MCIAT chartered architectural technologists covering Dorking and the wider Surrey commuter belt from our London base. Planning permission, building regulations, loft conversions, extensions and mansard roofs, 30% below typical London architect rates.
Picturesque market town at the foot of Box Hill, sitting entirely within the Surrey Hills AONB.
All householder planning applications in Dorking are determined by Mole Valley District Council. The council follows the National Planning Policy Framework and its own adopted Local Plan, supported by area-specific design guides and Supplementary Planning Documents.
Conservation areas: Dorking Town Centre, Westcott, Brockham and Mickleham are conservation areas. Box Hill and Denbies Hillside are Sites of Special Scientific Interest within the AONB.
Policy quirks to watch: The Surrey Hills AONB status means any application must demonstrate that landscape impact is minimised. Mole Valley's Green Belt review is ongoing and remains restrictive on new dwellings outside defined settlements.
Typical housing in Dorking includes georgian and Victorian townhouses in the town centre, Arts and Crafts villas on the outskirts, and rural farmhouses and cottages in the surrounding Surrey Hills villages. This mix drives the types of projects we most often prepare drawings for here.
Five core services, all delivered by MCIAT chartered architectural technologists, all within our 50-mile service radius.
Full planning submission: existing/proposed plans, elevations, site plan, and Design & Access Statement.
Construction-detail drawings for your builder and Building Control submission.
Rear dormer, hip-to-gable, L-shape or mansard loft conversion drawings.
Single-storey, double-storey, wrap-around and side-return extension drawings.
Full mansard conversion drawings with structural and thermal detailing.
Every drawing is signed off by a Chartered Member of the Institute of Architectural Technologists. The same quality bar that applies to our central London projects applies to our Dorking work.
We regularly submit to all M25 commuter-belt councils including Mole Valley District Council. We research each council's Local Plan, design guides and recent decision history before we start drawing.
No mileage charges, no hourly rates, no surprises on the invoice.
Our submissions across the 33 London boroughs and the M25 commuter belt are prepared for council review before submission. This helps reduce avoidable resubmission risk and delay.
Sympathetic extensions to listed and historic homes require additional heritage input. For period properties in Dorking, we prepare heritage impact statements, use traditional materials and maintain the original proportions that Mole Valley District Council's conservation officer will expect to see.
Mole Valley District Council application fees are charged separately at the statutory rate.
Planning permission drawings for Dorking.
Planning + building regulations drawings for Dorking.
Complex or listed-building projects in Dorking.
Yes. Dorking is well within our 50-mile service radius from our London office. We cover all Dorking postcodes (RH4, RH5) for planning permission drawings, building regulations drawings, loft conversions, house extensions and mansard roofs. Dorking is 25 miles from central London (50 min from London Waterloo), so our team can comfortably visit for measured surveys and pre-application meetings with Mole Valley District Council.
These prices are roughly 30% below typical London architect rates for the same scope of work. Mole Valley District Council application fees are charged separately at the statutory rate (£548 for a householder planning application, £274 for a Lawful Development Certificate in 2026).
Yes, every project includes an in-person measured survey at your property in Dorking. We typically combine the measured survey with an initial brief discussion on site, then return for pre-submission checks if needed. For projects that require pre-application meetings at Mole Valley District Council, we attend on your behalf and include the call or meeting in the fee.
Yes. While our office is in London, our MCIAT chartered architectural technologists regularly submit to councils across the M25 commuter belt, including Mole Valley District Council. We use the Planning Portal for submissions, so the process is identical regardless of which local planning authority handles your application. We research each council's Local Plan, design guides, and recent decision history before preparing your drawings so that the scheme aligns with their current approach.
The statutory target for a householder planning application is 8 weeks from validation. Mole Valley District Council generally meets this target for straightforward applications, although conservation area or listed building consents can take longer. Pre-application advice typically takes 4–6 weeks. From initial instruction to final decision, expect 10–16 weeks for a typical residential project in Dorking.
MCIAT chartered. council-ready drawing review.
