Considering alterations to your home?
If you're contemplating alterations to your home, especially the prospect of extending your living space, our architectural services are here to guide you. Reach out to us for friendly advice on determining the best solution for your project. Whether it's increasing the scale and quality of your property, adding extra accommodation, or adapting your home to cater to changing family needs, our goal is to add value and transform your living experience.
Many of our projects involve transforming existing buildings, such as re-configuring or extending existing homes, to improve functionality and create amazing spaces with a wow factor. From single-storey domestic extensions to converting bungalows into multi-storey properties and loft conversions, we can help create a new space in your home or offer it a new lease on life. Contact us and we can help you take the next steps.
We can help you maximise the potential, get in touch to start the process.
Start you home renovation or extension project with an initial chat
Extending your home is the perfect way to create extra living space or transforming your space to better suit your lifestyle and needs. Our process begins with an initial consultation on site to discuss your new project. During the consultation we establish whether your proposal or idea is viable and in doing so identify any potential issues or costly alterations that may be required.
An essential part of the design process is listening and understanding our clients’ needs and requirements. Whether living alone or with a family, we want to understand your lifestyle, habits and how you use and interact with your house. Once we have understood and established a brief, we can begin to offer professional and informed advice.
During the consultation we will discuss the outline architectural fees. We will also advise on any third party fees that need to be taken into account, such as planning fees, building regulations fees, structural engineers fees etc. This way our clients are aware of all the necessary costs prior to any work commencing.
If you’re considering alterations to your home of any kind give us a call and we can help you take the next steps.
Can you make better use of your existing space?
Don’t be fooled, adding an extension to your home isn’t always the solution.
Some of our most successful projects have involved adding little or no space, instead we’ve achieved our client’s aims by reworking rooms they already have but which weren’t being used to their full potential.
By strategically repurposing rooms, adjusting layouts, and embracing innovative design concepts, we can enhance functionality, improve flow, and create a harmonious living environment tailored to your needs. We can breathe new life into your home without the need for extensive construction.
This approach can not only reduce costs but also brings a fresh perspective to your home, ensuring that every square foot serves a purpose and reflects your unique lifestyle. Let us transform your space, making it not just bigger, but better.
A poorly designed extension, for example, can leave you leave you with dark and dingy spaces you don’t use. So why pay for that new space if it compromises space you already have?
Services tailored to you
At BCAE Architects, we love being your partners from start to finish. From brainstorming innovative ideas to navigating the intricacies of the planning process, we're with you every step of the way. Our involvement extends to crafting detailed drawings, aiding in builder selection, acting as contract administrators, and providing supportive guidance throughout construction.
Flexibility is key to our approach. Whether you prefer hands-on involvement or wish to take the lead post-design and planning approval, we adapt to your preferences. We offer a range of architect services tailored to your project's unique needs—whether it's a new build, a modest improvement, or a large-scale transformation.
We have a network of trusted consultants so we can help guide you all of the way. For an inital consultation about your project contact us and we can help you take the next steps. You can reach us by phone on 01772 230 538 to speak with a member of our team.
"Arron has been an fantastic support since we embarked upon our renovation. He was on hand to answer all our questions and made the design process really enjoyable. We were looking for an architect who would make suggestions and challenge us and Arron certainly did that. Our final design is incredible and we are so excited to see it come to life. We couldn't recommend BCAE more."
Naomi & Jack | Glen Avenue
Our projects
At BCAE Architects, we have worked on numerous residential projects, where we offer a complete architectural service from concept to completion on both grand transformations and small-scale projects. Our expertise extends from major bespoke new builds to more modest properties and compact extensions...
Here to help
At BCAE Architects, we love being your partners from start to finish. From brainstorming innovative ideas to navigating the intricacies of the planning process, we’re with you every step of the way. Our involvement extends to crafting detailed drawings, aiding in builder selection, acting as contract administrators, and providing supportive guidance throughout construction
Virtual reality
Ever watched Your Home Made Perfect? We’ll present you with a complete building design. You’ll not only see what it looks like but also feel its essence and grasp the scale of each space (through our VR headsets). You’ll be able to see how light interacts with different spaces, and understand the dimensions of each space. It’s the moment where your vision transforms into a tangible and visually compelling architectural plan.
Reducing costs
Our highly detailed approach to architectural drawings and documentation aims to control the quality of the final build, by nailing all of these things early, we avoid unexpected costs, unforeseen delays and other not-so-pleasant surprises during the build. As experienced architects, we’ve worked firsthand with a variety of building specialists, helping us to build a trusted network of reliable contractors.
