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 9/24/26 Tommy Harrison 9/24/26

Paragraph 84: Building an Exceptional Home in the Countryside

There is a clause in national planning policy that rewards exactly one thing: a building genuinely worth having changed the view. Here is what it actually asks of a design, and of the people making it.

Tommy Harrison 9/17/26 Tommy Harrison 9/17/26

What Is "Grey Belt" in Planning — and Where Does It Apply?

Not all Green Belt is equal, and national policy now says so in writing. Here's what "grey belt" really means, where it shows up locally, and why a plot's postcode alone won't tell you if it qualifies.

Tommy Harrison 9/16/26 Tommy Harrison 9/16/26

Is There Really a Self-Build "Fast-Track" in the New NPPF?

A new clause in national planning policy is being talked about as a hidden door for self-builders. We went and read it. The real story is more useful than the myth, just less exciting.

Tommy Harrison 9/16/26 Tommy Harrison 9/16/26

NPPF August 2026: What the new planning rules mean for you

Somewhere between a government press release and a 130-page document, most homeowners lost the thread. Here's the version written for the people actually living through it.