How much do professional fees cost?

Planning a renovation or build project can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re unsure about where to start. Do you know which experts—like architects, structural engineers, or consultants—you’ll need to involve? More importantly, have you factored professional fees into your budget?

While these professional fees might seem like an added expense, they’re essential for ensuring your project runs smoothly, giving you the end result you always wanted.

In our latest blog, we break down the important things you need to know about budgeting for professional fees. Breaking down what they include and why they’re so crucial, this guide will help you plan confidently—whether you’re tackling a simple remodel or an ambitious new build. Read our valuable insights below.

We advise allowing between 10% and 20% of the construction cost for professional fees depending on the scale of the project. Whilst this might seem like a lot, it’s always worth budgeting more of an allowance at the earliest stages to cover you than running out before the build or project is completed. The professionals we recommend including in your budget include:

• Architect
• Structural engineer
• Specialist consultants (planning, highways, arboriculture, ecology, highways, heritage, etc)
• Surveys (measured survey, ecology survey, tree survey, drainage survey etc)
• Specialist designers (MVHR, Structural waterproofing, etc)
• Planning fee
• Building control fee
• Insurances


It means the money’s there if you need a survey or consultant you hadn’t expected, rather than it eating into your construction pot.

The percentage we recommend budgeting for will depend on the scale and complexity of the project. Project complexity is influenced by the design complexity; the contextual complexity (planning restrictions/ trees/ slope etc) and the target energy performance.

• Scale
  
  Ultimately, the size of a project has a direct influence on its cost and our fee. The project size affects how much work we need to produce and the value of the end product.

• Complexity
  
  This is key. A large project with no real complexity may require less work and effort than a small project in a tricky location or with a complex design or material palette. Some aspects of complexity are inherent in the site (topography, planning constraints, existing building etc) other aspects are a choice (design approach, material choices, complexity of form and structure etc).

• Performance
  
  The higher the building performance target, the more work will be required to achieve that performance. It may not need to increase the build cost significantly, but designing a project at a lower cost and higher performance requires up front investment in the design team to make that possible.

Read more on the RIBA website about how architects calculate their fees

• Measured survey
  
  Undertaking a desktop study and a measured survey of the existing building, or managing a topographical survey of a site.

• RIBA Stage 1: Preparation & brief
  
  We’ll complete a desktop study to understand any constraints which impact your project. We’ll then clarify your brief & project scope by creating strategic options. This will add significant value to your project.

• RIBA Stages 2: Concept Design
  
  We’ll use your brief to develop a design for your project.

• RIBA Stage 3: Developed Design
  
  This is where we use our expertise to guide your dream design through the planning process.

• RIBA Stage 4: Technical Design
  
  Bringing together the experience of your builder, suppliers & design team we’ll turn your vision into something which can be built cost effectively, safely & with a beautiful end result.

• Principal Designer Duties
  
  Required under Building Regulations Act 2023, Building Safety Act 2022 & CDM Regulations 2015