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Architects in Cambridge

26 practices covering Cambridge. Listings are business information researched by Renovome; contact details and matching happen inside Workspace.

Appointing an architect in Cambridge

Cambridge architects handle extensions and deep retrofits on period terraces and post-war housing, often with a strong energy-efficiency brief. Plot sizes in the city are tight, so overlooking and daylight to neighbours drive the design more than budget does.

Property you'll be working with in Cambridge

Victorian terraces in Romsey, Mill Road and Petersfield, 1930s and post-war semis in Cherry Hinton and Arbury, and a growing number of retrofit projects on solid-wall property.

Planning in Cambridge

Conservation areas cover much of the central city, and daylight and sunlight to neighbours is assessed closely on rear extensions in tight plots. Greater Cambridge planning also applies local sustainability expectations to larger householder schemes.

What architects charge in Cambridge

Slightly above national average: £1,900 to £4,200 for planning drawings, or 8% to 13% of build cost. Retrofit assessments and thermal modelling, where you want them, add £600 to £2,000.

Indicative 2026 ranges and local context, not quotations or planning advice. Last reviewed: September 2026.

How to choose an architect in Cambridge

Bring an architect or architectural designer in first, before you commit to a layout or a budget. They test what is possible on your house, produce the drawings a builder can price, and handle the planning application.

  1. Check whether they are ARB registered, and whether the practice is RIBA chartered.
  2. Ask to see two projects the same size and type as yours, in the same kind of property.
  3. Ask which stages the fee covers, and what is charged separately.
  4. Ask who does the building regulations drawings and who answers the builder's questions on site.
  5. Ask about their planning approval record with your local council.

What architects in Cambridge typically work on

  • Rear, side return and wrap-around extensions
  • Loft conversions and roof alterations
  • Whole-house renovations and reconfigurations
  • Planning applications, appeals and permitted development checks
  • Building regulations packages and tender drawings

Typical 2026 fees for architects

ItemTypical 2026 cost
Feasibility and concept design£1,200 - £3,500
Planning drawings and application£1,800 - £5,000
Building regulations package£1,500 - £4,500
Full service, percentage of build cost7% - 14%
Hourly rate for advice£75 - £160

Indicative 2026 UK ranges, not quotations. London and the South East usually sit at the top of each range. Last reviewed: September 2026.

Common questions

Do I need an architect for an extension?
Not legally, but you do need drawings good enough for building control and for builders to price the same job. An architect or architectural designer produces those and usually saves more than their fee in avoided rework.
What does an architect cost in 2026?
Between £1,800 and £5,000 for planning drawings on a typical domestic extension, or 7 to 14 per cent of build cost for a full service.

Read next

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