Creating architecture to be proud of starts with clarity. We design by putting you at the centre of the process, while ensuring that your project is regulation-compliant, works within planning constraints, financially viable, and fantastic to use.
We build relationships as well as we build homes. We offer honest advice that you can rely upon, we listen, and we support you through the design and construction process.
EXPLORE EACH RIBA WORK STAGE WITH SCROXTON & SCROXTON
Our process is tried and tested, with each project following a similar step-by-step journey to completion. Following a well-trodden path leaves space and time for creativity, ensuring that your project is individual to you, as well as professionally managed.
All projects follow the 8 RIBA Stages of work, which is an industry standard. To simplify things, we have grouped these into 4 key milestones; Onboarding, Initial Design, Final Design, and Construction.
Onboarding
0
Project Discovery
The start of any project is about finding the right partner to embark on the journey with. During a Project Discovery call with us, we will take the time to understand your aspirations, lifestyle or operational needs, long-term goals, budget, timescales and site constraints, and begin testing how these elements can be brought together successfully. Our advice will always be clear, considered and honest—designed to give you confidence and control from the very beginning.
By the end of the call we will have established confidence that the project is worth investing in - for both of us.
Site Visit
Having established that we are right for you, we will ask you for your commitment to move the project forward. We will prepare a bespoke Investment Intent Letter, based on the information shared in the Project Discovery. Acceptance of this letter enables us to meet you on site, where we will assess the opportunities and risks through a review of the site and any relevant buildings. We will gain a valuable understanding of the physical parameters, challenge preconceived ideas and share early design thoughts.
Where appropriate, we explore alternative approaches and options, helping you make informed decisions before committing to further investment.
Project Strategy
Stage 0 concludes with our Concept Design Contract document, capturing everything we’ve discovered about your ambition, your site, and your resources into a robust and well-considered strategy. It sets out how we will work together, defining roles, responsibilities, and expectations so that every step is purposeful and aligned. This document will ensure your project is grounded in realism while remaining ambitious, setting the tone for a calm and collaborative journey through design to delivery.
With this foundation in place, we can embark on the next stage of your journey - Stage 1 - with clarity, focus, and excitement.
0
Project Discovery
The start of any project is about finding the right partner to embark on the journey with. During a Project Discovery call with us, we will take the time to understand your aspirations, lifestyle or operational needs, long-term goals, budget, timescales and site constraints, and begin testing how these elements can be brought together successfully. Our advice will always be clear, considered and honest—designed to give you confidence and control from the very beginning.
By the end of the call we will have established confidence that the project is worth investing in - for both of us.
Site Visit
Having established that we are right for you, we will ask you for your commitment to move the project forward. We will prepare a bespoke Investment Intent Letter, based on the information shared in the Project Discovery. Acceptance of this letter enables us to meet you on site, where we will assess the opportunities and risks through a review of the site and any relevant buildings. We will gain a valuable understanding of the physical parameters, challenge preconceived ideas and share early design thoughts.
Where appropriate, we explore alternative approaches and options, helping you make informed decisions before committing to further investment.
Project Strategy
Stage 0 concludes with our Concept Design Contract document, capturing everything we’ve discovered about your ambition, your site, and your resources into a robust and well-considered strategy. It sets out how we will work together, defining roles, responsibilities, and expectations so that every step is purposeful and aligned. This document will ensure your project is grounded in realism while remaining ambitious, setting the tone for a calm and collaborative journey through design to delivery.
With this foundation in place, we can embark on the next stage of your journey - Stage 1 - with clarity, focus, and excitement.
Initial Design
1
Briefing & Feasibility
Implementing the strategy established in Stage 0 starts by refining the brief - bringing together aspirations, site realities, budget and programme into a single, coherent narrative that will define how the building needs to function, how it should feel to inhabit, and what success looks like in both practical and experiential terms.
We test the brief against the site and its constraints, using feasibility studies, measured surveys and, where appropriate, early engagement with third parties - such as planning authorities or specialist advisors. This enables key decisions to be made from an informed position, reducing uncertainty and ensuring the brief is grounded, realistic and well considered. The outcome is a robust, clearly articulated brief that aligns ambition with context, placing you in a strong position to move forward into Stage 2 with confidence and purpose.
