Our Services

From first conversation to finished home.

We guide you through every stage of your project, from testing whether an idea is viable, through design and planning, to the details that determine how a building is built and how it ages.

Our service follows the RIBA Plan of Work, the industry-standard framework for architectural projects. This gives your project a clear structure and allows you to choose the level of involvement that suits your needs, whether that is design and planning only, or full support through to completion on site.

Every stage is led by the same architect. No handovers, no loss of continuity.

Our core services

  • Feasibility and strategic advice
  • Project briefing and brief development
  • Concept design and spatial proposals
  • Design development and refinement
  • Planning applications and permitted development submissions
  • Technical design and construction drawings
  • Building Regulations applications
  • Contractor tendering and procurement support
  • Construction observation and site support
RIBA Stage 0

Stage 0 — Strategic Definition

Before any design work begins, we help you establish whether your project is viable and what it realistically involves. This is where we ask the right questions — about your ambitions, your site, your budget, and your timescales — so that everything that follows is built on a clear foundation.

  • We review your early ideas and test them against planning context, site constraints, and budget to identify what is achievable.
  • We highlight any issues that need resolving early — planning considerations, legal matters, or physical limitations on site.
  • We advise on project risks and opportunities, and identify whether specialist input is needed before design begins.

The aim is simple: to make sure you are making an informed decision before committing to the stages ahead.

RIBA Stage 1

Stage 1 — Preparation and Brief

This is where we listen. Before a single line is drawn, we invest time in understanding how you want to live — your routines, your priorities, the things that matter most to you about where you live. That understanding becomes the brief that guides every design decision.

  • We develop a detailed Project Brief that captures your spatial requirements, quality aspirations, sustainability targets, and budget parameters.
  • Where required, we arrange a measured survey of the existing site or building.
  • From this, we produce accurate existing drawings — floor plans, elevations, and sections — that form the foundation for the design stages ahead.
RIBA Stage 2

Stage 2 — Concept Design

This is where the project begins to take shape. We translate your brief into design proposals — exploring layout, form, and appearance — and present them in a way that allows you to understand how the spaces will feel, not just how they will look.

  • You receive initial layout options presented in plan and 3D, giving you a clear sense of how the spaces could work.
  • We walk you through the proposals in a dedicated design review — in person or online — and talk through the thinking behind each decision.
  • Following your feedback, we refine the concept through up to two major revisions, until we arrive at a design you are confident to progress.
RIBA Stage 3

Stage 3 — Spatial Coordination and Planning

Your agreed concept is developed into a fully coordinated design and submitted for planning. We manage the application from preparation through to decision, keeping you informed at every step.

  • We produce detailed drawings capturing the finalised layout, external appearance, and architectural intent.
  • Supporting documentation is prepared for either a full planning application or a permitted development submission.
  • We submit on your behalf and maintain direct contact with the planning team throughout the process.

Where planning approval comes with pre-commencement conditions, we manage the discharge process for you — preparing the required documents, liaising with the planning officer, and tracking submissions to avoid delays.

RIBA Stage 4

Stage 4 — Technical Design

With planning secured, we prepare the detailed technical information your contractor and Building Control need to build the project correctly. This is where the design is fully resolved — every material, junction, and specification considered and documented.

  • We advise on Building Regulations compliance and how they apply to your specific project.
  • Comprehensive technical drawings and specifications are produced and submitted to Building Control.
  • We handle the application process and respond to any queries from the inspector.
  • All approved drawings and documents are issued to you and your contractor, ready for construction.
RIBA Stage 5

Stage 5 — Construction

On site, things move quickly — and having your architect available to support the build can protect the quality of the design through to the finished detail. While construction support is not included as standard, we can provide the level of involvement your project requires.

  • We respond to contractor queries about details, specifications, and design intent during the build.
  • Periodic site visits can be arranged to review progress and address any design-related issues as they arise.
  • Where a contractor proposes changes, we advise on their implications and help protect design quality.

