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.
Residential Architecture Projects In Buckinghamshire
Our 10-step design guide for Homeowners
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
The first step is to contact us using our online enquiry form where you can create a design brief online.
We then look at local policies and planning history 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, sketches, and can also include 3D images with our premium service.
You may require a planning application, to confirm that designs comply with all local planning regulation. We can complete this for you.
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.
Development Design Guide For Buckinghamshire Homeowners
Are You Looking For Architect Plans Only Or A Full Architectural Design And Manage Service?
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.
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?
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.
Costs of Architects in Buckinghamshire:
Unlike many architects and architectural designers, our fee structure is entirely transparent.
We offer a full range of services, which 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
Woking Architect Services
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?”
Our Online Reviews
Aura Architecture & Interiors
3, Lion Yard, Tremadoc Road, London
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Graham, Mark and the Aura team have supported us on the planning permission and design of our building works. The service has been 2nd to none - white glove level. Mark our main contact is responsive and helpful. Using Aura was a superb … More decision and looking forward to completing the journey with them over the next months.
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As main contractors with appreciation for good and efficient design, we were very impressed with Aura from day 1.
The tender pack had more information than some other projects we have done at completion, all the information is precise and … More carefully considered.
On top of that their ongoing project management is flexible and approachable.
Hope we get to work with them again in the future. -
We instructed Aura Architects for a self-build project, they have seamlessly guided us through the process with great care and detail. We have thoroughly enjoyed with Francesco who was been extremely helpful and patient with the project, … More getting us to planning approval which took over 2 years but this did not deter his dedication to the project in what has been a very challenging process.
The whole process has been handled professionally with great communication and understanding from Aura who have taken great care to ensure we are happy and understand each of the key elements.
We are absolutely thrilled with what Aura have created for us and we can not wait to see the project come to life.
I am pleased to recommend Aura for any of your architectural needs! They have been fab and most importantly reliable! Thanks very much and a special thanks to Francesco.
Thanks, J&D. -
I'm pleased to provide a review of Aura Homes for their work on our 4-bedroom self-built home in Hertfordshire. It has been a great experience working with them. Architect Francesco in particular displayed a good understanding of our … More vision and delivered a design that met our expectations. Their expertise and attention to detail were evident throughout the project.
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Overall great design and exceptional value for money. As a first time consumer of architectural services on what was a large project I can not emphasise enough the value add that we got from Ben, Sophie and the wider Aura team. The effort … More and detail put into the design and specification of works along with significant assistance in project management was commendable. As the project evolved it was crystal clear that we saved a significant amount of time and money as a result of having a comprehensive package and most importantly we got what we wanted on budget. Expectations were exceeded in terms of meeting deadlines. Accommodating design changes and assistance with the planning process was also first rate. I would highly recommend the team and look forward to working with them on the next project. -
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. … More Always got back to me promptly which makes a real difference when stress levels are high. Thanks Aura!
