Considering a Custom home build, barn conversion or extension in Swadlincote, Burton or Ashby? You’re in the Right Place.

The process of designing your dream home shouldn’t be a mystery.

For many homeowners, working with a chartered architect feels like a complex, costly step reserved only for grand-scale projects or unlimited budgets.

That’s simply not true.

Whether you are planning a single-storey extension, a specialist barn conversion, or a brand new custom-built home, the process begins with the same questions:

• • How much will this actually cost? (Architectural fees, build cost, and hidden expenses)

• • How long will it take? (From initial sketch to moving in)

• • How do I navigate the local planning system? (Especially in areas like South Derbyshire, North West Leicestershire and East Staffordshire)

 

At Hardwick Studio Architects, we understand that commissioning a custom build or significant renovation is a huge decision. Our role is to demystify the journey, ensure your budget is respected, and making smarter design decisions that add lasting value to your home and family life.

This guide is your complete walkthrough of the architectural design process, from our first conversation and feasibility assessment, right through to the final hand-over from the builders. Let’s explore exactly what happens when you decide to build your dream space.

 

New Build Homes: Designing and Building From Scratch with a Chartered Architect

Building a custom home is the ultimate opportunity to create a space perfectly tailored to your family’s needs. This option typically makes the most sense when:

• • You’ve secured the perfect plot of land where no suitable existing house stands.

• • You have particular needs (accessibility, multi-generational living, specific work demands) that off-the-shelf homes simply can’t meet.

• • The financial numbers work better than buying and undertaking extensive, disruptive renovation.

    Or you simply know what you like and want to create something that is right for you and your family rather than making someone else’s previous home fit.

 

Setting Realistic Expectations: Time and Budget

A new build requires patience and commitment. Be realistic about the timeline and the financial commitment upfront:

• • From Engagement, to Design and Planning Submission: 3−6 months

• • Planning Approval: 8−12 weeks 

• • Construction/Build: 12−18 months

 

Budgeting: Think carefully about your actual budget (including a minimum 15% contingency). Custom design is collaborative; we don’t just take a brief, we need to understand how you actually live. Who cooks? Where do the children study? Do you enjoy entertaining? Do you need a clear work-life separation?  Your answers help to design a space that is built specifically for your lifestyle.

At Hardwick Studio Architects, these details matter to us. We take the time to get to know more about you and your lifestyle to plan the perfect space for you, rather than simply assessing square meterage.

Local Knowledge is Critical: An architect familiar with Swadlincote, Ashby, Burton and the wider East Midlands will understand local planning policies, Supplementary Design Guides (SPD’s), site constraints, and potential complications like access issues or covenants before you invest heavily in a concept.

 

 

Barn Conversions: Specialist Architect Expertise for South Derbyshire & East Midlands

Barn conversions deliver some of the most characterful homes – soaring ceilings, original timber frames, and a sense of history. Agricultural buildings across South Derbyshire, North West Leicestershire, and East Staffordshire offer wonderful potential for truly spectacular homes, something we can vouch for.

 

Navigating the Specialist Challenges

Barns are complex and require specialist knowledge that extends beyond standard residential architecture:

1. 1. Planning Scrutiny: Not every barn is suitable. Planners often require demonstration that the building is structurally sound and “worthy of conversion.” If it’s Listed, you’ll need Listed Building Consent, adding a layer of technical scrutiny. On the flip side of the coin, some times barn conversions do not need planning consent, via processes such as the ‘Class Q’ ruling under General Permitted Development Order (GPDO), or more commonly known as ‘Permitted Development’.

1. 1. Structural Requirements: You are dealing with an agricultural shell, not a house. Practical elements like insulation, heating strategies, damp proofing, and acoustic design (managing sound in large volumes) need careful thought to achieve modern comfort standards without compromising the building’s character and structural integrity. Agricultural barns come in all shapes and sizes, and consist of a number of structural arrangements from brick built structures to metal portal frame structures, each requiring its own specific set of considerations for conversion.

Local Authority Relationships: Through working on conversions in Ticknall, Repton, Melbourne, and Swadlincote, we know that early conversations with planners are essential to flag deal-breakers (like agricultural covenants or complex access issues) before you invest in detailed designs.

The blank canvas of a barn allows us to design exactly the layout you need, from dramatic vaulted living spaces to quiet reading mezzanines. While the timeline is typically 12−18 months from purchase to moving in, and costs require realistic budgeting for specialist work, the result is a stunning, unique home with genuine personality and generous space (not to mention the financial return on the investment made).

