freeman brear architects offer a full range of Architects' Services including:

Design and Construction of New Buildings

We have extensive experience in the design and procurement of new buildings of all types, and at all stages from inception to completion. We are happy to offer a full architectural service or will provide designs for consent, or technical detailing for an existing consent. We are committed to ensuring that all our future buildings have the smallest impact on the environment and ecological issues are of great significance in our designs.

Works to Existing Buildings

We offer an unrivalled service in the refurbishment, extension and remodelling of existing buildings. We will unlock the hidden potential in a building and create an inspiring ecologically-sustainable solution to the brief.

Works to Historic and Listed Buildings

With our wide experience of working with listed buildings of all grades, we are working towards a position on the RIBA Register of Conservation Architects. Again we are committed to providing a green solution to our listed building projects, one which respects and improves the historic fabric of all types of old buildings and gently eases them into the 21st Century.

Feasibility Studies and Development Appraisals

Whether it is a greenfield or brownfield site, or an existing building, we will examine the potential and provide a comprehensive study on the feasibility of undertaking a particular development.

Additional related Services we offer include:

Measured Surveys

To enable us to produce digital drawings of the proposals which allow access to on-line application facilities, we will undertake a measured survey and produce drawings of existing buildings.

Condition Surveys

For the preparation of schedules of work for repairs and restoration, will undertake Condition surveys of existing building fabric.

Interior Design Service

Our architectural work includes interior design as standard, as we always produce detailed layouts for bathrooms, kitchens and other highly serviced spaces. We also offer this as a specialist service,  rearranging and refinishing internal spaces to create fresh, inspiring interiors.

Design of Furniture and fittings

As a result of the success of our furniture design which is a standard part of our full Architectural Service, we are frequently called on to design specific fitted furniture for other buildings.

Landscape Design

We are conscious that the landscape in which a building sits is as important as the building and so we extend our design service to include Landscape design for buildings other than those we have designed.

Help for Home Buyers

At the urging of satisfied clients, we are offering a Help for Home Buyers service whereby we will accompany a customer to visit a property they are contemplating purchasing to advise on development potential and on possible environmental improvements. The fee for this will be negotiable and will usually be charged on an hourly or daily rate, depending on the number of properties visited.

FEES

As each project is unique and personal to each client, it is impossible to have a fixed schedule of charges. Before we start any project we provide a written detailed Fee Proposal for agreement which will form the basis for a formal contract with the client should the terms be acceptable. Our fees can be calculated in a number of different ways depending on complexity and the scope of the services we are providing.  Examples of the methods by which our fees are calculated include:

-        a quoted percentage of the final cost of the building work, or

-        a fixed or calculated lump sum or sums, or

-         time charges at an agreed hourly rate.

Below we list the common stages of a building project and how we might charge for them.

Initial Visit

All the services indicated above start with an initial visit where we can gain a thorough understanding of our clients’ requirements so that our proposals best reflect their aspirations and practical needs. We usually do not charge for this visit.

Scheme Design and Obtaining Consents

The design is a collaborative process, whereby we work closely with our clients, meeting as necessary to ensure they are happy and confident with the proposed designs. Scheme Design drawings form the backbone of the project and begin with hand-drawn plans, which include preliminary furniture layouts. These drawings are used to provide budget costs. The finalised scheme drawings are used to obtain the necessary consents. We usually provide a fixed fee for this work, although if the brief is exceptionally open, we may charge an agreed percentage fee based on the projected cost of construction.

Construction Information

The more information that is provided as a basis for agreeing the price with the builder, the more cost surety there is. We can provide detailed technical drawings and specifications as well as detailed interior drawings showing fixtures and fittings and lighting which will allow the client to obtain a fixed price from the contractor. As part of this process we ensure that the proposals are fully compliant and we provide a detailed schedule as part of the Building Regulations Application. The fee for this work may be a fixed fee or charged as a percentage of the estimated cost of construction.

On-Site Administration

We recommend that all of our clients have a formal building contract with their builder. We will advise on the most appropriate form of contract and are willing to administer the building contract, attending regular site meetings, answering contractor queries, certifying work and administering payments and change-control procedures. We usually charge for this at an agreed fixed lump-sum fee invoiced in equal payments during the contract.

However should the client wish to administer their own contract, we are happy to support them in this and will provide telephone or on-site advice as required. We charge for this service at an agreed hourly rate.

Additionally, details of working with and the services an architect can provide can be found on the RIBA website: www.architecture.com.

You can also view our practice profile within the RIBA UK Practice Directories at https://members.architecture.com/directory/default.asp?dir=1