The 30-second version
How our remote architectural service works in Edinburgh
Edinburgh is one of the most heritage-dense UK cities — a UNESCO World Heritage Site with tenement flats forming the backbone of residential stock. The planning system runs under the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act and the Building (Scotland) Act, not the English equivalents. Our workflow handles the Scottish framework end-to-end: Planning Permission, Building Warrant, Listed Building Consent and common stair consent where needed.
A note on Scottish planning. Applications in Edinburgh run under Scottish planning law — Planning Permission, Building Warrant and (where applicable) Listed Building Consent — not the English Building Regulations system. Our drawings packs are produced to Scottish standards and we liaise with your Building Warrant contractor as part of the fixed fee.
Virtual or site survey
You capture photos and measurements using our one-page checklist. For tenements and listed stock we usually travel 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 the Edinburgh Local Development Plan, World Heritage policies, and common stair / common parts requirements for flats.
Submission
We submit through the Scottish eDevelopment portal and coordinate with your Building Warrant contractor through to the final certificate.
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.
Edinburgh’s planning context
Housing stock. Dominated by Georgian New Town terraces (UNESCO World Heritage), tenement flats through Marchmont, Morningside, Bruntsfield and Leith, Victorian villas in Merchiston and Trinity, and inter-war bungalows in the outer suburbs. Modern new-build is concentrated in Leith Docks and the Western Harbour.
Conservation & heritage. The Old Town and New Town together form a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Edinburgh has 50+ conservation areas across the city. Listed Building Consent is extremely common — around half of all central Edinburgh flats are listed, usually Category B or C. World Heritage policies add additional scrutiny to roof alterations and fenestration changes.
Council approach. City of Edinburgh Council is experienced with the double-consent regime (Planning + Warrant) and is strict on heritage matters. For tenement flats, you’ll also need common stair consent from co-owners for any structural alteration. Our drawings include the information a Scottish building standards surveyor expects, and we coordinate with your Building Warrant contractor throughout.
Why choose us for your Edinburgh project
Frequently asked questions
Can you really work outside London on an Edinburgh project?
Yes. We routinely deliver Scottish Planning Permission, Building Warrant and Listed Building Consent drawings into City of Edinburgh Council remotely — the Scottish planning system runs just as well digitally as the English one. Our drawings-first model doesn’t depend on being on-site daily — it depends on an accurate survey, solid policy knowledge, and responsive revisions.
Do you understand Scottish planning law?
Yes. Our drawings packs are produced to Scottish standards (Planning Permission under the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act, Building Warrant under the Building (Scotland) Act). We liaise directly with your Building Warrant contractor as part of the fixed fee, and can advise on common stair consent requirements for tenement flats.
Do you visit the site in Edinburgh?
We offer two options. For straightforward houses we can use our virtual survey. For tenement work and listed properties we usually travel to site (chargeable at travel cost, typically £260–£340 from London) so the measured survey captures existing fabric, stair access and common areas accurately.
Do you know City of Edinburgh Council’s planning policies?
Yes. We maintain a working file on CEC’s current validation requirements, the New Town and Old Town UNESCO World Heritage policies, and the common conservation appraisals for Marchmont, Bruntsfield and Stockbridge. Our 98% first-time approval rate is sustained across every UK authority we’ve drawn into.
What’s the cost difference versus a local Edinburgh architect?
Local Edinburgh architects typically quote at hourly rates of £75–£110 and project fees from £3,500 upwards for a typical domestic project. Listed and tenement work usually runs higher. Our fixed fees start at £840 and rarely exceed £2,500 even for complex jobs. The saving is roughly 30–50%.