Rated architects
5
Every architect we found in CF10, with Google's own ratings — collected by Google, not by us. The bar beside each name is their review count on one fixed scale, so the list can be read at a glance and a short list is a short district, not a hidden one.
Most trusted first
Review volume
Contact
Most trusted first
architect · Cardiff · in CF10
Rated by more people than any other business on this page.
59reviews
★ 5.0 average on Google
architect · Cardiff · in CF10
20reviews
★ 5.0 average on Google
13reviews
★ 5.0 average on Google
5reviews
★ 5.0 average on Google
New listing · 1 review
Based in neighbouring districts, covering CF10 — each card shows where they're actually based.
architect · Cardiff · CF5 1JH · Website
★ 5.0 · 4 reviews on Google
Cardiff's housing stock — from Victorian bay-fronted terraces in Roath and Canton to interwar semis in Whitchurch and modern waterfront apartments in the Bay — presents distinct design challenges that require local architectural knowledge. Whether you're extending a Splott two-up-two-down, converting a Cyncoed loft, or reconfiguring a listed property in Cathedral Road, Cardiff's architects must navigate Welsh planning regulations, Cardiff Council's design guidance, and often restrictive conservation area rules that differ from English equivalents.
Cardiff's architectural market is heavily influenced by the city's rapid expansion and heritage preservation balance. The Victorian terraces dominating CF24, CF11 and CF5 generate constant demand for side-return and rear extensions — though many properties sit within conservation areas like Roath, Grangetown and Pontcanna, requiring additional design sensitivity. The interwar semis spreading through CF14 and CF23 typically have more lenient planning, but Welsh building regulations (which diverge from English regs in energy efficiency and drainage requirements) apply across all projects. Loft conversions are popular in areas like Llandaff North and Heath, though Cardiff's terraced stock often has shared party walls requiring Party Wall Act considerations. The Bay regeneration has created demand for contemporary residential design, while listed building work clusters around Cathedral Road, Cyncoed's larger properties, and the city centre. Fees typically run 8–12% of construction costs for full architectural services, or £2,500–£5,000 for planning-permission-only packages on straightforward extensions. The local market includes both ARB-registered architects and architectural technologists — the former essential for complex or listed work, the latter often handling standard domestic extensions at lower rates.
Most Cardiff architects offer a free initial consultation to assess feasibility — crucial because conservation area restrictions, Welsh planning policies (including TAN 12 Design guidelines), and Cardiff's Supplementary Planning Guidance can significantly affect what's achievable. For a typical rear extension in Canton or Cathays, expect 6–8 weeks for design and planning drawings, then 8–12 weeks for Cardiff Council's planning determination (though conservation area consent adds time). Building regulations drawings follow, often handled by the same architect or a separate technician. Full architectural services — from initial sketches through to contract administration during build — typically cost 10–12% of construction value; planning-only services run £2,000–£4,000 for single-storey extensions, £3,500–£6,000 for two-storey or loft conversions. Always verify ARB registration for anyone calling themselves an 'architect' (it's a protected title), and check they hold professional indemnity insurance of at least £250,000 for domestic work. Many Cardiff practices are small (one to three architects), so personal rapport matters — you'll be working together for months. Expect site visits, neighbour consultation letters, and potentially pre-application advice meetings with council planners, which better architects build into their timeline and fee.
Welsh planning law differs from England in several ways that affect residential projects: TAN 12 (Technical Advice Note 12: Design) emphasises design quality and contextual sensitivity more prescriptively than English equivalents, and Cardiff Council actively applies this in conservation areas. Properties in CF10, CF11 (Canton/Grangetown), CF24 (Roath), and CF5 (Pontcanna/Cathedral Road) often sit within conservation areas or Article 4 Directions that remove permitted development rights — meaning projects that wouldn't need planning in non-protected areas require full applications here. Listed building consent is separate from planning permission, processed concurrently but with stricter requirements; Cadw (Welsh heritage body) gets consulted on Grade I and II* properties. Welsh building regulations Part L (energy efficiency) and Part H (drainage) have stricter requirements than England's — particularly around SAP calculations and sustainable drainage systems (SuDS), which Cardiff Council enforces rigorously. Basement conversions in Victorian terraces near Roath Park or Splott require careful groundwater and drainage consideration due to Cardiff's clay subsoil and flood risk in low-lying areas near the Taff and Ely rivers.
