Covering Harlow
Our coverage around Harlow (CM17, CM18, CM92) also includes Hoddesdon, Bishop's Stortford and Waltham Abbey.
Homes in the East of England
Across the East of England, newer estates often have integral garages and room for rear extensions, while older towns have Victorian terraces and conservation areas that shape what can be built.
What goes into architectural design and planning?
Designing and building under one roof means the drawings are priced as they are drawn, so there are fewer surprises when the quote arrives. If you only need drawings and a planning application, we can do that and you are free to use any builder.
- Measured survey of the existing house
- Submission and liaison with the planning officer
- Building regulations drawings and specification
What is the guide price for architectural design and planning in Harlow?
Typical ranges for architectural design and planning. Ground conditions, access and specification move the final figure, which we fix in writing before work starts.
| Architectural design and planning | Guide price incl. VAT |
|---|---|
| Measured survey and existing drawings | £500 to £1,200 |
| Planning drawings and application | £1,200 to £3,000 |
| Building regulations drawings and specification | £1,000 to £2,500 |
| Structural calculations | £500 to £2,000 |
How is architectural design and planning approved in Harlow?
Projects in England go through two separate checks. Planning (or confirmation that the work is permitted development) comes from the district, borough or unitary council, and building regulations approval comes from the council’s building control team or a registered building control approver. Where work touches a shared wall or digs near a neighbour’s foundations, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 applies.
We confirm whether your project is permitted development, needs prior approval or needs a householder application, and prepare the right submission. A lawful development certificate is the best proof that permitted development work is lawful.
What should I think about before starting?
- Pre-application advice from the council can help on sensitive sites.
- Conservation areas and listed buildings need extra design care and supporting statements.
What happens after I enquire?
- Send us the details. Give us a postcode, a rough idea of size and some photos, by phone, form or the guide price tool.
- We visit and measure. A surveyor checks the house, the boundaries and the ground, and discusses what is realistic.
- Price and paperwork. The design is priced line by line, and we submit the planning and building control applications.
- Construction and completion. One site lead co-ordinates every trade through to the building control certificate.
What people ask before starting
How much do extension plans cost?
Typically £3,000 to £7,000 including VAT from measured survey to building regulations drawings, plus council fees.
What is a lawful development certificate?
A certificate from the council confirming that work is permitted development, which is useful when you sell.
Who deals with the council for a project in Harlow?
We do. We prepare the drawings, submit planning or permitted development paperwork if needed, and arrange building control inspections.
Architectural design and planning in nearby towns
- Architectural design and planning in Hoddesdon
- Architectural design and planning in Bishop's Stortford
- Architectural design and planning in Waltham Abbey
- Architectural design and planning in Cheshunt
Learn more about architectural design and planning, or see every project we cover in Harlow.

