Residential Architects in Essex.

Private residential clients come to us for new-build houses on plots across Essex, for extensions and remodelling of existing homes, and increasingly for whole-house refurbishment where an older property has reached the end of a phase of use. We work through the RIBA stages, are clear about fees, and typically stay involved through construction so that the finished building matches the drawings.

For developers and housebuilders we work on schemes from a handful of units up to several hundred. Chignal Road, Coval Lane, Land Off Beach's Drive and Mascalls Park are recent examples in and around Chelmsford. Further afield we have delivered New Hall Housing at Harlow, Loughton retirement living and larger masterplan-led sites at Prittlebrook and beyond.

We understand the commercial context that housebuilder clients work within, and design accordingly. Layouts need to meet density targets, unit mixes need to be lettable or saleable, and details need to be buildable to programme without the specification drifting.

A significant proportion of Essex sits within the Metropolitan Green Belt, which shapes what can and cannot be built. On Green Belt sites we look carefully at replacement dwelling and reuse policies, at rural exception thresholds, and at how the setting of the site will read once the scheme is complete. On infill and backland plots we spend more time on the planning strategy than on the drawings early on, because that is where the value is created.

Most private clients start with a site visit and a feasibility study, which establishes what the plot will allow, what the planning position is likely to be and what a realistic budget looks like. Concept design follows, usually as a small number of options to discuss, and then the planning application, which takes eight weeks from validation in the ordinary course.

After consent we prepare the technical drawings needed for Building Regulations approval and for contractors to price the work properly. During construction we can administer the building contract, visit site at agreed intervals and certify payments, which gives an independent check on quality and progress.

Building or altering a home is a long commitment, and the working relationship matters as much as the design. We keep the number of people involved small, so clients deal with the same architect throughout, and we set fees out stage by stage so the commitment is clear at every point.

As a RIBA Chartered Practice we also take on Principal Designer duties under the Building Regulations where appropriate, and advise on sustainable design and on the particular requirements of listed and conservation area properties. A good proportion of our residential work arrives through recommendation from previous clients, which is the measure we pay most attention to.