The 30-second version
How our remote architectural service works in Glasgow
Glasgow’s residential stock is defined by its sandstone tenements — the West End and Southside contain some of the finest intact tenement streetscapes in Europe. Our team is experienced with the structural and consent specifics of the tenement flat: spine-wall openings, common stair access, common chimney arrangements, and the Section 8 warrant process for any alteration.
A note on Scottish planning. Applications in Glasgow 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
For tenements we usually travel up (chargeable at travel cost). For suburban semis, the virtual survey works at no extra cost.
Existing drawings
We produce CAD floor plans, elevations and sections, then verify everything on a 15-minute video call before design work starts.
Design & policy check
We design against Glasgow’s City Development Plan, Outstanding Conservation Area appraisals, and the Scottish Building Standards.
Submission
Planning submitted through the Scottish eDevelopment portal; Building Warrant coordinated with your 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.
Glasgow’s planning context
Housing stock. Red and blond sandstone tenements define the West End, Southside, Dennistoun and Partick; Victorian terraces run through Dowanhill and Pollokshields; 1930s semis fill Bearsden, Newton Mearns and Giffnock in the commuter belt. Newer stock includes the Commonwealth Games legacy housing around the East End.
Conservation & heritage. Glasgow has 23 Outstanding Conservation Areas including Park, Glasgow West (Kelvinside, Dowanhill), Pollokshields, and the Merchant City. Many city-centre and West End tenements are Category B listed. OCA status places particular weight on material-matching for sandstone repairs and sash window replacements.
Council approach. Glasgow City Council operates under Scottish planning law. Tenement flats typically need common stair consent from co-owners and a full Building Warrant for any structural alteration. Our drawings packs include the information a Scottish building standards surveyor expects. The Glasgow City Development Plan and the Placemaking Principle SPG guide our policy checks.
Why choose us for your Glasgow project
Frequently asked questions
Can you really work outside London on a Glasgow project?
Yes. We routinely deliver Scottish Planning Permission, Building Warrant and Listed Building Consent drawings into Glasgow 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.
Do you understand Scottish planning and tenement rules?
Yes. Our drawings packs are produced to Scottish Building Standards. Tenement flats typically need common stair consent from co-owners and a full Building Warrant for any structural alteration — we handle both routinely and can advise on the Tenements (Scotland) Act requirements for shared roofs and chimneys.
Do you visit the site in Glasgow?
We offer two options. For tenement work and listed properties we usually travel to site (chargeable at travel cost, typically £280–£340 from London) so the measured survey captures existing fabric, stair access and common areas accurately. Simple houses can use our virtual survey at no extra cost.
Do you know Glasgow City Council’s planning policies?
Yes. We maintain a working file on GCC’s validation requirements, the Park, Glasgow West, Pollokshields and Merchant City conservation appraisals, and the relevant Outstanding Conservation Area design guidance. Our 98% first-time approval rate is sustained across every UK authority we’ve drawn into.
What’s the cost difference versus a local Glasgow architect?
Local architects in Glasgow typically quote at hourly rates of £70–£95 and project fees from £2,800 upwards for a typical domestic project. Our fixed fees start at £840 and rarely exceed £2,500 even for complex jobs. The saving is roughly 30–50%.