If you're looking for an architect for your house extension, the most important decision isn't what to build. It's understanding what will genuinely improve the way you live.

I help homeowners make that decision before any design work begins.

A good extension is not just a room added to the back of your house. It is a design that changes something about how you live, how your family uses the space together, and whether the house finally works the way you need it to.

Sometimes the right answer is an extension. Sometimes it's a better layout. Occasionally, it's moving house instead.

By defining the right brief first, you avoid spending money on the wrong solution.

If you're not sure where to start, my free house extension checklist walks you through the key questions to answer before any design work begins.

I specialise in Victorian, Edwardian and other pre-1980 homes across the UK, with particular expertise in period properties, conservation areas and buildings with original character.
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What does an architect do for a house extension?

An architect does much more than prepare drawings.

My specific approach is to start by understanding the problem, and only then do I design the solution.

My role is to help you:

• Understand what isn't working in your home
• Develop a clear design brief
• Explore different design options
• Create a home that works better for your lifestyle
• Prepare planning and building regulation drawings
• Manage planning applications
• Support you through construction

Rather than simply drawing what I think is best for you, I help you decide what will give you the best long-term outcome and draw various ways to achieve what you really want.

Why start with the brief?

Many house extension projects become expensive because homeowners begin designing before they fully understand the problem.

My process starts with your lifestyle, your home and your goals.

That means every design decision has a clear purpose.

Sometimes we confirm that an extension is the right choice.

Sometimes we discover a simpler and less expensive solution.

And occasionally, the right answer is not to change your home at all, it is to move.

I have worked with clients who came to me ready to extend, and the early work we did together helped them realise that what would give them the life they really wanted was a different home entirely.

If you're at that stage of thinking, my free checklist is a good place to start.
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What Clients Say

Overall working with you was excellent!

The best part was that you are so personal and creative. Your approach is so different from others in that you listened to my needs and created solutions based on them.

I was struggling with challenging my thinking about how my home could be renovated. Exploring what other options are regarding moving and also look at comparing cost of staying and cost of moving.

I was surprised by the amount of different options that could be a possibility of the renovations.

For anyone on the fence about working with you I would say, Do it! Jane is a genius.

     - Anna Radford

Whatever you decide, by working with me you gain clarity before investing in design work.

My design process

I work in fixed-fee stages. You only commit to the next stage when you are ready (and if you need it).

​No open-ended retainer, no fees that are hard to predict.

​The stages are as follows.
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Vision Programme

Every project starts here.

Before any design happens, we look carefully at what works and does not work in your home, your lifestyle, and the practical requirements any design will need to meet.

Together we identify:

• how you currently use your home
• what's working
• what's not
• your priorities
• possible solutions

This creates a detailed brief before any design work begins.

Some clients discover they don't actually need an extension, and others gain confidence that extending is the right decision.

​Find out more about the Vision Programme here

Design Day

Using the agreed brief, we develop practical design ideas. 

We explore layouts, space planning and sketch options so you can compare different possibilities before committing to one direction.

You'll also receive guidance to help you assess each option carefully.

That includes:

• A checklist
• videos
• Email support to help you evaluate your options
• Guidance on additional surveys and consultants that can inform the decision

The sketch designs themselves are also useful well beyond the Design Day.

They can be:

• Taken to a structural engineer for initial input
• Used to submit a pre-application enquiry to the planning department, which can open up early conversations with planners and significantly improve your chances later
• Shared with neighbours

I always encourage clients to talk to their neighbours early.

I had one project that was initially refused by the planning department, but because the client had used the sketch designs to have good conversations with their neighbours, several letters of support were submitted. The appeal was won, and those letters made the difference.

You can see how design options are explored during a Design Day in this 1 minute video:

3D design and visualisation

Your preferred concept is developed into a 3D design and submitted for planning approval where required.

You'll be able to visualise your extension before construction through:

• 3D models
• walkthroughs
• external views
• internal layouts

The Build Package

This package takes you from a planning approved design through to the point where you are ready to start on site.

This includes:

• Developing construction details and specifications
• Submission for building regulations approval
• Finding suitable contractors for the build
• Managing a tender process so you appoint someone at a fair price with a proper contract in place

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What kind of homes do I work with?

I specialise in older homes with character, including:

• Victorian terraces
• Victorian villas
• Edwardian houses
• 1930s homes
• Stone cottages
• Farmhouses
• Mid-century homes
• Most pre-1980 properties with original features

These homes often require specialist design knowledge and greater planning expertise than newer houses.

Post-1980s homes are generally outside the scope of my work, unless there is something that makes them more complex or interesting such as:

• A conservation area designation
• An unusual design
• A setting that brings in some of the same planning considerations as a period property

If your home is in a conservation area or you are interested in improving its energy performance, you may also want to read about eco and sustainable design for period homes.

