Design Fees - A Guide to Architects Fee Calculation
Design Fees - How to calculate our design fees
Architectural Design Fees Intro
Traditional Architectural design fees were based on sliding fee scales, based upon the value of construction work undertaken, type and size of project.
These mandatory design fee scales were abolished by Margaret Thatcher during the 1990's because she wanted to remove monopolies.
Although today the design fee scale structure is only used as a guide to calculate what fees to charge.
For example:
For works to an existing domestic building they started at 16% for values under £20,000 and went down to 11% for values above £1,000,000.
For new build house construction they started at 10% for values under £20,000 and went down to 6% for values above £1,000,000.
Design Fees - Calculation
At A1 Architecture Ltd, we use the above design fee scale but with a reduction of 50% to allow for market conditions and to be competitive with other qualified professions.
To further simplify the calculation we use a flat scale (full design service) of:
8% for works to existing domestic buildings
4% for new build housing
The Construction Cost is based on the new internal floor area proposed at £1,000* / m2; unless a contract sum can be identified in which case the fee would be adjusted to suit.
* - Excludes Fixtures, Fittings, Finishes or VAT
The % fee shown bold above is for the 'full design service', but this is split into 3 stages:
Scheme Design (Planning): 35% (must be completed)
Detail Design (Building Regs); 40% (optional - Building Notice Route)
Contract Admin (Site works): 25% (optional if Certification of work is NOT required)
Additional Costs / Fees
Measured Survey Fees (domestic):
For single storey extension: £150
For two storey extension: £300
For 3 storey / loft conversion: £450
Tree / Landscape site plan: £200
(Required for planning if you have any trees or hedges on your site or within falling distance of your boundary)
Expenses:
Printing and postage: Charged at cost
OS Plan with 12 months end user licence: £40
Travelling: 40p/mile (free within 10 miles of GL2 5JW)
LA Fees: Oct 2009
Planning Applications (extensions): £150
Building Regulation Applications (extensions):
Not exceeding 10m2 internal floor area: £300
10m2 to 40m2: £450
40m2 to 60m2: £600
Building Regulation Applications (New Build Houses, Flats, etc.less than 300m2):
1 House - £600
2 Houses - £825
3 Houses - £1,072
More than 3 Houses - Please request for details
Planning Applications (New Build Houses):
£300 each dwelling
Other Consultants Fees:
Structural Engineers Fees: £100 per beam calculation
(If required)
Please Note:
We are a Chartered Architectural Practice and our design fees should be compared to other practices such as: Chartered Architects, Chartered Surveyors or other Chartered Architectural Technologist on a like for like basis on the services to be provided. We offer a professional service and our design fees should not be compared to un-qualified, non-insured, plan drawers (known as 'plan monkeys').