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Architects in Cardiff

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

Appointing an architect in Cardiff

Cardiff architects mostly work on rear extensions, loft conversions and reconfiguring Victorian terraces into open-plan family homes. Welsh building regulations differ from England's, so use a practice that works in Wales routinely.

Property you'll be working with in Cardiff

Long Victorian terraces in Cathays, Roath and Canton, interwar semis in Llanishen and Whitchurch, and a lot of rear-lane access that makes construction logistics easier than in comparable English cities.

Planning in Cardiff

Cardiff Council applies Welsh planning policy, and permitted development rules in Wales are not identical to England's. Conservation areas in Pontcanna, Roath Park and Llandaff control roof and frontage work.

What architects charge in Cardiff

Below the UK average: £1,400 to £3,200 for planning drawings, and 7% to 12% of build cost for a full service.

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

How to choose an architect in Cardiff

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 Cardiff 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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