Transparent Fees & Service Guide

A clear, upfront approach to residential design fees from initial ideas through to statutory sign-offs.

At Downland Studio, we believe residential design should come with complete clarity. The guide pricing below is based on a conventional 3-bedroom property in Worthing and West Sussex. Every project receives a tailored, itemised, fixed-fee proposal before any work begins.

Measured Building Survey

A comprehensive on-site survey to map your property's existing footprint, internal layouts, and boundary conditions.

  • Accurate measured survey of all existing floor plans

  • External elevations, section heights, and roof profile measurements

  • Production of clean 2D/3D CAD/BIM base drawings

  • 100% credited back against your final invoice if you instruct our Combined Package

From £400

Concept & Planning

Concept Design and Planning Submission

For securing local authority planning permission or Lawful Development Certificates.

  • Measured survey base drawings (survey charged at £400)

  • Spatial layout design and concept options

  • Existing and proposed planning drawings (plans, elevations, site block plans)

  • Acting as your agent through council submission

From £800

Building Regulations

Technical Design & Building Regs

Detailed construction-ready drawings for builder pricing and Building Control approval.

  • Detailed construction cross-sections & Part A–S specifications

  • Thermal insulation, U-value schedules & ventilation strategy

  • Structural engineer coordination & foundation details

  • Building Control application submission & management

From £1,850

The Combined Package

Combined Planning & Technical

Our complete end-to-end design service taking you seamlessly from initial ideas through to construction-ready drawings.

  • Full on-site measured survey included (100% credited back)

  • Complete concept design and local authority planning submission

  • Detailed Building Regulations construction drawings (Part A–S)

  • Structural engineer and Building Control coordination

From £2,650

Loft Conversion Package

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From £2,250

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Loft Conversion Package ~ From £2,250 ~

  • Full measured survey of roof space, ridge heights, and existing layouts

  • Permitted development / planning drawings (dormers, rooflights, floor plans)

A tailored design and technical Building Regulations package specifically for roof space alterations, dormers, and hip-to-gable conversions.

  • Building Regulations compliance (stair pitch/headroom geometry, Part B fire-door strategies)

  • Structural floor trimmer, steel beam, and ridge coordination

Supplementary & Statutory Approvals

Navigating the extra permissions, legal agreements, and utility approvals your project might encounter along the way.

Not every build is straightforward, and projects often require specific third-party consents outside standard planning or Building Regulations drawings. Whether you need formal sign-off to build near a public sewer, legally binding party wall notices served to neighbours, or statutory health and safety duties handled, we deal directly with local councils and water authorities on your behalf .

  • Land Registry checks, drafting, and formal service of statutory Section 1, 2, or 6 Party Wall notices (per adjoining owner).

  • Fulfilling the Principal Designer duty holder role under the Building Regulations, including appropriate pre-construction design compliance and coordination.

  • Preparation of foundation bridging details, drainage layouts, application submission, and technical liaison with water authority inspectors. (Water undertaker fees paid directly to Southern Water).

  • Compiling materials schedules, external finish specifications, or surface water schemes and managing the formal council approval-of-details submission.

  • Amending approved planning drawings to accommodate client adjustments or on-site builder variations post-planning.

  • Permitted development confirmation packages and formal council submission (plus £400 measured survey if not already surveyed).

  • Site layout plans, visibility splays, and documentation for West Sussex County Council highways crossover applications.

  • Technical drawing packages, invert calculations and formal application management for re-routing public sewer infrastructure.

  • Applies to client design changes outside agreed concept revisions, extra contractor detailing, or extended local authority negotiations.

  • Non-supervisory site visits during the build to inspect critical structural openings, clarify drawings, or discuss details with your contractor.

Hourly Support & Site Visits

More Ways We Can Help

Not every project follows the same route. Alongside our core packages, we offer a range of focused services that can be added when required — from early planning advice and visualisation through to builder support and drawing updates.

  • An early desktop review of your property, planning history and relevant site constraints to help establish the likely planning route and identify potential issues before committing to a full design package.

  • Preparation and submission of a formal pre-application enquiry to the Local Planning Authority where early officer feedback would be beneficial before progressing with a planning application.

  • Supporting assessment and design justification for projects affecting conservation areas, listed buildings or other heritage considerations. More specialist heritage input can also be coordinated where required.

  • Review of the reasons for refusal, discussion of the available options and preparation of appropriate drawing amendments and supporting information for a revised application.

  • High-quality 3D visualisations to help you understand the proposed design, explore materials and finishes, or communicate the finished appearance of your project before construction begins.

  • Preparation and coordination of information for contractor pricing, helping selected builders understand the proposed works and provide more consistent and comparable quotations.

  • Preparation and coordination of information for contractor pricing, issue to selected builders and support with tender queries. Returned quotations are reviewed to identify key differences in scope, exclusions and allowances, helping you compare prices on a like-for-like basis and make an informed appointment.

  • Updating the approved or construction drawings to reflect agreed changes made during the build, providing an accurate record of the completed works.

  • Where the design changes following approval or during construction, we can revise the relevant technical drawings and coordinate the updated information for submission to Building Control where required.

*Guide pricing is based on a conventional 3-bedroom residential property in Worthing and West Sussex. Final fees may vary depending on project complexity, site constraints, and specific local authority requirements. All fees exclude statutory third-party disbursements payable directly to local councils, water undertakers, or independent structural engineers.