FAQs
Keeping it simple, this is us and how we can help
Getting Started
How do I get started?
If you are considering appointing us for our full architectural service, there are three simple ways to begin:
Book a Call
A free 15-minute conversation about your initial thoughts, ideas and questions. Choose a convenient time and we’ll call you.
Book a Meet-up
A complimentary one-hour conversation at your home or on-site. This gives us more time to see the property, hear about your ideas and discuss how we may be able to help.
Email Us
Prefer to write things down first? Send us some initial details about your property, ideas, approximate budget and timescale.
Alongside our full multi-stage architectural service, we also offer two focused, paid pre-appointment consultations: Move & Improve for home buyers and Plan & Vision for new homes, plots and sensitive sites.
These are separate services designed for particular early decisions, rather than something every project needs. Still unsure? Book a call and we will point you in the right direction.
What is the free 15-minute call for?
It is a relaxed initial conversation about your project, property or site.
You can tell us what you are considering, ask some initial questions and learn a little more about how we work. We can discuss whether your project is likely to be a good fit for the practice and suggest the most useful next step.
You do not need a detailed brief or drawings. Choose a convenient time in our diary and we’ll call you. There is no obligation and no sales pitch.
What is a Meet-up?
A Meet-up is a complimentary one-hour chat at your home or on-site.
It gives us the opportunity to see the property, listen to what you are hoping to achieve and discuss your project in broader terms. We can also talk about the likely scope, budget, timescale and how the architectural process works.
A Meet-up is an initial conversation rather than a design exercise. It does not include sketch proposals or a written design report.
For projects within approximately one hour of Sheffield, you can book a Meet-up directly through our online diary. Further away, begin with a call and we will arrange it together.
Can I email you instead?
Yes. If you prefer to write things down first, email us or use the enquiry form on our contact page.
Tell us what you are considering and include any useful photographs, plans or property links you already have. You do not need to prepare a formal brief.
We aim to respond by the next working day and often reply sooner.
What are your paid pre-appointment consultations?
Move & Improve and Plan & Vision are two focused, paid consultations offered in addition to our full multi-stage architectural service.
They provide defined, project-specific advice at an important early decision point, before you appoint us to design and deliver the wider project.
Move & Improve
A £90 including VAT, 30-minute property review for home buyers who would like professional architectural advice before deciding whether to buy.
Plan & Vision
A detailed architectural and planning appraisal for new homes, plots and sensitive or challenging sites. The service costs £1,500 plus VAT.
Both are standalone consultations, so you can use them without appointing us for the wider project. If you later decide to proceed, we will prepare a separate fee proposal for the stages your project requires.
What if I choose the wrong option?
That is not a problem. Choose the option that feels closest to what you need. Once we understand your circumstances, we can suggest a different route where that would be more useful.
When in doubt, book the free 15-minute call.
Do I need drawings or a fully developed brief before contacting you?
No. Many clients contact us while their ideas are still taking shape. You might know what is not working with your current home without knowing how best to solve it.
Our role is to listen, ask the right questions and help you explore what might be possible. Property listings, photographs, existing plans and examples of homes you like can be helpful, but they are not essential for the first conversation.
Is there any obligation after the first call or Meet-up?
No. The initial conversation gives you an opportunity to learn more about us while we learn more about your project.
We will explain how we may be able to help and what the next step could be, but there is no obligation to appoint us.
What happens after the first conversation?
That depends on the nature of your project and how much you already know.
Once we understand your project and the scope is clear, we can prepare a fee proposal for the stages you are likely to need.
Sometimes, it is helpful to begin with one of our focused pre-appointment consultations. Move & Improve is for home buyers, while Plan & Vision provides a more detailed architectural and planning review for a new home, plot or sensitive site.
These are simply different ways to start. If neither is needed, we can move straight to a fee proposal. We will explain which route we think would be most useful, and why, so you can decide how you would like to proceed.
Your Project
What types of projects do you take on?
We specialise in bespoke new homes, substantial extensions, conversions and major renovations.
Many of our projects are in sensitive settings, including conservation areas, the green belt, open countryside and rural villages.
Our focus is private residential architecture. We help clients create individual homes that respond to their lives, their property and their surroundings.
Do you take on smaller projects?
Our main focus is bespoke new homes, substantial extensions and major renovations.
We occasionally undertake smaller projects where there is an unusual property, an interesting brief or a particularly strong design opportunity.
The easiest way to find out whether we may be able to help is to book a free 15-minute call.
How much do your projects typically cost?
To give a sense of the scale of projects we usually help with, construction budgets typically start at around £150,000.
Extensions and renovations usually start from approximately £150,000, with many projects falling between £250,000 and £750,000.
Small, high-quality bespoke new homes typically start from approximately £450,000, with larger projects reaching £1.5 million or more.
These are construction budgets rather than professional fees and do not include the purchase of land or property. Every project is different, so the figures should only be treated as an initial guide.
Why do you ask about the budget so early?
Understanding the available budget helps us give you honest and useful advice from the outset.
It allows us to consider whether your ambitions, the likely scope of work and the available funds are reasonably aligned. It also helps prevent time being spent developing proposals that could not realistically be built.
You do not need to know the exact figure, but an approximate range is helpful.
Do you work outside Sheffield?
Yes. Our main office is in Dore, Sheffield, and we regularly work throughout Sheffield, South Yorkshire, Derbyshire, the Peak District, Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire.
We also undertake selected projects elsewhere across the North of England, the Midlands and Wales.
For projects further afield, begin with a free call and we can discuss the location and how we might work together.
