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Architects in Manchester

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

Appointing an architect in Manchester

Manchester architect work is mainly rear and wrap-around extensions, loft conversions and converting older terraces and mills into modern family layouts. Practices here often cover Greater Manchester as a whole, so a South Manchester practice will usually work in Stockport, Trafford or Salford too.

Property you'll be working with in Manchester

Red-brick Victorian terraces and byelaw terraces close to the centre, 1930s semis in Didsbury, Chorlton and Sale, and a significant apartment and conversion market in the core. Terraces often have a rear yard rather than a garden, which caps extension depth.

Planning in Manchester

Each of the ten Greater Manchester boroughs applies its own householder guidance, so the same design can be treated differently either side of a boundary. Conservation areas in Didsbury, Chorlton and Victoria Park control roof and frontage changes closely.

What architects charge in Manchester

Below London: typically £1,500 to £3,500 for planning drawings and 7% to 12% of build cost for a full service. Build costs of £2,000 to £2,900 per square metre for an extension shell are more realistic here than London figures.

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

How to choose an architect in Manchester

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 Manchester 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.

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