What areas does Studio Harrison work in?

Derbyshire and the Peak District predominantly, with regular projects across the wider East and West Midlands, and a number of clients in Jersey, Channel Islands.

Do I need planning permission for my extension or new build?

Most extensions and all new-build homes need either planning permission or, in some cases, a Lawful Development Certificate confirming permission isn't needed — which applies depends on scale, location, and whether the property is listed or in a conservation area.

Do you offer snagging inspections for new-build homes?

Yes — a technologist-led inspection of a newly built home before or shortly after legal completion, checking construction quality and finish against the specification and building regulations.

What's a fabric-first approach to sustainable design?

Treating the building's fabric — insulation, airtightness, glazing, thermal bridging — as the foundation of energy performance, before adding renewable technology on top, in line with Passivhaus and AECB principles.

How long does a typical residential project take?

Usually several months from initial consultation to a full set of construction drawings, plus a further 8 weeks for planning determination on a standard application.

How much does it cost to work with an architectural designer on a home project?

The investment is usually structured either as a percentage of the construction cost or as a fixed fee for each design stage, agreed upfront once the scope is clear.

Tommy Harrison 10/2/26 Tommy Harrison 10/2/26

Can AI Design Your Extension? What AI House-Plan Generators Get Right — and What They Miss

Type a sentence, get a floor plan. It's genuinely useful — right up to the point it matters most. Here's our honest look at what AI house-plan generators do well, and what they quietly leave out of a once-in-a-lifetime extension.

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RIBA Stages Explained: What Actually Happens When You Commission an Architect

From first doubt to finished home: a plain-English walk through the RIBA Plan of Work, and what each of its eight stages actually asks of you as a client.