Architect & planning fees: what it really costs in 2026
A Qome Snap Guide: quick, honest and no guff. Approximate figures, adjusted to your region inside Qome.
Snap answer
£1,500 – £13,500 + fees
Concept designs start around £1,500. Full architect service on an extension runs about £4,500, structural calculations from £600, and council fees on top: planning around £548, building regs £700.
Takes3–6 months design to approvalDisruptionNone, this is the calm before the build
Cost at a glance
Option
Best for
Guide range
Concept design
Sketches to test ideas
£1,500 – £4,500
Full service
Drawings through to build
£4,500 – £13,500
Structural engineer
Calculations and visits
£600 – £1,800
Council fees
Planning + building regs
£548 + £700
Approximate guide figures, not quotes, Qome adjusts every price to your region.
What actually happens
Brief and budget agreed, be honest about both
Measured survey of the existing house
Concept designs tested and revised
Planning application drawn and submitted (8+ weeks to decide)
Building regs drawings and structural calcs produced
Tender pack lets builders quote the same job
Price by region
Starting figures by region, the same honest baseline, adjusted for where you live.
London (Inner)from £2,300
London (Outer)from £2,000
South Eastfrom £1,800
East of Englandfrom £1,650
South Westfrom £1,600
Scotland (Highlands)from £1,400
West Midlandsfrom £1,400
North Westfrom £1,400
East Midlandsfrom £1,400
Scotland (Central)from £1,350
Yorkshirefrom £1,350
Walesfrom £1,300
North Eastfrom £1,300
Northern Irelandfrom £1,250
Popular choices
Concept-only then builder's drawingsFull RIBA stages for complex projectsPlanning consultants for tricky sites
Rules & regulations
Householder planning applications cost £258–£548 in fees and take around 8 weeks
Building regulations approval is separate from planning, you usually need both
Architects' fees aren't regulated; quotes for the same job legitimately vary two-fold
Snap tips
Good drawings save their fee twice over in builder quotes, vague drawings price in the unknown
Ask for fixed fees per stage, not a percentage of build cost
Price it properly on Qome
Choose your options and see an honest, region-adjusted estimate, free.