Our Fees
Are you excited about the idea of working with us, let's explain our fee structure.
Our fees explained
We want to keep the fee structure for our services transparent and simple, so you can focus on your architectural project, creating a space that is perfect for you and your family.
We have four services that are cumulative and clearly broken down so you know what will be delivered in each stage. We would love to join you for the full journey, but equally you might want to appoint an architect up to gaining planning permission. If you instruct George & James be safe in the knowledge we can be there for you every step of the way, when you feel you need us.
When we meet you we will create a bespoke proposal for your project with the fees being set proportionate to project value.
Discover
Every successful project starts with understanding. In this stage, we listen closely, ask the right questions, and begin shaping a clear path forward.
Through home and studio meetings, early sketching, and thoughtful planning, we test ideas and build a clear, tailored brief. We assess costs, timescales, planning risk and design potential—transforming uncertainty into a structured route forward. You’ll leave this stage with a realistic brief and a sense of momentum.
What’s included:
- A site or home visit to understand potential and priorities
- Tailored project brief based on your ideas, needs and goals
- A “first sketch” concept to test opportunities and possibilities
- Studio session to review strategy, identify risks and outline next steps
- Advice on consultants, costs, timescales and approvals
- A Discovery Report compiling everything to date:
- Summary of discussions
- Brief
- Early concept drawings
- Fee proposal for the full journey
Measured surveys:
We’ll need accurate existing drawings to proceed. These are typically commissioned via third-party surveyors. We’ll help arrange this and manage the process on your behalf.
Design
This is where your vision begins to take shape. We develop concepts that reflect your brief, fit the site, and support how you want to live—balancing beauty with practicality and ambition with care. Using sketches, 2D drawings and 3D models, we bring your future home to life. At the same time, we prepare everything needed for planning or listed building consent, aligning your aspirations with technical and regulatory requirements.
What’s included:
Sketch Design & Strategy
- Desk study of site and planning policies
- Early design options
- Cost checks (with a QS at an additional cost if required) and planning route advice
- Pre-app submissions where helpful
Developed Design & Planning Prep
- Refined drawings and consultant coordination
- Planning narrative (Design & Access Statement)
- Final drawings and application pack for your approval
Planning Submission & Management
- Submission of planning and listed building applications
- Liaison with case officers, monitoring of feedback
- Guidance through revisions and negotiations
- Post-decision debrief conversation and preparation for next steps
Detail
With permissions in place, we move into the technical phase. The detail stage is delivered in two parts. Together, they form the foundation of a buildable, priced and contract-ready project bringing certainty, control and quality before any work begins on site.
What’s included:
Technical Design
- Studio workshop to define technical scope and materials
- Full technical drawings, construction details and schedules
- Building Regulations submission
- Coordination with structural and services engineers
- Pre-construction health and safety documentation
Tender Process
- Contractor recommendations, interviews and site visits
- Tender pack preparation and issue
- Tender analysis, pricing review and builder appointment
- Contract preparation and insurance checks
- Discharge of planning conditions if required
Deliver
This is where your home is built and where our presence makes the greatest difference. We manage the contract, protect your interests, and keep quality on track through to completion.
What’s included:
Construction (RIBA Stage 5)
- Site inspections and progress monitoring
- Certifying builder payment requests
- Responding to queries and managing change
- Issuing the Certificate of Practical Completion
Fine Tuning (RIBA Stage 6)
- Oversight during the 12-month rectification period
- Site visits, defect schedules and remedial works
- Final account agreement
- Issuing the Final Certificate
Looking to buy a new home or building? Get some valuable initial advice from George & James
If you're looking to buy a home – or any other type of building – and you'd like some initial, straight-talking advice before committing, then we’d love to talk to you. We understand that buying a new home or building is a big investment, probably the biggest investment we ever make in our lives. You might have lots of ideas in your mind about how the building could be improved, or what might need to be done so that the new home or building can work for you. Making such a big financial commitment without the confidence that you will be able to make the changes you dream of can be scary. Our initial advice service can give you this confidence.
Our design service, Kick Off is perfect for this, we will come on the site visit * and create the first initial sketch.
*site visits within a 30 mile radius of the office.
Commercial Projects
If you're a business or a community, do get in touch to find out how we can help. We work on all sorts of different projects (workplaces, multi-unit housing, masterplans, shops, schools... the list goes on), and there are so many variables, so many possible scales and levels of investment, that it’s always worth having a proper conversation before throwing out the numbers.
Responsibility for safety on site
As well as being your architect, we take on the role of ‘Principal Designer’, and you can read about what that entails and why it's so important here.
Our fee for this is around 1% of the build cost, again dependent on the size and complexity of your project.