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Do I need Planning Permission to build a Garden Home Office?
“Can I work from home in a garden office?” Working From Home Covid-19 has meant that many of us have had to alter how we
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Buckinghamshire Architects
Buckinghamshire Architects For Residential Projects
From High Wycombe, Aylesbury, Marlow, and Milton Keynes to Chalfont St Peter or Gerrards Cross, we are a leading choice of Buckingham architects with a multi-disciplinary team of experienced professionals awaiting your brief!
We are specialists in housing and multipurpose residential design and home improvement projects that add value and boost the quality of life. From a listed period property refurb to extending an AONB dwelling, embarking on a barn conversion or a new house build, we can help with planning permission, landscaping, and contractor/builder management. Our design and architect team love to bring our client’s dream to life, enhancing the value of their home for better lifestyle and investment for years to come.
As award-winning architects in the Home Counties, AURA have been designing extensions, refurbishments, loft, and basement conversions since 2014.
Taking a client-first approach to every aspect of a property when preparing plans making sure that we utilise the space and original features creatively to create the home that you want.
Personalised Buckingham Architectural Service
Our architects in Buckingham and the surrounding areas are known for designing projects that show an understanding of the client’s ideas and wish list and ensuring that every aspect of the project is planned, managed and built for you.
Our client’s brief is often to create simple, naturally light-filled living spaces, that are energy-efficient, sustainable, and provide optimal living space. We can work with your preferred builder, or help further by selecting the main contractor and managing the entire process on your behalf.
From our London location, we are well-placed for renovation, extensions and new-build projects across the Home Counties through South West England, bringing a wealth of design creativity to our personal service.
Discovering what you want to achieve from your home alteration/extension and understanding the needs of local planning authorities is key to delivering long-term value.
Taking a client-first approach, our designers think about every aspect of a property when we prepare planning designs, making sure that we utilise the space and original features creatively to create the home that you want.
AURA Architecture Director, Ben Richards, is a qualified architectural engineer with a passion for designing amazing spaces which support healthy, sustainable living. With over 15 years of study and work in the field, he has the experience and network to deliver your project on spec, on time and within budget.
Residential Architecture Projects In Buckinghamshire
Development Design Guide For Buckinghamshire Homeowners
Are You Looking For Architect Plans Only Or A Full Architectural Design And Manage Service?
As standard, AURA Architecture prepares all documents and drawings needed to comply with national Building Regulations and to enable the builders to understand what is required of them. We also prepare a full set of drawings that will be needed for your Planning Permission Application.
What Comes With The AURA Premium Residential Architecture Service Level?
To ensure the interior and finish of your space have the high-end finish that we plan, we create a full Specification of Works covering interior design, finer finishes and fittings to keep all parties aligned throughout the project.
Our cutting-edge 3D design service allows you to ‘walk through’ the architect’s plans, giving you a real feel of what the finished home will look like from all angles.
View Example 3D Architectural Design Walkthrough
The work’s tender process can often get complex and time-consuming, so many of our clients take advantage of our full-service package where we obtain a range of competitive quotes from trusted suppliers for all the various building trades and check that contracts cover all critical information.
Furthermore, we monitor the build process, resolving any issues that arise and reporting back to you regularly.
Our design guide takes you through the architectural design process from start to finish. It sets out all the stages from initial design through to completion and shows you how we can help at each step of the way.
Download our free 10-Step Home Design Guide here
Let us help you achieve your home design dreams. Your first step is to create a basic design brief using our online enquiry form. We then look at up-to-date local planning policies (Aylesbury Vale, Wycombe, Chiltern, and South Bucks all have differences) and planning history that could affect your project and meet with you to explain any constraints you may need to be aware of. After that, we provide a written fee proposal and help you budget for other costs. So that you can see how the project will look on completion, we produce three concept designs for you to choose from. These include floor plans, and sketches, and can also include 3D images with our premium service. Your house remodelling or extension may require a full planning permission application or just building regulations approval for certain minor alterations. We can complete the necessary application for you, including filling out the forms on your behalf, drawing up a full set of plans, and submitting any requested supporting documentation.
Costs of Architects in Buckinghamshire:
Unlike many architects and architectural designers, our fee structure is entirely transparent.
We charge a flat fee of £75 per hour for our services and advise that our full range of services (if used) will be around 8-12% of your total build costs.
Typical architects in the Home Counties charge between 11-15% of the construction value.
More comprehensive details of our fees are shown online here
Planning Permission in Buckinghamshire
Planning permission for new houses or extensions in Buckinghamshire is currently handled by four local district councils.
For example, if you live in or near:
- Buckingham, Winslow, Aylesbury, or Wendover, your planning authority will be Aylesbury Vale
- Princes Risborough, High Wycombe & West Wycombe, Marlow, or Stokenchurch, your planning authority will be Wycombe District
- Amersham, Chalfont, or Chiltern Hills, your planning authority will be Chiltern District
- Beaconsfield, Burnham, or Gerrards Cross, your planning authority will be South Bucks District
Using the National Planning Portal, any architect can apply for permission from anywhere in the country. However, there is much to be said for using a team that is already familiar with applications in Buckinghamshire, particularly in the Chilterns ANOB.
