What exclusions are there on fees?

Generally most Architects (us included), will exclude the following items of work from an initial fee proposal:

Planning condition approval.

Sometimes planning approval comes with a string of conditions that require approval prior to building work commencing. These can range from sign off on external materials (e.g. bricks, timber, roof tiles), through to landscaping proposals, details of windows. The list will be unknown quantity when an Architect is putting together the initial fee proposal. Therefore we can’t give a cost for this until planning approval is issued.

Abortive work.

You may want to proceed (once the planning application has been submitted) with the next stage of work. This means that you do not yet have planning approval but want to crack on. This is what we call working “at risk”. Should the planning authority request changes or get refused and we have to make changes to the scheme, the work we had done at risk is considered abortive There is a charge for this. How much depends on the amount of work undertaken.

Working with specialist consultants.

Other than a Structural Engineer and Party Wall Surveyor we would not expect to engage with any other consultants as standard. You may want to bring on board an interior designer or garden designer. Coordination with them would incur additional fees. It would be in the client’s best interest to make sure everything is aligned, everyone is working towards the same goal and you can avoid costly changes later on. We may also need to engage with an arboriculturist (tree surgeon) or ecologist or planning consultant. All of which requires time to manage and coordinate with.

Party wall award drawings.

Any drawings beyond what are included in our stage 4 or 5 drawings are required as part of the party wall award this would be extra work for us and additional fees would be due.

Pre planning applications.

Unless specifically stated this would not be included as part of our normal services.

3d computer generated visualisations.

Unless specifically stated this would not be included as part of our normal services.

Client changes post planning.

This would include any changes to the design requested by the client that would have a significant impact on the project once planning permission has been granted. This requires us to redesign the project to accommodate a client’s instruction and is chargeable. We always try to minimise this as much as possible. However, if you’re not comfortable with an aspect of the design please discuss it with us sooner rather than later.

Coordination of specialist subcontractor’s designs.

You may decide you want to incorporate a timber frame structure as part of the build. There will more than likely be manufacturer’s drawings that require sign off before going into production. We would always advise a client to have us check over them to check compliance with our specifications and drawings as any errors that are not picked up at the drawing stage can be costly later on to remedy.

Interior design works.

Whilst we will indicatively show the location of potential storage areas we don’t fully design and detail how this joinery will be. Although if it’s of interest it’s something we would normally discuss with you at stage 5 as additional work/services we can provide.

Schedule of works.

This is a document which describes in written form the works that are to be completed and can be used as a pricing document. This is something we can produce or if we have a Quantity Surveyor on board they can complete this.