Adding value to your projects
We specialise in bespoke residential architecture at varying scales and project costs, working with new and existing buildings throughout the North-West and UK. We also welcome projects for innovative commercial developments.
Both of us studied together during our undergraduate degrees and have remained friends ever since. In 2022, we started BCAE Architects together after an influx of exciting projects into what was back then, Ben Craven Architects. Since then, the practice has gone from strength to strength with both Ben and Arron brining a differing yet complementary skillset to the table.
Alongside Ben & Arron, we have a team of brilliant designers and we work with a bunch of carefully selected collaborators and consultants who help make our clients dreams a reality. Learn more
We specialise in bespoke residential architecture at varying scales and project costs, working with new and existing buildings throughout the North-West and UK. We also welcome projects for innovative commercial developments.
Both of us studied together during our undergraduate degrees and have remained friends ever since. In 2022, we started BCAE Architects together after an influx of exciting projects into what was back then, Ben Craven Architects. Since then, the practice has gone from strength to strength with both Ben and Arron brining a differing yet complementary skillset to the table.
Alongside Ben & Arron, we have a team of brilliant designers and we work with a bunch of carefully selected collaborators and consultants who help make our clients dreams a reality. Learn more
Frequently asked questions
Architects design, draw and envisage your ideas and aspirations. As a practice we believe in collaboration between client and designer. No matter what the project is, it is our job to advise, create solutions and portray ideas to both clients, the entire design team, builders and contractors.
Architects ensure that your ideas and visions are represented onto paper. We look at building regulations from the earliest stage to make sure designs are compliant with legislation and most importantly, we are here to provide advice on any related matters and help you stay within your budget.
We also have a network of other consultants and builders that we work with and can we help manage the project for you.
We would say its one of your first appointments when thinking about your project. The earlier the better! As a practice we often start with a free consultation to get a better understanding of your project requirements and then we move on through to the design stages should you appoint us.
It's important to remember that as soon as we are appointed, we are here to help and provide any advice you may need.
If its your first project or you have done projects before. Our aim is to make the process as enjoyable as possible.
As soon as you have an idea. Every iteration, every design, every thought is put onto paper. It's easier to make changes on paper than on site!
We work in 2D, 3D and use VR Headsets to test everything we design. Through architectural drawings and 3D visualisation we can explore the site and building together. We see the site as a whole. It's about the experience, the approach, the journey.
Everything we produce is conveyed to the client. Even the VR!
Your initial meeting will be held either at your home or in our office. At the initial meeting we will discuss your requirements, ideas, concepts and our experience in relation to them.
It's an important step, after all, you will be working with your Architect closely and we feel that open communication and collaboration is a key part of coming to the right solution.
The right budget for the job depends on the scope of the project, the materials, labour requirements, VAT and many other factors. No matter the budget we always look to stick within them when producing designs.
We have good relationships with builders and cost consultants to help along the way too.
Our design process is split into 2 stages. Stage 2 - Concept and Stage 3 - Developed Design.
Upon appointment we will often take a detailed brief of your exact requirements and discuss what is important to you. Following this, we produce a number of different options both in plan and 3D where we look at how spaces interact with each other, the journey within the building and how the proposal will look. We explore materials and design in depth at this stage. We then present all of the options to you during a face to face meeting.
Following our meeting, we will then work up a near final design based on everything we have discussed. We will then get you in for a final meeting to make any final design tweaks.
Once we reach a point where we are all happy with the design and layouts, we then submit the final scheme drawings for planning.
This often comes down to project complexity, decision making time, local authorities and many other factors.
We will usually outline a timeframe during our initial meeting once we have more information about the project.
Every project is unique and there is never a one size fits all approach.
Initially you may require a topographical or building survey, along with ecological surveys and reports. We will advise if we think these are needed.
Once we have worked up the design it is often a good idea to engage with a builder or contractor who may be able to provide some initial costings for the project. Cost consultants are also a good idea if you are keen to figure out your exact costs as early as possible.
Other team members such as Structural Engineers, MEP, SAP and others often come after the planning permission is granted.
The number of other consultants you will need is project dependant and we will discuss this during our initial meeting.
Once we have produced the Technical Design, we enter into a tendering process with a number of builders or contractors to establish costs, relationships and timescales.
Once a builder has been picked and any relevant planning conditions have been discharged, the building work can start.
BCAE are happy to support during the build process and can be appointed to project manage should this be a requirement.
Part of our service is to guide you through the planning process and deal with any planning requirements and planning queries during the decision period.
Our plans and designs are informed by both national and local planning guidance but as a practice we always look to go over and above to create high quality architecture which is fit for purpose, eye catching and positively adds to its surrounding area.
