Our Architectural Process

Creating or transforming a home should be an exciting experience. Our role is to make the architectural process clear, considered and enjoyable, guiding you from the first conversation through to completion.

At Lewis Critchley Architects, we follow a straightforward four-stage process, taking projects from initial ideas and concept design through planning, technical design and construction.

As RIBA Chartered Architects based in Gloucestershire, we work on new homes, extensions, renovations and refurbishment projects across Cheltenham, Tewkesbury, the Cotswolds and further afield.

Our approach is informed by the RIBA Plan of Work, but every project is different. We take time to understand you, your property, how you want to live and what you want to achieve. From there, we develop a design and project strategy tailored specifically to you.

1. Consultation

Understanding Your Project

Every project begins with a conversation.

We’ll discuss your ideas, aspirations, budget and the practical requirements of the project before arranging an initial visit to your property or site.

During this visit, we look at the opportunities and constraints presented by the building and its surroundings. For an existing property, this includes considering space, light, circulation and how the building could work better for you. For a new home, we consider the character, orientation and potential of the site alongside any planning considerations.

Just as importantly, this first meeting gives you the opportunity to get to know us, ask questions and understand what will be involved in taking your project forward.

Fee Proposal & Appointment

Following our consultation, we will set out our recommended approach and provide a clear proposal for our architectural services.

Our appointment explains the stages relevant to your project, our fees and any additional consultants or surveys we anticipate may be required.

Not every project needs the same level of service, so our appointment is tailored to the particular requirements of your project.

Establishing the Budget

Understanding the relationship between your aspirations and budget is an important part of the early design process.

We will discuss your priorities from the outset and help you understand where compromises or choices may need to be made. As the design develops and more detailed cost information becomes available, we can work with you and the wider project team to keep the scheme aligned with your priorities.

Surveys

Accurate information is essential to good design.

For existing buildings, a measured survey will usually be required before design work begins. Depending on the property and site, additional information such as a topographical survey, tree survey or other specialist assessments may also be needed.

We will advise you on what is appropriate for your project.

2. Concept & Planning

Developing the Design

This is where your ideas begin to take shape.

Using everything we have learned during the consultation and survey stages, we explore the possibilities for the project and develop a considered architectural response.

We look carefully at layout, form, light, materials and the relationship between spaces, balancing creativity with the practical requirements of the brief, site and budget.

The design develops collaboratively. We present our ideas clearly, listen to your feedback and refine the proposals until we arrive at a scheme that feels right for you.

Planning Permission

Where planning permission is required, we prepare the necessary architectural information and submit the application to the relevant local authority on your behalf.

We then monitor the application and communicate with the planning case officer where appropriate throughout the determination period.

Planning decisions are made independently by the local planning authority, and requirements and timescales can vary depending on the nature and location of the project.

Getting the Design Right

Changes that appear small can have wider implications for layout, structure, appearance, cost and programme.

For this reason, we encourage clients to make key design decisions before a planning application is submitted. Taking time to resolve the design at this stage creates a stronger foundation for everything that follows and can help minimise unnecessary redesign later.

3. Technical Design

Once the design and necessary approvals are in place, we develop the project in much greater technical detail.

This is the stage where the building is effectively resolved on paper before construction begins.

We coordinate architectural information with structural engineers and other consultants as required, developing the drawings and specifications needed for Building Regulations, pricing and construction.

Decisions about materials, junctions, finishes and key architectural details are developed so that the original design intent can be carried through into the finished building.

Procurement & Tender

We will advise you on the most appropriate route for appointing a contractor.

Depending on the project, this may involve negotiating with a preferred contractor or inviting a number of suitable contractors to tender competitively for the work.

When tenders or quotations are returned, we review them with you, identify any significant differences or exclusions and help you understand the costs before deciding how to proceed.

Where necessary, we can also work with you to refine the scope or specification so that the project remains aligned with your budget while protecting the qualities that matter most to the design.

4. Construction

Seeing a project move from drawings to a physical building is one of the most rewarding stages of the architectural process.

The contractor works from the detailed construction information prepared for the project, while we remain involved to help ensure that the architectural intent is understood and carried through on site.

Where appointed to administer the building contract, we monitor progress, respond to queries, review the quality of the work and assess valuations throughout construction.

We can also issue payment certificates based on the work completed, helping to provide clarity and structure throughout the build.

As construction progresses, there will inevitably be decisions to make and details to resolve. Our continued involvement provides an experienced architectural presence throughout this process and helps maintain the quality and coherence of the original design.

From First Ideas to a Finished Building

Every project is different, but our aim remains the same: to make the journey from initial idea to completed building as clear, collaborative and rewarding as possible.

Whether you are creating a new home, extending an existing property, undertaking a major renovation or breathing new life into an older building, we approach every project with the same care and attention.

The result is architecture that responds to its setting, works beautifully for the people who use it and feels distinctly yours