The 30-second version
How our remote architectural service works in Cambridge
Most Cambridge homeowners don’t need a local architect — they need accurate drawings, correct planning policy interpretation, and a responsive team that turns revisions around quickly. Cambridge has unusually high conservation coverage for a city its size — almost every central street is in a conservation area, which is where detailed design knowledge and a design-and-access statement writer earn their keep.
Virtual or site survey
You capture photos and measurements using our one-page checklist. For central Cambridge listed or complex sites we often train up (chargeable at travel cost).
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.
Design & policy check
We design against Cambridge Local Plan, the Central Conservation Area appraisal, Suburbs Design Guide and Green Belt policies.
Submission
We prepare the full application pack (with Heritage Statement and Design & Access Statement where needed), submit via the Planning Portal, and manage revisions 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.
Cambridge’s planning context
Housing stock. Victorian terraces through Mill Road, Romsey and Petersfield; Edwardian villas in Newnham and Chesterton; extensive collegiate and historic stock in the city centre; and a green belt ringing the outer boundary that limits new-build and heavy extensions. Outlying villages (Great Shelford, Grantchester, Trumpington, Girton) fall under South Cambridgeshire District Council.
Conservation & heritage. Cambridge has 13 conservation areas covering almost the entire central city. Listed buildings are extremely prevalent — not just colleges but residential streets around Jesus Green, the Backs, and Brookside. The city lies inside the Cambridge Green Belt, which constrains anything beyond the defined boundary.
Council approach. Cambridge City Council takes a detailed, design-first approach and will reject extensions judged to diminish college-town character. We produce Design & Access Statements and heritage impact assessments on every central-Cambridge application. The Cambridge Local Plan, Suburbs Design Guide and the Central Conservation Area appraisal guide our policy checks.
Why choose us for your Cambridge project
Frequently asked questions
Can you really work outside London on a Cambridge project?
Yes. Cambridge is a regular destination for our team — the train is short and design-heavy planning matters are well-suited to our drawings-first workflow. We routinely deliver full planning, building regulations and Listed Building Consent drawings into Cambridge City Council remotely.
Do you visit the site in Cambridge?
Often yes — Cambridge is 50 minutes from London by train. Site visits typically cost £120–£160 including rail fare. For simple suburban extensions the virtual survey works at no extra cost.
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.
Do you know Cambridge City Council’s planning policies?
Yes. We maintain a working file on Cambridge City Council’s validation requirements, the Central Conservation Area appraisal, the Suburbs Design Guide, and Cambridge Green Belt boundary policies. For outlying village sites we shift to South Cambridgeshire District Council policies. Our 98% first-time approval rate is sustained across every English authority we’ve drawn into.
What’s the cost difference versus a local Cambridge architect?
Local architects in Cambridge typically quote at hourly rates of £75–£110 and total project fees from £3,500 upwards for a typical project. Cambridge has some of the highest architectural fees outside Central London. Our fixed fees start at £840 — a 30–50% saving.