Why you should choose a local architect

Now that every kind of service seems to be available on line, it’s tempting to look to save some fees by using a designer based somewhere cheaper than London.  But unlike those on-line bargain trousers that don’t fit and can be sent back, it will take a lot longer to find out if the 1% saving on your build budget has bought you delays, a refused planning consent or expensive changes at the build stage. 

The reason most of our built schemes are in central, south and west London is isn’t just laziness on our part or saving travel time, it’s also Local Knowledge.  Both matter when you choose an architect for your renovation or building project. 

 Lots of potential clients ask if we’re familiar with the houses in their street.  That’s too local, and in any case very few streets are that uniform.  London’s suburbs were often built a few houses at a time as the individual builders had funds.  Half a dozen different house types in the same road is common. 

But you do need an architect familiar with your borough.  The big picture may be the same, but get down to detail and each one has different Local Plan policies and differing priorities.  We know because we’ve been there that Kingston has special protection for semi-detached houses with catslide roofs; Kensington controls paint colours; Lambeth has unique rules about mansard roofs; Merton have a unique way to measure loss of daylight; Richmond expects a Sustainable Construction Checklist on their unique standard form; Westminster have specific guidance on mews houses etc.   And everybody wants different provision for dustbins!  Then there’s how all those ‘excessive / appropriate’ wordings get interpreted.  

Only last week I was asked to look at (another firm’s) planning application to convert a house and knew at once which policy will get it refused.  The owner has no doubt been charged for the drawings submitted.  We would have told them before wasting their money. 

And within each Borough there are areas of specific policy, protected shopping parades, local heritage lists and lots and lots of Conservation Areas.  Ask us about a project and we’ll check your planning history, conservation status and flood risk rating before coming to see you or quoting fees.  This is where architecture is both art and science.  You want a stylish but also workable scheme and above all you want it to get planning consent first time.  Or know in advance where boundaries are being tested.  

Travel distance and time matter because the design of your alterations, even to the most ‘standard’ house, should take account of context, and in many cases the condition of the building.  Photos don’t cover this.  We know that the best way to make the design truly meet your needs is talking to you about options in the actual spaces to help you visualise.   Then if we’re going to deal with the build stage for you that’s a lot of visits = lots of travel time.  It doesn’t have to mean walking distance – there are trains that go north, south, east and west from our Putney office!

This is also why sometimes you might want a local structural engineer or surveyor who can visit to assess your building – and hopefully is the reason why you got a buyers report from a local surveyor who understands local ground conditions.  Depending on the project, and whether a visit is essential, we can recommend either local or better value ‘long distance’ engineers and other specialists. 

Does this mean you should look for a local builder?   Unless the work is very specialised, ideally yes.  Paying people to spend hours travelling everyday can’t be cost effective, nor good for the planet if they’re doing it by van.  But London house prices mean that ‘local’ builders for south and west London may come from Cheam or Uxbridge, and bring in trades people from a similar distance.