Choosing the Right Architect for Your Home Project: Why the Middle Ground Is the Smartest Option
When planning a home extension, loft conversion, or house renovation, one of the most important decisions you’ll make is choosing the right architectural service — especially if you’re searching for an affordable architect in the UK, or comparing options for architects for house extensions.
In the UK, most homeowners face a tricky choice between two extremes:
- Large online architecture platforms — While they’re fast and tech-savvy, these services can feel impersonal, with templated designs, poor communication, and limited project support beyond drawings.
- Traditional architectural practices — These firms bring deep experience, but often come with high fees, long timelines, and outdated processes that can make even simple projects feel slow and expensive.
At Go Plans, we sit confidently in the middle — offering a well-balanced, cost-effective architecture service that blends the speed and convenience of digital tools with the reliability and care of personal support.
Why Homeowners Are Choosing the Middle Ground
These days, more people are searching for online architects in the UK or asking, “Do I need an architect for my extension?” But the experience can vary wildly depending on who you choose.
Over the past few years, many UK homeowners have tried digital-first architecture platforms that promise fixed pricing and fast drawings. But many of those same clients end up frustrated — struggling with poor communication, lack of transparency, or quick designs that don’t reflect their vision.
Others turn to old-school architecture firms, only to be hit with unclear pricing, high hourly rates, and slow turnaround times.
Go Plans offers a smarter, more human alternative — built for modern homeowners who want a smoother, more collaborative experience without inflated costs or corporate red tape.
What Makes Go Plans Different
✅ Transparent Pricing from Day One
Our prices are clear and fixed, so you know exactly what you’re paying for from day one.
Even though we offer more personal, hands-on support than many online services, we still keep our fees affordable — thanks to our lean, experienced team that focuses on what really matters.
✅ Surveyor Always Visits On Site
While we deliver most of our services online for convenience and speed, our surveyor always visits the property at the start of the project. This ensures accuracy in measurements and a solid foundation for your design.
✅ Optional Architect Site Visits
We’re proud to offer flexible working styles. If you prefer a face-to-face design meeting with your architect — or if your project would benefit from on-site collaboration — we’re happy to offer that. But in most cases, our fully online approach works seamlessly. The choice is always yours.
✅ One Dedicated Team from Start to Finish
From concept to completion, you’ll work with one architectural designer and one account manager who stay with your project every step of the way. You won’t be handed from department to department or feel like a number in a queue.
✅ In-House Engineers and Regulations Experts
Our structural engineering and building regulations drawings are done entirely in-house — so you benefit from fast turnaround times, close coordination, and fewer delays or miscommunications.
✅ Vetted Builders and Local Support
We can introduce you to trusted local builders so you can choose the best fit for your home renovation. We also connect you with other key professionals like party wall surveyors, tree consultants, soil and drainage experts, and more.
Designed for Homeowners
Go Plans is ideal for people who:
- Want the efficiency of an online service but with the option for real, in-person support
- Need clear pricing and real accountability — no surprises
- Prefer working with a small, friendly team who know their project inside-out
- Are tired of big, corporate platforms where no one seems to take ownership
- Don’t want to pay inflated fees for traditional architectural services
- Are searching for help with planning permission, architectural drawings, or building regulations approval
Trusted by Hundreds of Homeowners
“Go Plans made our lives so much less stressful during the early stages of our single storey wraparound extension. They did all of the architectural plans, structural engineering/building regulation plans for our contractors and also dealt with building control matters. Meeting with their team in person and via Zoom was stress free, flexible and really put us at ease. They were also competitively priced. Would recommend and use them again on a build in future.”
— Matt A
“We had a fantastic experience working with Shilan on the architect’s side, Joe on the building controls and structural drawings side, Renata on tendering and Abigail on third party fittings. They provide such a great all encompassing service and everything is to a very high standard. Shilan’s drawings were really impressive and she was very proactive in ensuring we got planning permission promptly. We are continuing to work with Joe and he is so helpful. I highly recommend it. Reasonably priced too.”
— William John
Get Started with Go Plans
At Go Plans, we’re redefining residential architecture in the UK — giving homeowners a better, faster, and more affordable way to bring their ideas to life.
We offer:
- Full architectural planning services
- Building regulations and structural engineering
- Project management and tender support
- A warm, professional, and responsive team
- A network of trusted specialists and builders to help complete your project
Whether you’re planning a single storey extension, a loft conversion, or a full home renovation, Go Plans makes it easy to get started — with fixed pricing, fast architectural drawings, and planning and building regulation support.
If you’re looking for the sweet spot between high-end architects and modern online services, Go Plans is your perfect match.