Ask us about our previous Barn conversion case studies to see more of our work and how we’ve overcome the unique challenges of turning an agricultural space into a wow-factor home.

 

 

Home Extensions & Renovations: Maximising Space with Permitted Development

Sometimes, the perfect home is the one you already own, it just needs adapting. In Swadlincote, Melbourne, Ashby, and Burton on Trent, our most common projects include:

• • Rear extensions for large, open-plan kitchen/dining spaces.

• • Loft conversions 

• • New bedrooms or home offices.

• • Whole-house remodelling when existing layouts no longer suit modern family life.

 

The Architect’s Value Beyond the Drawing

The decision to move or improve often comes down to budget versus attachment. If you love your location and the cost of extending is less than the stamp duty and upheaval of moving, staying put is usually the smarter choice.

The real value we provide goes beyond simply drawing rooms:

• • Spatial Planning: Making existing rooms work harder, borrowing light from adjacent spaces and creating seamless flow between the old and new structure.

• • Permitted Development (PD): We always determine if your extension falls under PD rights, which can save months of waiting and reduce planning costs considerably.

• • Character Integration: Many period homes in this area share similar layouts. We specialise in enhancing the building’s character while ensuring the addition feels integrated rather than an after-thought.

We also manage practical realities like Party Wall Agreements with neighbours and advise on phasing the work to minimise disruption if you plan on living in the house during construction.

 

Architectural Project Stages: The RIBA Process from Concept to Completion

All significant architectural projects follow a standard, structured approach, typically based on the RIBA Plan of Work. Understanding these stages gives you clarity on what to expect.

Stage	Focus & Deliverable	Timeline Snapshot
1. Initial Conversations & Feasibility	Understanding your vision, site possibilities, and budget. Includes site visits, rough sketches, and honest conversations to determine project viability.	2−4 Weeks
2. Concept Design	Developing the core design, exploring layouts, connections, and light sources. You review drawings and make key decisions on the overall approach.	4−6 Weeks
3. Planning Stage	Producing detailed drawings for planning permission (if needed) and engaging with the local planning authority.	Approval: 8−12 Weeks
4. Technical Design	Once approved, the design is developed in detail: construction methods, specifications, and materials. Structural engineers are engaged here.	4−6 Weeks
5. Building Stage (Construction)	Construction starts. We can provide varying levels of involvement, from occasional site visits to full contract administration. At Hardwick Studio Architects, we also offer Project Management to ensure the build stays on track and within budget so you can relax and leave the stress of building work to us.	Varies: 6−24 Months

 

Choosing the Right Architect: Local Knowledge and Communication Style

Finding the right architect is vital.
You’ll work together closely for months, so the fit matters as much as the credentials.

• • Portfolio Match: Look for projects similar to yours. If you’re tackling a complex barn conversion, choose a practice that specialises in conversions, not just new builds.

• • Local Knowledge: An architect familiar with your area understands local planning quirks and the architectural context. At Hardwick Studio Architects, we foster strong working relationships with local planning authority officers, builders, and engineers, which consistently helps smooth the process for our clients.

• • Communication Style: You need someone who listens, explains complex issues clearly, and responds promptly. We pride ourselves on being a small, chartered architect led practice that is genuinely curious about your family life, those intimate details shape designs that actually work for how you live.

 

What Does Working with a Chartered Architect Cost? Understanding Fees and Project Budgeting

The topic of cost is central to every project, and transparency is essential. Architectural fees are not a single fixed figure; they vary significantly based on the project type, complexity, and the level of service you require. 

We discuss your budget honestly from day one, helping you align your vision with realistic financial parameters. Our goal is to use smart design to save you money in the long run, whether through efficiency or avoiding costly mistakes in the planning process, or during the build on-site (nobody likes to pay for something twice!).

We’ll start by discussing your vision, lifestyle, and unique challenges. Once we fully understand your project scope, we can move on to discussing specific architectural fees and a project timeline tailored just for you. 

 

Hardwick Studio Architects is an independent, family-run chartered architect-led practice. This means you will always receive a friendly, personal service from a fully accredited team. Our focus is on offering reassuring guidance and support – never any pressure or obligation.

If you’re considering any architectural project, whether it’s exploring a new build plot or figuring out the best option for a home extension in the Swadlincote, Burton, Ashby or East Midlands area, we’re happy to start with a free, informal conversation to assess viability and define your next steps.