We’re London-based, with a nationwide remote service. We deliver full architectural drawings packs into Birmingham City Council without needing a local studio. You choose between a virtual survey (we guide you through capturing photos and measurements from your own property) or a site visit (chargeable at travel cost). Either way, fees, revisions and sign-off are fixed up front — no hourly billing.

The 30-second version

Location
Birmingham
Council
Birmingham City Council
Postcodes
B1–B98
Service type
Remote + optional visit
Fees from
£840
Approval rate
98% first time

How our remote architectural service works in Birmingham

Most Birmingham homeowners don’t need a local architect — they need accurate drawings, correct planning policy interpretation, and a responsive team that turns revisions around quickly. That’s a workflow that runs better digitally than on-site. Birmingham’s housing stock is built around the inter-war semi, with strong heritage clusters in the Jewellery Quarter and Edgbaston — a mix of stock our team has drawn hundreds of times.

1

Virtual or site survey

You capture photos and measurements using our one-page checklist, or we travel to Birmingham for a full measured survey (chargeable at travel cost).

2

Existing drawings

We produce CAD floor plans, elevations and sections from your survey, then verify everything on a 15-minute video call before design work starts.

3

Design & policy check

We design against Birmingham City Council local plan, relevant Article 4 Directions, and any conservation area appraisal — before anything is committed to a drawing.

4

Submission

We prepare the full application pack, submit to the council on the Planning Portal, and manage validation, revisions and officer queries through to decision.

Services and fixed fees

Every package below is delivered end-to-end by a chartered technologist. Revisions and officer queries are included; no hourly billing.

Planning drawingsFrom £840 · Conservation & Article 4 aware Building regulationsFrom £1,050 · Structural coordination included Loft conversionsFrom £1,225 · Dormer, mansard or Velux House extensionsFrom £1,750 · Rear, side return, wraparound Mansard roofsFrom £1,575 · Conservation-area friendly

Birmingham’s planning context

Housing stock. Housing stock is dominated by 1930s semi-detached suburban houses across Edgbaston, Moseley, Kings Heath, Harborne and Bournville, alongside Victorian villas in Edgbaston and Moseley and Georgian terraces around the Jewellery Quarter. Outer suburbs like Sutton Coldfield and Solihull add post-war detached stock.

Conservation & heritage. Birmingham has 30 conservation areas including the Jewellery Quarter, Edgbaston, Moseley, Harborne, Bournville, and Sutton Coldfield Town. Article 4 Directions apply in several (most notably the Jewellery Quarter and Bournville) to protect shopfronts and terrace rhythms. Bournville in particular has extremely prescriptive design controls dating from the original Cadbury trust.

Council approach. Birmingham City Council runs a pragmatic validation process but heritage areas are tightly managed. Rear extensions under 4 metres on semis are a routine success provided materials and fenestration match. We work from the Birmingham Development Plan and the High Places & Places for Living SPDs on every Birmingham application.

Why choose us for your Birmingham project

MCIAT charteredEvery drawing set is signed off by a chartered architectural technologist — the CIAT-regulated equivalent of an architect for technical design and planning work.
30% below local ratesOur fixed fees typically run 30–50% below Birmingham architect hourly-rate quotes for the same scope of work.
98% first-time approvalOur national first-time approval rate across all UK authorities we’ve drawn into. Revisions are always included if we miss.
Fixed fees, no surprisesEvery package is quoted up front against your scope. Revisions, officer queries and minor policy pivots are included.
Digital-native deliveryAll drawings, revisions and submissions handled via our client portal. No courier fees, no studio visits, no waiting a week for a callback.
UK-wide policy coverageWe maintain active notes on Birmingham City Council validation and design guidance, so your drawings hit the ground ready for the local planning officer.

Frequently asked questions

Can you really work outside London on a Birmingham project?

Yes. Around one in five of our active projects is outside London and we routinely deliver full planning and building regulations drawings into Birmingham City Council remotely. Our drawings-first model doesn’t depend on being on-site daily — it depends on an accurate survey, solid policy knowledge, and responsive revisions, all of which we handle digitally.

Do you visit the site in Birmingham?

We offer two options. Most clients use our virtual survey — you provide photos and measurements using our illustrated checklist, we convert that into the CAD survey. For complex heritage or listed projects we can travel to site (chargeable at travel cost, typically £160–£240 from London) and complete a full measured survey in person.

How does the virtual survey work?

We send you a PDF survey pack with a one-page photo plan, room-by-room measurement checklist, and guidance on capturing floor-to-ceiling heights and window positions. You return it by email within a few days. We then produce existing drawings and schedule a verification call before proposed design work begins. Most clients complete the survey in 2–3 hours.

Do you know Birmingham City Council’s planning policies?

Yes. We research every authority’s local plan, supplementary planning documents and relevant Article 4 Directions before committing to a fixed fee. For Birmingham specifically we maintain a working file on Birmingham City Council’s current validation requirements, the Jewellery Quarter and Edgbaston conservation area appraisals, and the Bournville design guide. Our 98% first-time approval rate is sustained across every English authority we’ve drawn into.

What’s the cost difference versus a local Birmingham architect?

Local architects in Birmingham typically quote at hourly rates of £70–£100 and total project fees from £2,800 upwards for a house extension. Our fixed fees start at £840 and rarely exceed £2,500 even for complex jobs. The saving is roughly 30–50% — we make it work by removing the London-studio overhead and working entirely in digital delivery.

We offer the same remote service across the UK’s major cities. Pick a nearby location for region-specific guidance:

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