# How to Choose an Architect in South West London > Choosing an architect in Fulham, Chelsea, Kensington, Wandsworth, Putney or Clapham: where to look, ARB checks, questions to ask and local planning notes. Author: Ben Murrell, Homeowners Project Manager · Published: 2026-10-02 · Category: Planning · Areas: Fulham, Hammersmith, Chelsea, Kensington, Wandsworth, Battersea, Putney, Clapham Canonical: https://www.homeownersprojectmanager.co.uk/blog/how-to-choose-an-architect-south-west-london Search "architect near me" from Fulham, Wandsworth or Chelsea and you get a page of practice websites, each explaining why they are the right choice for your borough. Some of them will be. But nothing on that page helps you decide between them, check what you are buying, or work out whether you need an architect for every stage. This guide is the neutral version. I am Ben Murrell, an independent, client-side project manager. I do not design, I do not take referral fees from architects, and on most of my projects I work alongside whichever architect the homeowner has chosen. That means I see how different appointments play out once a build starts, and which early decisions matter most. It is written for homeowners in South West, West and Central London planning an extension, loft conversion or full renovation, including Fulham, Hammersmith, Chelsea, Kensington, Wandsworth, Battersea, Putney and Clapham. --- ## First, decide what kind of designer you need **"Architect" is a protected title.** Anyone calling themselves an architect must be registered with the Architects Registration Board (ARB), which RIBA says guarantees a basic standard and means they hold professional indemnity insurance. You can check anyone on the ARB register online. ARB says that if you cannot find them on the register, they are not an architect. You do not legally need an architect for an extension. Architectural technologists and designers draw many straightforward London extensions and lofts, often for lower fees. As a rule of thumb: - **An architect** is usually worth it for listed buildings, conservation-area houses where design quality will decide the planning outcome, complex layouts, basements, or when you want design and contract administration from one practice. - **A chartered architectural technologist or experienced designer** can suit a standard rear extension or loft conversion where the brief is clear and the planning route is well trodden. Either way, check qualifications, insurance and recent comparable work. --- ## Where to find architects worth meeting 1. **RIBA Find an Architect.** RIBA's free online tool matches your project, budget and location to its membership of more than 4,100 chartered practices. RIBA's client services team can also draw up a shortlist for you. 2. **Recommendations.** These are useful, but RIBA's own advice is to check the person is registered and to see previous projects before meeting. 3. **Your council's planning register.** This is the tip I give most often. Search your council's online planning applications for your street and the streets around it. Applications usually name the agent, which is often the architect or designer. You can see who has had similar extensions approved on houses like yours, and read the officer's report on what went well or badly. 4. **Finished work you can see.** If a neighbour's extension looks right, ask who designed it, and what they were like to work with after planning was granted. --- ## Local knowledge matters more in some boroughs than others Every architect should know the national permitted development rules. What separates a good local choice is knowledge of the borough's conservation areas, Article 4 directions and design expectations. My [permitted development guide for four London boroughs](https://www.homeownersprojectmanager.co.uk/blog/permitted-development-london-boroughs) covers the detail. In summary: - **Hammersmith & Fulham** ([Fulham](https://www.homeownersprojectmanager.co.uk/areas/fulham), [Hammersmith](https://www.homeownersprojectmanager.co.uk/areas/hammersmith)): the council says it has 44 conservation areas covering about half the borough. Ask your architect about recent approvals in your conservation area specifically. - **Kensington & Chelsea** ([Chelsea](https://www.homeownersprojectmanager.co.uk/areas/chelsea), [Kensington](https://www.homeownersprojectmanager.co.uk/areas/kensington)): conservation areas and listed buildings are common, and the council has a borough-wide Article 4 direction on basements. Listed building consent experience is essential if your house is listed. - **Wandsworth** ([Wandsworth](https://www.homeownersprojectmanager.co.uk/areas/wandsworth), [Battersea](https://www.homeownersprojectmanager.co.uk/areas/battersea), [Putney](https://www.homeownersprojectmanager.co.uk/areas/putney), [Balham](https://www.homeownersprojectmanager.co.uk/areas/balham), [Earlsfield](https://www.homeownersprojectmanager.co.uk/areas/earlsfield)): the council lists 46 conservation areas, from single streets to large areas such as West Putney. - **Lambeth** ([Clapham](https://www.homeownersprojectmanager.co.uk/areas/clapham)): the council says it has 62 conservation areas covering about 30% of the borough. Clapham straddles Lambeth and Wandsworth, so check which council you are in before assuming anything. Ask every candidate: **"What have you had approved in this conservation area, or on this type of house, in the last two years?"** Then look those applications up. --- ## Meet two or three, at your house RIBA suggests meeting a few architects at your home and asking to see portfolios or visit completed projects. Go into the meetings with a written brief. The ARB checklist suggests covering aesthetics, how you live, space, timeframe and budget. A clear budget is the most important item, because a design you cannot afford to build is expensive paper. Listen for: - **Questions about your budget**, and how they will keep the design within it. - **Honesty about planning risk** in your street, rather than promises. - **Who will actually do the work.