A common assumption is that once the design is done and a builder's hired, the architect's job is finished. That's not necessarily true — and whether we stay involved matters a lot for how smoothly your build goes. What contract administration means This ongoing role is called contract administration. It means we continue acting on your behalf throughout construction — visiting site periodically to check the work matches the design, reviewing the builder's payment claims to c

Once your design is finalised, the next big decision is: who actually builds it? This is where tendering comes in. What tendering actually means Tendering means getting detailed, comparable quotes from several builders based on the exact same set of drawings and specifications — not vague estimates based on a rough conversation. We prepare a tender package that spells out precisely what's being built, so every builder is pricing the same job. This matters because comparing qu

A question that comes up a lot: "I've hired an architect — do I also need a structural engineer?" For many projects, yes — and it's worth understanding why, rather than seeing it as an extra cost tacked on. Different roles An architect designs the space, the layout, and how it functions and looks. A structural engineer calculates how it physically stays up — beam sizes, foundation depths, load calculations for anything like removing a wall or adding a second storey. We coordi

This is one of the most commonly confused parts of the process — planning permission and building regulations sound similar, but they're completely different things. Two different questions Planning permission is about whether you're allowed to build something — does it fit with the area, does it affect your neighbours, does the council approve of what it looks like and where it sits. Building regulations are about whether what you build is actually safe and sound — structura

If your home is a listed building, or sits within a conservation area, the planning rules work a bit differently — here's what changes. Restricted permitted development rights In these cases, permitted development rights are usually restricted or removed altogether, meaning things you could otherwise do without permission may now need formal consent. If your home is listed, you'll typically need listed building consent as well — sometimes instead of, and sometimes alongside,

Planning permission is probably the single biggest source of anxiety for people considering building work — so let's clear it up. Do you actually need it? Not everything needs planning permission. Many extensions fall under what's called permitted development, meaning you can build without formal approval, provided you stay within certain size and design limits. Working out exactly which category your project falls into is part of what we do early on, during feasibility — so

Quick answer Listed Building Consent (LBC) is a separate legal permission from planning permission, required for most alterations — internal or external — to a building on the National Heritage List for England. Unlike planning permission, there's no application fee, but the statutory determination period is around 8 weeks, and carrying out unauthorised work to a listed building is a criminal offence. If you're unsure whether your project needs it, a pre-application enquiry w

From 31 October 2026, a new national law — the Town and Country Planning (Discharge of Local Planning Authority Functions) (England) Regulations 2026 — means most house extensions, renovations and small new build schemes must be decided by a council planning officer, not a committee. Larger or more contentious applications can still reach committee, but only if they pass a new "gateway test." It applies to every council in England, including across Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshi

If you own a listed or historic property in Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Derbyshire or Lincolnshire, this is the planning update you've been waiting for. We're thrilled to share in the second part of our series on the revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), published by MHCLG on 17 August 2026, that it has delivered a genuine shift in how energy efficiency works to heritage buildings are treated at the planning stage. For years, we've worked with clients across

On 17 August 2026, the Government published the revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) - the first genuinely comprehensive rewrite of the document since it was introduced in 2012. For anyone planning a residential project, a rural conversion, or a self-build, this matters: the NPPF sits above every local plan in England and directly shapes how councils weigh up your application. We've been working through the new Framework, and we've pulled out the ten points most