Services we provide

Architect Design, Technical Services and Management

As Chartered Architects, we provide a quality service in design and professional expertise.  This expertise that an architect brings to any project adds value in many ways.

Professional Expertise Design

We are skilled building designers who can contribute flair and imagination when developing design solutions. We strive for elegantly designed buildings, suggest a form of construction and materials well-suited to your project, and provide a stylish as well as a practical response to your needs.

Professional Expertise

We are construction professionals with knowledge of the building industry and its organisation, working methods and standards. An architect can advise and guide you through the complex process of adhering to building regulations and contractual obligations connected with planning and building.

Value added by the Architect

Value comes in part from keeping within the budget and seeing that a project runs efficiently to completion. It is also about how well the building will function in use, its running costs, life expectancy and resale value. An architect’s design experience can make a positive and often considerable contribution to a project in terms of its cost-effectiveness and overall value.

Full Service (Project Management)

This begins with investigating the feasibility of your requirements, developing design proposals and applying for statutory approvals such as Planning Permission. It includes the handling of tenders for the building work, administering the building contract, and assisting you when the building is handed over by the contractor.

Part Service

Although the full service has benefits in continuity and consistent quality, the agreement can be as flexible as you wish. For example, you may wish to engage an architect up to and including a Planning Application and Building Control Application. We will apportion our fee according to the work stage reached, we do not charge for any work which has not been carried out.

Other Services

We have a broad palette of skills and can provide or arrange other services connected with your project such as measured surveys, sustainability options, interior design, landscaping, etc. Additional fees will usually be chargeable and would be agreed upon in advance.

Sustainable Building Design Services

The practice has a commitment to sustainable design and staying abreast of the latest developments in this field. In order to be able to offer this service as an integrated package with our architectural work, we have developed a range of services. There are expanded upon in the sustainability section of this website.

The services provided are as follows:-

  • Operational net-zero design

  • Providing low carbon design

  • Net-zero consideration of embodied carbon

  • Energy Assessor – OCEA

  • Certified Passive House Designer

  • PHPP (Passive House Planning Package)

  • Thermal Bridge Modelling

  • U-Value Calculations

  • SAP (Standard Assessment Procedure) calculations

  • EPC (Energy Performance Certificates)

Project Management Services

The practice has considerable experience in contract administration and has managed many large and complex projects on site. We are fluent with the traditional JCT form of contract, so familiar to Architects.

We also have extensive knowledge and experience in the NEC 4 form of contract that is now favoured by public bodies for building contracts administration.

We recognise that the on-site success of a project may be enhanced by a better understanding of the roles and responsibilities under the building contract. We take the role of Contract Administrator or Project Architect with the seriousness it deserves. 

Restoration and Conservation

The Practice has renovated and extended Grade B1 and B2 listed buildings keeping the authenticity and the character of the original buildings intact. Our conservation work also includes monitoring the approval process for grant aid and listed building consent. We can advise on lottery funding and Conservation Area matters and have been involved with council-funded renovation grants for listed buildings.

RIBA Conversation Registrant

Paul McAlister has a strong interest in the conservation of historic buildings. In 2018 and 2019 he completed training in advanced conservation for historic buildings and is a RIBA Conversation Registrant.

Principal Designer

Within the construction industry Health and Safety is governed by the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations.

The main duties of the client on all construction projects are to ensure that suitable management arrangements are made for the project. In doing so the client must select and appoint a competent and resourced Principal Designer.

The principal designer's role is to plan, manage and monitor the pre-construction phase, to co-ordinate health and safety. The pre-construction phase is defined as any period during which design or preparatory work is carried out for a project, which may continue during construction. Other duties follow.