Pre-purchase design & planning review
Buying a property is often accompanied by questions about what can realistically be altered, extended, or developed. Our pre-purchase design and planning review provides independent architectural advice before or during the purchase process, helping you understand a property’s potential and constraints before committing.
​
This service is particularly valuable where future plans may influence the purchase decision, negotiations, or overall budget.
What the review covers
Each review is tailored to the property and stage of purchase, but typically considers:
-
Development and extension potential
-
Planning constraints and policy context
-
Permitted development versus full planning routes
-
Site, access, and layout limitations
-
Likely risks, constraints, and non-obvious issues
-
Order-of-magnitude implications for future works
​
Our focus is not on drawings, but on clarity, identifying what is realistically achievable and where caution is required.
When this service is appropriate
A pre-purchase design and planning review is suitable if you are:
-
Assessing whether a property can be extended or adapted
-
Comparing multiple properties with different constraints
-
Seeking reassurance before making or revising an offer
-
Concerned about planning risk, conservation status, or site limitations
-
Wanting independent advice separate from agents or sellers
​
The service can be undertaken before an offer is made, during negotiations, or while progressing toward exchange.
Levels of review
The level of review depends on the complexity of the property and the certainty required at this stage. We offer three progressive levels of service:
Indicative Fees (Guide Only)
​
Tier 1: Desktop pre-purchase review
A desktop-based appraisal carried out prior to purchase, using available drawings, estate-agent particulars, planning history, mapping data, and local policy context. We review the property’s development potential, planning constraints, and known risks, and provide high-level guidance on feasibility and likely routes forward, ideal for early filtering before committing to a viewing or site visit.
Fees typically £450 – £600 + VAT
Best suited to buyers who want informed early advice before progressing further or incurring on-site costs.
​
Tier 2: Site visit pre-purchase appraisal
A focused on-site consultation carried out before exchange, allowing you to walk the property with a senior architectural consultant and ask detailed, property-specific questions in real time. We assess design potential, planning constraints, build risks and provide an early, realistic guide to likely project costs, giving you clarity before you commit.
Fees typically £750 – £1,100 + VAT
​
Tier 3: Strategic purchase support
A higher-level advisory service for more complex or higher-value purchases, where strategic planning, risk management, and long-term potential are key considerations. This tier may include multiple properties, phased advice, follow-up discussions, or coordination with other consultants, helping you assess not just whether a property can work, but whether it is the right investment to pursue.
Fees typically £1,500 – £2,000 + VAT
​
The appropriate level is discussed at enquiry stage to ensure the advice matches the decision being made.
Benefits of the site consultation
What clients value most is the ability to talk through the property while standing in it. During the visit, you can point out specific rooms, boundaries, neighbours’ extensions, roof forms, and constraints that are difficult to assess from plans or photos alone. This allows us to give practical, experience-led advice on what is realistically achievable, where planning or technical issues may arise, and a rough order-of-cost view for common routes forward, helping you understand not just what could be done, but whether it broadly fits your budget.
FAQ's
Do these fees include drawings? No. All pre-purchase reviews are advisory in nature. Any design drawings or technical work are provided under a separate appointment, if you decide to proceed.
​
Independent advice
This service is provided independently of any future architectural appointment. Its purpose is to support informed decision-making, whether that leads to proceeding, renegotiating, or deciding not to move forward.
Where we are subsequently appointed to continue, early strategic work is not repeated, allowing the design process to progress more efficiently.
​
Where a property has already been secured and advice is required ahead of a planning submission, a pre-planning application assessment report can help clarify planning risk and strategy before proceeding.
Next steps
If you are considering a property and would like clear, professional advice before committing, please get in touch to discuss the appropriate level of review for your situation.
​