Covering Portsmouth
We work in Portsmouth (PO5) and the places around it, including Gosport, Fareham and Ryde.
Homes in the South East
The South East has a lot of 1930s and post-war semi-detached housing, well suited to rear extensions and hip-to-gable loft conversions, alongside period properties in conservation areas that need a more careful design.
What does architectural design and planning involve?
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.
- Planning or lawful development certificate drawings
- Building regulations drawings and specification
- Structural engineer’s calculations
How much does architectural design and planning cost in Portsmouth?
Use these ranges to budget for architectural design and planning; the survey turns them into a fixed price for the agreed specification.
| 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 |
Planning and building rules in Portsmouth
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.
What should I think about before starting?
- Planning and building regulations are separate approvals; most projects need building regulations even when planning is not needed.
- Pre-application advice from the council can help on sensitive sites.
What are the steps?
- Tell us about the project. Call, use the guide price tool or send the form with a few photos and a postcode.
- 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.
Your questions answered
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.
How do I get a price for architectural design and planning in Portsmouth?
Use the guide price tool for a ballpark figure, then book a visit for a fixed written price for the agreed specification.
Architectural design and planning near Portsmouth
- Architectural design and planning in Gosport
- Architectural design and planning in Fareham
- Architectural design and planning in Ryde
- Architectural design and planning in Havant
Learn more about architectural design and planning, or see every project we cover in Portsmouth.

