Home extensions
Concept, planning and technical design for rear, side or multi-storey extensions to existing homes.
Architects Edinburgh
Find architects in Edinburgh
Planning an extension, conversion, redesign or other building project in Edinburgh? Describe the property and goals once, then compare architects who cover your area.
Genuine verified customer reviews
Up to 3 local responses
You choose who to hire
Looking for an architect near you in Edinburgh?
Enter the postcode and explain the existing property, proposed changes, approximate budget and whether the building is listed or in a conservation area. Suitable Edinburgh architects can then judge the planning, design and warrant work involved.
Common architect services
What can architects in Edinburgh help with?
Choose a professional whose experience matches the scale and practical requirements of your job.
Renovations & remodelling
Reworking internal layouts, circulation and spaces while coordinating structural and building-services requirements.
Planning applications
Drawings and design information for projects that require planning permission or specific local assessment.
Building Regulations design
Technical information and coordination needed to demonstrate compliance with relevant Building Regulations.
Listed & heritage buildings
Design work where listed-building consent, conservation context and historic fabric need special attention.
New-build design
Concept through technical design for new homes and other buildings where site, planning and construction constraints are considered together.
How much does an architect cost?
Fees depend on project value, complexity and which RIBA-style stages or services are included. Current 2026 UK guidance gives these broad examples:
£3,000–£5,000Extension planning drawings
£2,000–£7,500+Renovation projects
£5,000–£8,000Building regs & tender drawings
£5,000–£12,000Full house-extension fee guide
Indicative UK guidance checked August 2026 from MyJobQuote. Edinburgh architect fees vary with project value, survey information, planning complexity, heritage, structural coordination and how far the architect remains involved after approval.
Compare like for like
Compare the same design stages
One fee may cover planning drawings only while another includes technical design, tendering and site support. Compare scope before comparing price.
- State the project budget and what you want to achieve, not only the room dimensions.
- Ask which design stages, applications and revisions are included.
- Clarify structural engineer, surveyor and specialist-consultant costs separately.
- For heritage property, mention listing or conservation-area status from the start.
Cost sources: MyJobQuote 2026 architect cost guide
Edinburgh planning and heritage context
Fifty conservation areas and citywide short-term-let controls make early planning checks especially important
Edinburgh combines a large protected historic environment with planning controls that can depend heavily on property use. For architects, that means the correct brief starts with the building's designation, location and intended use before design work progresses too far.
Edinburgh has 50 designated conservation areas
The council says Edinburgh has 50 conservation areas with extra rules controlling building work. For an extension, external alteration, roof work or changes to a traditional frontage, establish whether the site is inside a conservation area and review the relevant character appraisal before assuming ordinary householder rules are enough.
The entire council area is designated as a short-term-let control area
The council's designation means use of an entire dwelling that is not the owner's principal home as a short-term let is treated as a material change of use requiring planning permission. If an architect is designing a conversion or reconfiguration for letting, the intended use should be established before the layout is treated as a purely technical design exercise.
Source: City of Edinburgh Council — short-term-let control area
Local to Edinburgh
Architects covering Edinburgh
Architects may cover Edinburgh by postcode, project type and planning complexity. Example areas include:
LeithStockbridgeMarchmontMorningsideNew TownPortobelloCorstorphineBruntsfield
Start with designations and lawful use
A New Town flat, a Marchmont tenement, a Portobello house and a property in Corstorphine can face very different heritage, neighbour, access and planning considerations. Give the exact address and intended use at the start.
Planning and building warrants are separate systems. A project can need planning permission, listed-building consent, a building warrant, more than one of these or none. Ask the architect to identify the likely approval route early.
How it works
Describe the project once, then compare Edinburgh architects
Budget, site, design ambition and required stages help architects decide whether the project fits their practice.
Set out the project brief
Add the postcode, property type, intended changes, budget and any known planning or heritage constraints.
Hear from suitable architects
Up to three interested Edinburgh architects can respond.
Compare service stages
Check relevant experience and compare exactly which surveys, drawings, applications and construction-stage services are included.
Before you hire
What should you check before hiring an architect?
Relevant project experience and a clearly defined service are more useful than comparing headline percentage fees alone.
Compare similar project experience
Look for work with a similar property type, planning context, budget and technical complexity.
Define the service stages
Agree whether the appointment stops at planning or continues through technical design, tender and construction support.
Clarify other consultants
Ask who appoints structural, measured-survey, party-wall or specialist consultants and whether their fees are separate.
Questions
Architects in Edinburgh: common questions
Useful answers before you post the job.
How much does an architect cost in Edinburgh?
Fees vary with project size, complexity, survey work, planning risk, technical design and whether the architect stays involved through construction. Compare quotes for the same scope and stages.
Does being in an Edinburgh conservation area change a project?
It can. Edinburgh has 50 conservation areas and extra controls can affect external alterations, demolition and design details.
What about listed buildings?
Alterations to a listed building may need listed-building consent in addition to any planning permission or building warrant.
Do short-term-let plans need special consideration in Edinburgh?
Yes. The whole council area is a short-term-let control area, and secondary letting of an entire dwelling can require planning permission for change of use.
Do I have to hire an architect who responds?
No. Up to three interested local professionals can respond and there is no obligation to hire.
Ready to compare architects in Edinburgh?
Describe the property, intended use and project goals once, then compare interested Edinburgh architects and their quotes.
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