Expect £2,500–£5,000 for planning drawings only on a straightforward single-storey extension, or £4,000–£7,000 for loft conversions and two-storey work. Full architectural services (design through construction oversight) typically run 10–12% of build costs — so £6,000–£9,000 on a £60,000 extension project. Listed building or complex conservation area work commands higher fees due to additional Cadw liaison and design iterations.
For standard rear extensions, loft conversions or internal reconfigurations outside conservation areas, an architectural technician or designer can handle planning and building regs drawings at lower cost. For listed buildings, complex structural changes, or design-sensitive conservation area projects (common in Roath, Canton, Pontcanna), use an ARB-registered architect with local heritage experience.
Cardiff Council's statutory determination period is eight weeks for householder applications, though the actual timeline often runs 10–12 weeks if they request amended drawings or additional information. Conservation area projects can take 12–14 weeks, and listed building consent runs concurrently but sometimes requires Cadw consultation which adds time. Pre-application advice can shorten this by clarifying issues upfront.
Welsh Part L (energy efficiency) requires stricter U-values and SAP calculations than England, and Part H mandates SuDS (sustainable drainage systems) for most extensions — you can't simply connect new guttering to existing drains without demonstrating surface water management. These differences mean architects practising in Cardiff must be familiar with Welsh-specific regs, not just English equivalents.
Loft conversions often fall under permitted development if you're adding roof lights (not dormers) and staying within volume limits, but conservation areas, Article 4 Directions, and listed buildings all remove these rights — common across CF24, CF11, CF5 and CF10. Even permitted conversions require building regulations approval. An architect or technician can assess whether your property qualifies during an initial consultation.
Cardiff Council applies TAN 12 design guidance fairly rigorously in its 28 conservation areas, often requiring detailed design statements and heritage impact assessments for extensions that would pass easily elsewhere. Materials, fenestration and massing receive close scrutiny — particularly in Roath, Cathedral Road and Pontcanna. Welsh planning culture emphasises design quality more than tick-box compliance.
Many Cardiff terraces sit in conservation areas (Roath, Canton, Grangetown, Splott) or under Article 4 Directions that remove permitted development rights entirely. Even outside these, rear extensions are limited to 3m for attached houses, and side extensions require careful measurement against boundary rules. Always check with an architect before assuming permitted development applies.
Cardiff Council considers neighbour objections but weighs them against planning policy — valid concerns about overlooking, overshadowing or design impact carry more weight than simple opposition. A good architect designs to minimise these issues (appropriate window placement, sympathetic scale) and often recommends pre-consultation with neighbours before submission to address concerns early.
Yes for any project removing or altering loadbearing walls, adding floors, or significantly changing roof structure. Architects design the space; structural engineers calculate beam sizes, foundation depths and produce structural drawings for building control. Most Cardiff architects work with trusted local structural engineers and coordinate the process, though you'll pay the engineer separately (typically £500–£1,500 for domestic work).
Architects identify when party wall notices are needed (extensions along shared walls, loft conversions affecting party walls) and can coordinate with party wall surveyors, but they don't handle the Party Wall Act process themselves. Budget £700–£1,200 for your surveyor, plus potentially half your neighbour's surveyor fees if they appoint one — your architect should flag this at feasibility stage.
About this guide
Compiled from held data
This guide is assembled by Domifyr from the data we hold: Google ratings and review counts (collected by Google, not by us), UK statutory register requirements, and typical price ranges for the area. No individual author is credited because no individual wrote it — and we would rather tell you that than invent someone.