TL;DR
Check they are a registered architect. “Architect” is a protected title in the UK. Anyone using it must be on the Architects Registration Board (ARB) register, which you can check online in under a minute.
Match experience to your project. A new build, a major refurbishment and a listed building each need different skills. Ask to see comparable work.
Local planning knowledge matters. An architect who works with your council regularly knows how officers read policy, which affects your chances of consent.
Find out who actually does the work. On a large project, the person you meet should be the person leading your design.
Compare scope, not just price. Two fee proposals can cover very different amounts of work. Check which stages are included.
Know the red flags. Be wary of anyone not on the ARB register, anyone who guarantees planning permission, a fee far below the rest, or a portfolio of renders with nothing built.
If you’re planning a new build or a significant refurbishment, choosing your architect is one of the first big decisions you’ll make. It’s also one of the hardest to undo. The architect you appoint shapes the design, the planning application, the construction drawings and often how smoothly the build runs on site.
Most people only commission a project like this once or twice in their lives, so it’s reasonable not to know what to look for. This guide explains how to choose an architect in practical terms: what to check, what to ask, and what separates a good fit from a costly mistake.
It’s written from the architect’s side of the table. I’m James Hough, a RIBA Chartered Architect, and I founded Hough Architecture in Sandbach in 2015. Most of our work is new builds, high-end refurbishments and listed buildings across Cheshire and the North West, and the advice below comes from what we see in initial conversations with clients every week.
Why Choosing the Right Architect Matters on a Large Project
On a small extension, a poor design choice is annoying. On a new build or whole-house refurbishment, it can cost tens of thousands of pounds, delay planning by months, or leave you with a house that doesn’t work the way you live.
Large projects have more decisions and fewer fixed points. A new build has no existing structure to work around, so every choice about orientation, layout, light and materials is open. A major refurbishment means working with what’s already there, including hidden problems that only show once work starts. Both need an architect with the design judgement to make those calls well and the technical knowledge to see them through to site.
That’s why hiring an architect for this kind of project is less about finding the cheapest quote and more about finding the right person to trust with a significant investment.
Check They Are an ARB Registered Architect
This is the first and simplest check, and it’s surprising how often people skip it.
In the UK, “architect” is a protected title under the Architects Act 1997. Only people registered with the Architects Registration Board (ARB) can legally call themselves architects. To register, they must have completed the recognised education and professional experience, and they must follow ARB’s code of conduct, which includes holding professional indemnity insurance.
You can search the ARB register online by name. If the person you’re speaking to describes themselves as an architect and doesn’t appear, that’s a serious warning sign.
RIBA Chartered is an extra layer. Membership of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) is voluntary. A RIBA Chartered Practice has to meet further standards on insurance, quality management, health and safety and ongoing professional development. Hough Architecture is a RIBA Chartered Practice and James is ARB registered. We’re also members of The Green Register and Timber Development UK.
Architect vs Architectural Designer vs Architectural Technologist
When you start looking, you’ll come across several job titles that sound similar. Here’s the plain difference:
Architect: registered with ARB, trained over a long period in both design and technical delivery, and accountable to a professional code of conduct.
Architectural designer: not a protected title. Anyone can use it, whatever their training. Some are highly capable, others have no formal qualifications at all. You’ll need to check their background, insurance, and track record yourself.
Architectural technologist: a separate, recognised profession, usually chartered through the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT). Technologists specialise in the technical side of buildings, such as construction detailing and building regulations.
For a straightforward extension, a designer or technologist may be a sensible choice. For a one-off new build, a large refurbishment or a listed building, where design quality and planning judgement carry most of the value, a registered architect is usually worth it.
Look for Experience in Your Type of Project
Architects are not interchangeable. Some mostly do commercial work, some mostly do small extensions and some specialise in one-off houses. Ask to see projects that are similar to yours in type, scale and setting.
For a new build, look for experience with site appraisal, orientation and levels, planning on greenfield or infill plots, and delivering one-off houses to completion. We cover how we approach this on our new build architects in Cheshire page.
For a large refurbishment, look for someone who has transformed existing houses rather than simply extended them, and who understands structure and older construction. See our high-end refurbishments work for examples.
For a listed building or conservation area, you need experience with listed building consent and heritage officers. Our listed building architects page explains what’s involved.
Look at completed photographs, not only visualisations. A good project portfolio shows what was actually built.
Why Local Planning Knowledge Matters in Cheshire
Planning policy is set locally. Each council has its own local plan, design guidance and way of interpreting it. An architect who submits applications to your council regularly knows what officers look for and where applications tend to fall down.
Most of our applications go through Cheshire East Council and Cheshire West and Chester Council. Being based in Sandbach means we also know the settlements across the area, from Congleton and Holmes Chapel to Alderley Edge, Wilmslow and Knutsford, and the character each planning authority expects to see respected.
Local knowledge also helps before planning. A good architect will tell you early if a plot is unlikely to get consent, before you spend money on a full design. On a new build, that honest early assessment can save a great deal.
