Architecture by its nature is a very visual discipline. The skill of a good Architect is in extrapolating the thoughts and ideas of the client and turning that into a building. 

Energy costs have become a huge talking point over the last few years. Most of us probably didn’t pay too much attention to how many times we boiled the kettle or left the lights on until we had a smart metre installed.

Along with the construction cost, it’s also important to bear in mind the work required in producing all the necessary drawings, reports and documentations to construct a building.

Some clients often engage a contractor before consulting an Architect. It’s a bit like getting into an operating theatre with a surgeon before a problem has been diagnosed.

The simple answer to this is No. However, there are ways of gauging the likelihood of success of an application.

If you are looking at building an extension which does not fall under permitted development, then you will need to apply for planning permission from your Local Authority.

When undertaking a project, you might hear people say you need to get planning permission and building regulations approval for your works. When are they required and what is involved?

For a semi-detached or terraced house, you can extend your property at the rear by 3m. For a detached property it's 4m. This distance applies to the original property when it was built, or prior to 1948 for older buildings.