Firstly, they know what to expect in performance, and can tell if a delay is typical or points to some problem. Secondly, they get to know the favourite concerns or solutions that are raised or accepted by the team – this can help you make choices at the start of the project, rather than waiting until a problem comes up, and time is wasted.
At AURA the creative design skill for your ideal home is blended with practical knowledge of how local planning authorities think, saving you valuable time and money.
During 2021 and 2022, Buckinghamshire issued the largest number of Planning Enforcement notices outside of London. For tips on when planning permission for your residential extension is needed, see our blog “What Is Planning Permission And What Is Permitted Development?”
Did you know? House prices in Buckinghamshire have risen 69.58% since 2010
Our Online Reviews
Scott Robertson
June 20, 2023
Professional, reliable, great to work with.
Highly recommended if you are renovating your house.
Carina Isabel Lopes De Carvalho
May 2, 2023
It is a company of excellence
Emily Stuart
January 25, 2022
I used Aura for a side return and rear extension, and a renovation of my first floor bathroom. I wanted something unique and characterful, with lots of natural light. Aura really went above and beyond my expectations, creating me a space that truly is more than I could have imagined.
From the initial consultation, where I felt immediately at ease with the team, to the transparency in their costings, all the way through the design process and project management, Aura have been consistently professional, communicative and flexible.
It certainly hasn’t been an easy time for anyone in the industry, but Aura’s solution-first attitude and their adaptability made it so easy to work with them through lockdowns, supply chain challenges, pingdemics and everything in between. It was a true pleasure to work with the team - they really do their utmost to make the process as straightforward, simple and enjoyable as possible.
I’d not hesitate to recommend Aura. They team are the perfect balance of creative and practical, imagination and solutions, to make whatever dream you have come to life.
Rob Birkin
November 18, 2021
Georgina
February 9, 2021
I chose to use Aura based on their reviews in June 2020. At first it was a really good experience and I was impressed with their professionalisim.
I received my drawings and wasn't completely happy with them. The 4 options I was given were all basically the same thing.
They never came to my property to see the space or get a feel for where the light was coming in etc. The bathroom on the drawing didn't make sense as it was so small. (See below). The snug was also like a meter so again didn't make sense.
I tried to escalate this to Ben, and I was offered another call but I had lost confidence in them.
My neighbour was also doing work on her flat which is a similar layout and in contrast her drawings were really well thoughtout. In the end I had to pay again to get my drawings redone. (Attachment P&S - one example of my new drawings below - the more detailed drawings).
I asked Aura for a partial refund as I never actually received a final drawing from them (despite paying for them) and they refused.
It was just a disappointing and expensive experience.
Anthony Egan
May 22, 2020
I recently contacted Aura Homes Ltd to discuss a small development project. The project was unusual and a lot of factors needed to be taken into account due to the location, site surroundings and practicality of the proposal.
I originally discussed it with Ben Richards who I found to be helpful, knowledgable and very accommodating in that he listened intently to give a fair assessment of feasibility.
Iris Kouneni was assigned to me and met with me to thoroughly discuss and understand what my intentions were. Like Ben, she digested my layman’s view and proceeded to give me her professional opinion.
Iris and Ben were an absolute delight to work with, professional, knowledgeable, enthusiastic and communicative to mention just a few of their qualities.
Unfortunately due to the COVID19 lockdown we have had to shelve the project.
It's been a pleasure to work with Aura Homes Ltd, refreshingly honest and professional.
I look forward to working together with them in the future.
Brendan Quinn
May 20, 2020
Thanks for reading this review. Ben is one of my monthly sponsors of the Property Events that I have run and also of the National Development Summit earlier in 2020. In a business setting I really appreciate Ben's support, particularly during COVid19- Ben had the option of pulling out of my events as a sponsor- as I have had to pivot- moving them online. Ben has continued to support these events as a sponsor, when he could have easily turned his back and moved on. Also at the National Development Summit 2020, Ben could see the effort I had put in to make the event, a great event, and himself and his team also equally put in huge effort. When you organise events, you ideally want things to go smoothly in terms of presenters turning up on time/before time, and with slides which are hassle free, and this Ben has done so. I have been to Ben's office several times and the staff have been really friendly. Ben's knowledge of working at Berkeley Homes, puts his company at a very high level.
Louise Hancock
April 13, 2020
Aura Homes is a highly professional firm of architects that always have the clients best interests at hart. The quality of their plans and drawings is superb and their turn-around when making amendments well within expected timelines. For bespoke projects, their research and recommendations (both in terms of quality and costs) is superb.
Harry Bucknell
April 10, 2020
Couldn't recommend Ben and his team more. We were in a really tricky position with our building project and Ben navigated us safely out of it. Superb guidance, great technical knowledge and what I really valued the most was the communication. Always got back to me promptly which makes a real difference when stress levels are high. Thanks Aura!
Eugene Clarke
April 9, 2020
The quality of work from Arua Architecture is to an excellent standard. We worked primarily with Ben and Gabby, they provide a friendly and professional service that minimised the worry and stresses associated with building projects.
We hired Aura Architecture to assist us with our building project. We appointed them for the following work:
- Regularisation on previous designs
- Planning conditions discharge
- Building regulation drawings
- Detailed designs
They came recommended from a Structural engineering company, and we were not disappointed.
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