Weald and beyond: extensions and remodels, listed buildings, replacement homes and new builds. What they have in common is not the budget but the ambition. Our clients want a home designed properly, with real care over how it looks, how it is built and how it lives.

Every budget deserves the same thought. A well-judged extension or the remodelling of an existing house can be every bit as rewarding as a new build, and good design often achieves more than people expect.

Whatever you have to spend, we will tell you early and candidly what it can achieve. That is what our Discover stage is for.

Budgeting: The Whole Picture

Whether you have a fixed budget or a flexible vision, we plan in one of two ways:

Working Backwards: Starting with your total fund and calculating what is achievable.
Working Forwards: Starting with your wish-list and building the investment plan around it.

In both cases, we ensure you are looking at the Total Project Cost, not just the builder’s quote. We help you allocate funds for:

Construction: Labour, materials, and contractor preliminaries.
The Team: Architect, Structural Engineer, and Specialist Consultant fees.
The Compliance: Planning fees, Building Control, and statutory surveys (Ecology, Soil, Trees).
The Finishes: Kitchens, bathrooms, joinery, and lighting (often excluded from basic quotes).
The Reality: VAT (typically 20% on refurbishments) and a sensible Contingency fund.

Why this matters: Early decisions on scope and phasing have the biggest impact on your wallet. By mapping this out in the Discover stage, we ensure you spend your money where it adds the most value to your life and the asset.

Our Fees & Value

Every project is different, and our fees reflect that. We tailor them to suit the scale, complexity, and level of involvement your project needs.

As a general guide to help you plan, a full architectural service (from the first sketch to handing over the keys) typically sits equivalent to 8% to 15% of the net construction cost. However, we do not simply charge a fixed percentage. Instead, we structure our fees to give you certainty where possible and flexibility where it is needed.

We break our fees down by stage:

Discover, Design & Detail: For these defined stages, we typically work on a Fixed Lump Sum. This gives you clarity and allows us to focus on the quality of the design without the clock ticking.
Negotiations & Tendering: Variables such as planning negotiations or managing the tender process are charged at an Hourly Rate. This is the fairest approach; if the process is smooth, you pay less. If it becomes complex, we have the time to fight your corner.
Deliver (Construction): During the build, we typically charge a Monthly Retainer or use Hourly Rates, depending on the complexity of the site. This ensures we are always available to answer the builder’s questions and protect your interests, for as long as the build takes.

We provide a detailed, itemised fee proposal after our initial consultation. We explain exactly how each stage is structured so you know what you are paying for and the value you are receiving in return.

Let’s talk numbers

If you want an honest assessment of what your project might cost, we are ready to help you plan

Discuss Your Project

Discover more.

Case Studies

See how we blend modern living with traditional character. Explore a collection of bespoke homes, from contemporary new builds to heritage restorations.

View the collection

View the collection
Our Approach

From the first conversation to the first glass of English Sparkling. Discover the four-stage framework we use to protect your vision and manage the complexity.

See how we work

See how we work
Studio

Meet Simon, Darren, and the team. A practice built on honest conversation, rural living, and a culture of professional rigour.

Meet the team

Meet the team