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Architects in Edinburgh

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

Appointing an architect in Edinburgh

Edinburgh work centres on tenement flats, New Town and Victorian property, and garden-level or rear extensions on suburban villas. Scotland has its own planning and building standards system, so appoint a practice registered and active in Scotland.

Property you'll be working with in Edinburgh

Stone tenements across Marchmont, Bruntsfield and Leith, Georgian New Town property, and interwar bungalows and villas further out. Shared stairs and common roofs mean neighbour consents are often needed before any work starts.

Planning in Edinburgh

A very large World Heritage and conservation area footprint, extensive listing, and a building warrant process under Scottish building standards rather than English building control. Permitted development rights are defined differently in Scotland.

What architects charge in Edinburgh

Comparable to major English cities outside London: £1,800 to £4,000 for planning drawings, 8% to 13% of build cost for a full service, plus building warrant fees.

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

How to choose an architect in Edinburgh

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 Edinburgh 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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