Find Out Who Will Actually Lead Your Project
This question matters more than most people realise. In larger practices, the senior architect you meet at the first meeting may not be the person who designs your house. The work might be handed to a junior member of staff you haven’t met.
That isn’t always a problem, but you should know upfront. Ask directly: who will design this, who will I speak to week to week, and who will attend site?
At Hough Architecture, James leads every project personally, from first site visit through planning to completion. As one client put it after their new build:
“From the outset, James demonstrated an exceptional understanding of both our aesthetic goals and the technical requirements of a modern, future-ready home.“
Newell D, Google review
Understand What the Fee Covers
Comparing architects on price alone is risky, because fee proposals often cover very different amounts of work. One may stop at planning. Another may include technical drawings, tender and site inspections through to completion.
Most UK architects organise their work around the RIBA Plan of Work, which splits a project into stages: from brief and concept design, through planning and technical design, to construction and handover. When you compare proposals, check:
- Which stages are included, and which are extra
- Whether building regulations drawings are part of the fee
- Whether they will help with tendering and choosing a contractor
- Whether they offer contract administration and site visits during the build
- What other consultant fees you’ll need to budget for, such as structural engineers and surveys
We explain each stage on our Our Process page, and publish our typical fees on how much an architect costs. You can also see realistic timescales for how long a project takes.
Planning a new build or large refurbishment in Cheshire? Talk to James about your plot or property before you commit to anything. Book a consultation or call 01270 482 730.
Questions to Ask an Architect Before Hiring
These are the questions worth asking at a first meeting. A good architect will welcome them.
- Are you registered with ARB, and is your practice RIBA Chartered?
- Have you designed projects like mine, and can I see them built?
- Who will design my project and be my main point of contact?
- Which councils do you usually submit applications to?
- What do you think the main risks are on my site or property?
- Which stages does your fee cover, and what is extra?
- How do you work with engineers, contractors and other consultants?
- Will you be involved during construction, and in what way?
- What’s a realistic timescale from now to starting on site?
- Can I speak to a previous client?
Pay attention to how they answer, not just what they say. Do they listen to your brief, or talk mainly about themselves? Do they give straight answers about risks and costs, or only tell you what you want to hear?
Red Flags to Watch For
- No ARB registration from someone calling themselves an architect
- Promises of guaranteed planning permission. Nobody can guarantee a planning decision
- A fee far below everyone else’s, which usually means a much narrower scope
- Vague answers about who will do the work
- No built examples, only computer renders
- No questions about your budget, brief, or how you live, which suggests a standard design rather than one built around you
- No written appointment. Your terms, scope, and fees should be agreed in writing before work starts
Where to Start Finding an Architect
If you’re wondering how to find an architect in the first place, these are good places to start:
- Recommendations from people who’ve completed a similar project, and from builders you trust, who see how architects’ drawings hold up on site
- The RIBA Find an Architect directory, which lists Chartered Practices by location and project type
- Google reviews, particularly detailed ones that describe the whole process rather than just the design
- Your council’s planning portal. Search approved applications near you and see which architects are named on schemes you like
Once you have a shortlist of two or three, meet each one. The right choice comes down to evidence plus how the first conversation feels. You’ll be working together for a year or more on a new build, so trust and clear communication matter as much as design talent.
What Happens When You Get in Touch with Hough Architecture
We work with homeowners and developers on new builds, high-end refurbishments and listed buildings across Cheshire and the North West. When you get in touch, James will talk through your plot or property, what you want to achieve and your budget, and give you an honest view on whether the project stacks up.
If we’re the right fit, we’ll set out the scope, stages and fee in writing so you know exactly what’s included. If we’re not, we’ll say so.
Start with our new build architects page to see how we approach one-off houses, or read more about James.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check if an architect is registered?
Search their name on the Architects Registration Board (ARB) online register. Anyone legally using the title “architect” in the UK must appear on it. You can also check whether their practice is RIBA Chartered through the RIBA directory.
Is a RIBA architect the same as an ARB registered architect?
Not quite. ARB registration is a legal requirement for anyone using the title architect. RIBA membership is voluntary and adds further professional standards. A RIBA Chartered Practice has met RIBA’s requirements on insurance, quality and ongoing training.
What is the difference between an architect and an architectural designer?
An architect is registered with ARB and has completed the recognised education and professional training. “Architectural designer” is not a protected title, so qualifications and experience vary widely. For complex projects, check any designer’s background carefully.
How many architects should I speak to?
Two or three is usually enough. Meet each one, compare what their fees include rather than just the total, and choose the person whose experience, approach and communication suit your project.
When should I appoint an architect for a new build?
Ideally before you buy the plot, or as soon as possible afterwards. An architect can assess what a site allows and whether planning is realistic, which can stop you committing to land that won’t deliver the house you want.
Start Your Project with a Conversation
Choosing an architect is about trust as much as talent. If you’re planning a new build or large refurbishment in Cheshire or the North West, talk to James directly about what you have in mind.
Call 01270 482 730 | Email jh@hougharchitecture.co.uk