When could you start?
Our lead-in times vary according to our current workload and the type of service required.
We are a deliberately small practice providing a bespoke, director-led service, so we limit the number of projects we take on at any one time.
Even where a project cannot begin immediately, it is worth contacting us early. We can explain our likely availability and help you understand anything that could be done in preparation.
Fees and Services
What are your architectural fees?
Our fees are prepared individually for each project.
They reflect the scale and complexity of the work, the level of service required and the time needed to develop and deliver the project properly.
Once we understand the project, we will provide a clear fee proposal explaining the services included, the stages of work and how the fees will be charged.
Will you provide a fee proposal?
Where the scope of work is sufficiently clear following the initial call, Meet-up or email enquiry, we may be able to prepare a no-obligation fee proposal.
Sometimes, one of our focused pre-appointment consultations may be more useful first. Move & Improve is for home buyers, while Plan & Vision is for new homes, plots and sensitive sites. If neither is needed, we can move straight to a fee proposal.
We will always explain the proposed next step before you commit to anything.
How do these consultations differ from your full architectural service?
Move & Improve and Plan & Vision are focused, standalone pre-appointment consultations. Each has a defined purpose, scope and fee.
Our full architectural service is a separate, multi-stage appointment that can take a project from the initial brief and design through planning, technical design, tendering and construction.
Booking either consultation does not appoint us for the wider project and there is no obligation to continue. If you decide to proceed afterwards, we will prepare a separate fee proposal for the architectural stages you require.
What is Move & Improve?
Move & Improve is a focused, paid pre-appointment property review for home buyers, offered separately from our full architectural service.
It is intended for anyone considering buying a home and wondering about its potential for extending, renovating, remodelling or replacement.
The consultation lasts 30 minutes and costs £90 including VAT. It can take place at our Sheffield office, by phone or online.
You can send us the property listing, photographs, floor plans or other useful information beforehand. We will use the consultation to help you make a more informed buying decision.
What is Plan & Vision?
Plan & Vision is a focused, paid pre-appointment site feasibility service for clients who own, or are considering buying, land for a new home.
It combines architectural design expertise with specialist planning insight to assess the site’s realistic potential before you commit to our full multi-stage architectural service.
The service includes an on-site consultation, planning and feasibility research, consideration of the site’s opportunities and constraints, a detailed appraisal document and a follow-up discussion.
It is particularly helpful for garden plots, Green Belt land, open countryside and other challenging or sensitive sites.
Do you help with planning permission?
Yes. We can manage the planning process from the initial design work through to preparing and submitting the application.
Many of our projects are in sensitive or challenging locations, including the Green Belt, open countryside and conservation areas. We regularly work with planning consultants and other specialists where their input would strengthen the project.
Planning permission can never be guaranteed, but careful research, a well-considered design and a clear planning strategy can improve the prospects of a successful outcome.
Do you manage projects through to construction?
Yes. We offer architectural services from early feasibility and concept design through planning, technical design and construction.
The service can be tailored to your project and may include coordinating engineers and consultants, preparing information for builders, assisting with tendering and providing support while the work is on-site.
We will explain the available stages and help you decide which level of support is appropriate.
Do you help with interior design and landscaping?
We consider the relationship between the architecture, interiors and landscape from the beginning of the design process.
We develop initial interior and landscape ideas in-house and regularly collaborate with trusted interior designers and landscape architects where a project would benefit from their specialist input.
About Brightman Clarke Architects
Who are Brightman Clarke Architects?
We are a RIBA Chartered architectural practice based in Sheffield, specialising in high-quality residential architecture.
Our directors, Chris Brightman and Jonathan Clarke, lead a close-knit team of architects and designers. Every project is overseen directly by one of the directors, helping to provide continuity throughout the design and construction process.
What is your design style?
We do not impose a predetermined style. Every home is developed in response to the client, the property, the site and its surroundings.
Much of our work falls broadly into two areas: contemporary homes combining strong forms, carefully considered glazing and a sensitive mix of materials; and traditional homes reinterpreted for contemporary family life.
The aim is not to apply a particular look, but to create a home that feels right for you and its setting.
How do you work with clients?
Collaboration is at the heart of our approach.
We invest considerable time in the early design stages, exploring ideas, testing different options and refining the proposals with you.
We will offer advice and challenge ideas where necessary, but we always remember that this is your home.
We do not design houses. Together, we create homes.
Why should we choose Brightman Clarke Architects?
We do not believe that this is a decision we can make for you.
Any good architect or experienced architectural designer should be able to help you create a well-designed home. What often distinguishes one practice from another is how the process feels, as well as the final result.
Our projects are director-led, collaborative and carefully considered. We aim to give you clear and honest advice, explore ideas thoroughly and help you feel informed and supported throughout the journey.
If our approach resonates with you, the next step is simply to start a conversation.
What awards have you won?
The Works won Best Renovation at the 2024 Homebuilding & Renovating Awards.
The Sanctuary was also shortlisted for Best Value Home, and a number of our projects have been featured in Homebuilding & Renovating Magazine and other publications.
Awards and features are always appreciated, but the true measure of a successful project is how well the finished home works for the people living in it.
Do you really have dogs in the office?
Yes. You may meet Arnie, our French Bulldog, or Jasper, our Whippet, when visiting the studio.
They have become part of the Brightman Clarke welcome committee, although their contribution to the architectural work remains limited.
Still unsure where to start?
Book a free 15-minute call and tell us what you are considering. We will listen, answer your initial questions and help point you towards the most useful next step.