All services at this stage are scoped and quoted separately, depending on what level of support you need.

RIBA Stage 6

Stage 6 — Handover (Optional)

As construction completes, we can support the final steps — ensuring the building is handed over correctly, documentation is in order, and any outstanding issues are properly resolved.

  • We review as-built drawings to confirm they align with the original design intent.
  • Where required, we assist with snagging — identifying any outstanding works or defects before final sign-off.
  • All final design documents, warranties, and certificates are issued to you for your records.
  • We remain available through commissioning and handover to answer questions from you or your contractor.
RIBA Stage 7

Stage 7 — In Use (Optional)

Our involvement does not have to end at handover. For clients who want continued support, we remain available once the building is occupied — whether that is to answer questions, advise on future changes, or carry out a post-occupancy review.

  • We can advise on any design or technical queries that arise after you move in.
  • If you are considering future alterations, we can review the original drawings and advise on implications.
  • Where beneficial, we carry out a post-occupancy review to assess how the building is performing against its original objectives.
  • We can liaise with the contractor on your behalf during the defects liability period if issues arise.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • We work exclusively in high-end residential architecture — ambitious extensions that transform the way a home is experienced, and bespoke new build homes designed carefully from the ground up.

    We do not take on commercial work or volume residential projects. This focus is deliberate: it allows us to do what we do well, on projects that genuinely benefit from that level of attention.

  • Architects typically charge either a fixed fee or a percentage of the construction cost, depending on the complexity of the project.

    At Baltik, we structure our fees around the RIBA Plan of Work stages, so you can see clearly what each stage includes and what you are paying for. It also means you are not committed to stages you do not need — if you only require design and planning support, or planning and Building Regulations, that is entirely fine.

    Our proposals are transparent, fixed, and easy to understand. We will always be honest with you about what things cost.

  • Planning Permission

    Planning is handled by your local council and focuses on how your proposal affects the outside world — its size, appearance, impact on neighbours, and compliance with local planning policy. A design can be structurally sound and still be refused planning permission. Planning is about context, character, and policy.

    Building Control

    Building Control deals with technical standards — ensuring your project is structurally sound, fire safe, properly insulated, well ventilated, and compliant with drainage and electrical requirements. Even projects that do not require planning permission will often still require Building Regulations approval.

    In short: Planning checks what you want to build. Building Control checks how you build it.

    If you are unsure what applies to your project, we will advise you from the outset and manage both processes on your behalf.

  • Some projects require input from additional specialists. Depending on your site and the scope of work, this may include a structural engineer, party wall surveyor, arboricultural consultant, flood risk assessor, or heritage specialist.

    These professionals sit outside our fee but we will always flag early if your project requires them, advise on suitable consultants, and coordinate their input as part of our service.

  • Get in touch with a brief outline of your project, the site address, and your contact details. We will review the project and come back to you with an initial response.

    Once we have a clear picture of the scope and constraints, we prepare a fixed-fee proposal for your review. If you are happy to proceed, we issue a digital appointment document to sign securely online.

    It helps if you can share any existing drawings, details of known legal restrictions or covenants, or information on previous planning applications at the property — but if you do not have these, we can advise on how to obtain them.

    We will also explain your responsibilities as a Client under CDM 2015 and the Building Safety Act where applicable, so you understand your position from the outset.

  • Most planning applications take around eight weeks from the point of validation by the local authority. More complex schemes, or those involving conservation areas or listed buildings, can take longer.

    We manage the submission, liaise directly with the planning officer, and keep you informed throughout the process.

  • A refusal is not the end of your project. We review the decision, assess the officer's reasoning, and advise on the most effective next steps — whether that is adjusting the design and resubmitting, negotiating directly with the planning officer, or preparing a planning appeal.

    We will always be straightforward with you about the options and the likelihood of success at each route.