​If you are not sure whether your home fits, the free Q&A is a good place to start.
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What makes my approach different?

Many architects begin by producing drawings.

I begin by helping you understand what you actually need.

That means:

• a clear brief before design starts
• fixed-fee stages
• no long-term commitment
• honest advice if an extension isn't the right solution

My goal is not simply to design an extension.

It's to help you make the right decision for your home.

Case Study: stone farmhouse, contemporary eco extension

One of my projects is a 17th-century stone farmhouse where the clients wanted to extend and improve the building's performance substantially.

​My clients wanted a contemporary extension that significantly improved energy performance while respecting the historic building.

The design clearly distinguished old from new using modern materials alongside the original stone construction.

The planning officer, on seeing the submitted design, commented that they wished more architects submitted designs of this quality.

You don't have to choose between a home that performs well and a home that respects its history.
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See more projects in my portfolio.

Frequently asked questions about house extensions

Do I need an architect for a house extension?

No, not legally.

Anyone can prepare extension drawings.

However, an architect can help you create a better design, navigate planning, solve layout problems and avoid costly mistakes.

This is particularly valuable for older homes, conservation areas and more complex projects.

Architect-designed homes have been proven to result in higher resale values, or faster sales when the market is depressed, plus faster and higher rentals.

How much does an architect cost for a house extension?

I work in fixed-fee stages rather than a single upfront quote for the whole project.

You know exactly what you are committing to at each stage and only move forward when you are ready.

The Vision Programme is the natural starting point — it gives you a clear brief and a real sense of whether my process is right for you before any significant design spend.

Do I need planning permission for a house extension?

Some extensions fall under permitted development.

Others require planning permission.

Homes in conservation areas, listed buildings and sensitive locations usually have additional requirements.

I help establish the correct planning route at the start.

Many extensions fall within permitted development rights, which means you can build without a formal planning application as long as you stay within certain limits on size, height, position and materials. I explain more here in a YouTube video about permitted development.

If you're unsure whether your home is in a conservation area or has any special planning status, that often becomes clearer as we develop your brief.

I use sketch designs to open early conversations with the planning department which gives us a full picture of what applies. That then informs either the design itself or the case I make to get it approved.

How long does a house extension take from start to finish?

Longer than most people expect, and the biggest delay usually happens before anything even starts.

Some people spend years in the "before you start" phase, waiting until everything feels decided before making any move.

Once you are moving, the rough stages look like this:

• Vision and brief: 8 to 12 weeks
• Finding and appointing an architect: 4 to 12 weeks
• Sketch design through to planning application: 6 to 12 weeks (more for complex projects)
• Planning decision: 13 weeks minimum, often longer
• Detailed design and building control: 8 to 12 weeks
• Builder quotes and mobilisation: 4 weeks to 6 months
• Construction: 1 to 6 months

The iterative design approach most architects use can add 12 weeks to 2 years to the design stages alone. Building the brief properly before design begins is one of the most effective ways to compress that.

I have a video that covers how to speed up the timeline if you want to understand where time is most commonly lost.

Can you help with an extension on a period or older home?

Yes, and it is the kind of work I do most.

Victorian terraces, Edwardian semis, 1930s houses, stone farmhouses, mid-century homes, and anything pre-1980 with original features.

These homes need a different approach from a standard modern extension, particularly when planning is involved.

If your home is in a conservation area or close to a listed building, that brings in additional considerations I am well placed to handle.

What happens if planning permission is refused?

During the planning process I can negotiate with the planning authority, submit amendments and provide supporting information to maximise the chances of approval.

I also give clients my “Prep for Yes” Toolkit, which helps them have positive conversations with neighbours early, as neighbour support can make a real difference to the outcome.

If an application is refused, the options are to redesign and resubmit, or to appeal. Where significant negotiation is needed, this is agreed as an additional fee.

What if I have already had a bad experience with an architect?

The most common problems I hear about are architects who didn't listen or ask enough questions to understand what clients actually wanted, designs that expanded in scope as they went, and fees that grew in ways that were hard to predict.

My process is built to prevent all of those by providing a brief built on listening to what you want before anything gets drawn, fixed fees at each stage, and no commitment to the next stage until you are ready.

Do you work outside Manchester?

Yes. I work with homeowners across the UK.

Almost all of my architectural services can be delivered remotely, including site support via video call. Where an in-person measured survey is needed, this can be carried out by a specialist surveyor who sends me the information directly.

Technical packages (3D design, building control and construction) are available throughout England and Wales.

The free checklist is a good starting point, or browse my free Q&A library .

Get clear before design begins

Before you invest in plans or building work, it's worth making sure you're solving the right problem.

My free Design Your Home Vision Checklist helps you reflect on what's working and what isn't in your home, and start making the right-for-you decisions before any design work begins.

Download your Free Checklist