Thinking of Expanding, Adapting, or Reimagining Your Rural Business?
Whether you're welcoming guests, hosting weddings, or serving your local community, we help you explore how your buildings and land could evolve to support what you do best.
We offer clear, design-led advice to help you unlock the potential of your site — whether you're considering:
• Refurbishments
• Reconfigurations
• Extensions
• Conversions
If you're thinking about adding guest rooms, improving flow, or making better use of underused spaces, we’ll help you understand what’s feasible — and where to begin.
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Free In-Person Site Visits
We offer a free consultation at your site, venue, or place of business — ideal for early-stage advice at high level and helping you understand what’s feasible and where to begin.
These visits give us a chance to walk the site with you, listen to your ideas, and offer initial guidance on how your buildings and land could evolve to support your goals.
After the visit, you’ll receive a follow-up letter summarising:
• Key points discussed
• Any working assumptions of your brief
• Considerations and Responsibilities for you as a Client
• Explain the different roles we can offer such as Architect, Project Lead, Client Advisor, CDM Principal Designer, Principal Designer Building Regulations, Contract Administrator
• A stage-by-stage fee proposal tailored to your project
Please refer to our Consultation Policy for mileage limits and the scope of advice we can offer during these visits
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Feasibility Studies for Rural Businesses
Before committing to a set design or planning, a Feasibility Study (RIBA Stage 1) helps you explore the potential of your site through the lens of your guests’ experience. Whether you're running a wedding venue, pub, hotel, or retreat, this stage gives you space to test ideas, understand constraints, and assess how your buildings and land could better support the way people arrive, gather, stay, and return.
We look closely at the opportunities and limitations your site presents — from flow and access to views, layout, and planning context. We also consider the wider setting: what surrounds your site, how it’s used, and what might influence or enhance your future plans. We work collaboratively with yourselves to better understand how your business runs and how we can enhance its operation.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
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A typical commercial feasibility (RIBA Stage 1) often consists of:
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Understanding Your Brief
• Help you shape and develop your brief into a clear design strategy
• Explore your priorities — including budget, timeline, quality and risk
• Assist with defining your budget with high level construction costs considerations, prior to a Quantity Surveyor's involvement
• Advise on any additional consultants your project may need, and when their involvement might be required
• Assist towards an initial sustainability strategy for the site​
• Prepare an initial project programme. We understand that timings are essential for your business to be up and running as soon as possible.​
Site & Planning Context
• Visit your site to take reference photos and drone scans (when needed)
• Request a quote for a measured survey (if required)
• In depth site analysis including reviewing local planning policies, designations, and recent approvals
• Analysing opportunities and constraints of the site while considering the wider area.
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Early Design Exploration
• Analyse the site and its context, key views, orientation etc
• Create three sketch layout options to test spatial ideas and connections
• Explore massing through 3D block models or sketch impressions
• Gather design precedents to inspire the aesthetic direction
Reporting & Guidance
• Prepare and present your illustrated Stage 1 Design Report
• Advise on your responsibilities under CDM and Building Regulations
• Prepare a Preliminary Designer's Risk Assessment
• End-of-stage meeting to present ideas — either on-site or virtually