** You appoint the practice, not the person you meet. Ask who your day-to-day contact will be and whether they are ARB-registered. - **How they work with builders.** Ask whether they have recent projects you could speak to the homeowner about, after the build. --- ## The questions to ask before you appoint Drawing on the ARB checklist and what I see go wrong on site: 1. **What is your fee, how is it calculated, and what could cost extra?** 2. **Do you take commission from suppliers or contractors?** ARB suggests asking this directly. 3. **Which RIBA stages are included?** Is a measured survey included? How many design revisions? 4. **Will you produce Building Regulations drawings and a specification good enough for builders to price accurately?** 5. **Do you run the tender, and will you report on the quotes?** 6. **Are you offering contract administration? If so, how often will you visit site?** 7. **Who coordinates the structural engineer and party wall surveyors?** 8. **When will I get written terms of engagement?** ARB says these should, as a minimum, set out the parties, the services, the fee, responsibilities, insurance cover, cancellation and how complaints are handled. On fees, see [architect fees UK and London](https://www.homeownersprojectmanager.co.uk/blog/architect-fees-uk-london-extensions-renovations) for how fee models work. The [renovation fees calculator](https://www.homeownersprojectmanager.co.uk/resources/renovation-fees-calculator-london) shows sourced ranges for the architect's fee alongside every other professional fee. --- ## Decide how far the architect should go The biggest choice is not which architect, but which stages. Many London homeowners appoint an architect to planning and technical drawings (RIBA Stages 0–4), then decide who represents them during construction: - **The architect continues** as contract administrator. This is often best for design-critical, listed or high-specification projects. - **You manage the build yourself.** This can work for small, simple jobs with a builder you trust. - **An independent client-side project manager** works alongside the design, on site more often and focused on cost, quotes and day-to-day problems. That is my role. I compare these in [do I need an architect, or is there a third option?](https://www.homeownersprojectmanager.co.uk/blog/architect-or-manage-your-build-yourself-third-option) and [project manager vs architect contract administration](https://www.homeownersprojectmanager.co.uk/blog/client-side-pm-vs-architect-contract-administration-sw-london). For who does what across the whole team, see [renovation team roles](https://www.homeownersprojectmanager.co.uk/resources/renovation-team-roles-sw-london). --- ## Red flags - Someone calling themselves an architect who is not on the ARB register. - No written appointment, or a one-line fee with no stages. - A design that grows without anyone checking it against the budget. Sense-check early with the [extension cost calculator](https://www.homeownersprojectmanager.co.uk/resources/extension-cost-calculator-london) or [loft conversion cost calculator](https://www.homeownersprojectmanager.co.uk/resources/loft-conversion-cost-calculator-london). - Reluctance to put you in touch with past clients. - Promises about planning that no one can honestly make. --- ## Talk it through If you are choosing an architect now, the best time to think about the whole team, including who will manage the build, is before anyone is appointed. I am happy to talk through your brief, budget and the route that makes sense, with no fee for the conversation. Once the drawings are done, I can run the builder side on your behalf: tender, contract and the build itself. [Send me a message](https://www.homeownersprojectmanager.co.uk/contact) or call [07525 474 849](tel:07525474849). *General guidance, correct as of October 2026. Conservation area and planning details come from each council's website. Always check the position for your own address with the council.* --- ## Common questions **How do I find a good architect near me in London?** Use RIBA's free Find an Architect service, ask neighbours who have had similar work done, and search your council's planning register for approved applications on your street, which usually name the agent. Shortlist two or three with recent approvals on houses like yours, meet them at home and check each is on the ARB register. **How do I check if someone is a registered architect?** Search the Architects Registration Board's online register using their name or registration number. ARB says anyone you cannot find on the register is not an architect. **Do I need an architect for an extension in London?** Not legally. Many straightforward extensions and lofts are designed by architectural technologists or designers. An architect is usually worth it for listed buildings, conservation-area houses where design will decide planning, complex layouts and basements. **Should I use a local architect?** Local experience helps most in conservation areas and on listed buildings, where knowing what the council has recently approved matters. Ask for approvals in your borough within the last two years and look them up on the planning register. **What should be in an architect's terms of engagement?** ARB says, at a minimum: who the parties are, what work the architect will do, the fee or how it will be calculated, who is responsible for what, any limits on responsibilities, cancellation terms, dispute arrangements, confirmation of insurance and how to complain. **Should my architect manage the build?** They can, through contract administration, and it suits design-critical projects. Alternatively you can manage it yourself or appoint an independent client-side project manager to work alongside the design during construction. Decide before you sign the appointment, so the scope and fee are clear. --- Homeowners Project Manager — independent client-side project management for homeowners in South West London. Contact: 07525 474 849 · https://www.homeownersprojectmanager.co.uk/contact