New Build Architects in Cheshire
Bespoke homes designed from the ground up, for homeowners and developers across Cheshire and the North West.
A New Build Is Only as Good as the Thinking Behind It
A plot of land does not tell you what to build on it. Orientation, levels, access, what the neighbours can see and what the planners will accept all shape the answer, and getting those wrong early is expensive to fix later.
We design one-off houses from first site appraisal through to completion, working with homeowners building for themselves and developers building to sell. Every project is led personally by James Hough, a RIBA Chartered architect based in Sandbach.
What Our New Build Architects Do
Every new build runs through the same stages. What changes is the site, the brief and the budget.
Site Appraisal and Feasibility
Before anything is drawn, we look at what the site allows. Orientation, levels, access, drainage, trees, boundaries and planning constraints. This is where a project either finds its shape or finds its problems.
Concept Design
Massing, layout and how the house sits in its setting. Where the light comes from, what each room looks out on, and how the building reads from the road.
Planning Application
Most of our applications go through Cheshire East Council and Cheshire West and Chester Council, along with others, where we have a high success rate. Applications are drawn to what policy allows and what officers will accept, so problems get resolved before submission rather than argued after refusal.
Technical Design
Construction drawings, specifications and building regulations. Detailed enough that a contractor can price it accurately and build it as designed.
Construction Support
Tender coordination, contractor advice and contract administration. We stay involved, so the building that gets built is the one that was designed.
Contract Administration & Construction
We are able to offer two alternative routes through this stage of the project. Advisory support with Principal Designer duties or full contract administration with site visits, inspection, and valuations.
New Build House Architects for Homeowners and Developers
Building your own home
A self-build is the most involved thing most people ever commission. We design one-off houses around how you actually live, rather than adapting something built to a standard specification.
Developers and self-build
Infill plots, replacement dwellings and small schemes. Site appraisal and viability first, then a design that sits properly in its setting rather than fighting it, which is usually what gets an application through.
Recent Projects
A selection of our recent work across Cheshire and the North West.
Norcroft Cottage - Middlewich, Cheshire
Jodrell Bank Cottages - Holmes Chapel, Cheshire
Chester Road - Winsford, Cheshire
Why Choose a RIBA Chartered Architect for a New Build
Hough Architecture is a RIBA Chartered architectural practice in Cheshire, founded by James Hough in 2015. Chartered status means full professional indemnity insurance and accountability to the institute, which not every business offering architectural services carries. The practice is also registered with the ARB and The Green Register.
A new build is the most involved thing most people will ever commission. James leads every project personally, from first site visit through planning to completion, so the person who understands why a decision was made is still there when it matters on site.
WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
New Build Architects Across Cheshire and the North West
We are based in Sandbach, and most of our new build projects go through Cheshire East, where we know the local plan and how officers read it. We work regularly across Cheshire West and Chester, Greater Manchester, Staffordshire, Shropshire, Derbyshire, the Wirral and the Peak District National Park.
Areas we cover:
- Sandbach
- Alderley Edge
- Altrincham
- Bowden
- Chester
- Hale
- Knutsford
- Holmes Chapel and Goostry
- Prestbury
- Northwich
- Sandiway and Cuddington
- Manchester
- Wilmslow
- Congleton
- Tarporley
- Chelford
- Disley and New Mills
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need an architect for a new build?
Not by law, but for a one-off house it makes a significant difference. A new build has no existing structure to work around, which means every decision is open and every decision matters. A RIBA Chartered architect brings the design judgement and technical knowledge to resolve those decisions properly and get the project through planning.
How much does an architect cost for a new build?
A full scope of services typically falls between 5 and 7.5% of the total construction budget for a new dwelling or replacement dwelling. Allow a further 1 to 3% for other consultant and application fees. Complex sites sit toward the higher end.
How long does a new build take?
It depends on the site and the scale, but 12 to 24 months from first conversation to completion on site is typical. Planning alone usually takes 8 to 13 weeks from validation, longer if the site is constrained or the application attracts objections.
Will I get planning permission for a new build?
It depends entirely on the site and local policy. Some plots are straightforward, and some will never get consent. We assess that at feasibility stage, before you spend money on a full design, so you get a straight answer early. Around 95% of our applications to Cheshire East succeed.
Do you work with developers on new builds?
Yes. We work with developers across Cheshire and the North West on infill plots, replacement dwellings and small residential schemes.
Start Your New Build
If you have a plot, or you are considering one, talk to James about whether it works before you commit to it.