2
Concept Design & Visualisation
This is the stage where ideas begin to take tangible shape. Guided by the strategy and brief established in earlier stages, we develop great ideas into one coherent scheme that can be reviewed with you and evolved if required to better suit your needs. We don’t work up hundreds of options to choose from; too many choices prevent you from making decisions. Instead, our process of considered design leads to a scheme that is holistic, coherent and thoughtfully resolved. This approach puts you at the centre of decision-making as you work with us to refine and develop your project.
We test the scheme against planning, cost, environmental performance and long-term usability, maintaining a close dialogue with you throughout. The outcome is a confident, well-considered concept that balances imagination with practicality and provides a clear direction for the detailed design stages to follow.
3
Developed Design & Planning
This stage is about precision and alignment. Spatial relationships are tested, proportions are adjusted, materials are considered more thoroughly, and key details begin to take shape. By resolving complexity early, we reduce risk, improve buildability and strengthen cost certainty - while maintaining the integrity of the original concept.
Having established a comprehensive scheme, we prepare and submit the necessary planning application to the Local Authority, seeking formal approval for the proposals. For most architectural projects, securing planning permission is essential before work can progress further. Our experienced team acts as your agent, preparing, submitting and monitoring the application while engaging directly with the local planning department. Where required, we coordinate supporting documentation to strengthen the application and respond to feedback constructively. Architecture is inherently subjective, yet every proposal must respond clearly to planning policy - both nationally under the NPPF and locally through council-specific requirements.
When permission is granted, Concept Design is concluded. The result is a clear, coordinated, policy-compliant scheme that has been guided carefully through the planning process. We are now ready to move forward to Stage 4 — Technical Design.
1
Survey & Feasibility
Implementing the strategy established in Stage 0 starts by refining the brief - bringing together aspirations, site realities, budget and programme into a single, coherent narrative that will define how the building needs to function, how it should feel to inhabit, and what success looks like in both practical and experiential terms.
We test the brief against the site and its constraints, using feasibility studies, measured surveys and, where appropriate, early engagement with third parties - such as planning authorities or specialist advisors. This enables key decisions to be made from an informed position, reducing uncertainty and ensuring the brief is grounded, realistic and well considered. The outcome is a robust, clearly articulated brief that aligns ambition with context, placing you in a strong position to move forward into Stage 2 with confidence and purpose.
2
Concept Design & Visualisation
This is the stage where ideas begin to take tangible shape. Guided by the strategy and brief established in earlier stages, we develop great ideas into one coherent scheme that can be reviewed with you and evolved if required to better suit your needs. We don’t work up hundreds of options to choose from; too many choices prevent you from making decisions. Instead, our process of considered design leads to a scheme that is holistic, coherent and thoughtfully resolved. This approach puts you at the centre of decision-making as you work with us to refine and develop your project.
We test the scheme against planning, cost, environmental performance and long-term usability, maintaining a close dialogue with you throughout. The outcome is a confident, well-considered concept that balances imagination with practicality and provides a clear direction for the detailed design stages to follow.
3
Developed Design & Planning
This stage is about precision and alignment. Spatial relationships are tested, proportions are adjusted, materials are considered more thoroughly, and key details begin to take shape. By resolving complexity early, we reduce risk, improve buildability and strengthen cost certainty - while maintaining the integrity of the original concept.
Having established a comprehensive scheme, we prepare and submit the necessary planning application to the Local Authority, seeking formal approval for the proposals. For most architectural projects, securing planning permission is essential before work can progress further. Our experienced team acts as your agent, preparing, submitting and monitoring the application while engaging directly with the local planning department. Where required, we coordinate supporting documentation to strengthen the application and respond to feedback constructively. Architecture is inherently subjective, yet every proposal must respond clearly to planning policy - both nationally under the NPPF and locally through council-specific requirements.
When permission is granted, Concept Design is concluded. The result is a clear, coordinated, policy-compliant scheme that has been guided carefully through the planning process. We are now ready to move forward to Stage 4 — Technical Design.
Final Design
4b
Detailed Design & Building Regulations
With a clear and agreed scheme in place, Stage 4 is about refining your design into a fully coordinated and technically compliant set of information that can be built confidently. We develop the design in greater depth — resolving plans, sections, elevations and construction details so that spatial relationships, proportions and material intentions remain coherent as complexity increases.
At this stage, our design team expands to include third‑party specialists, consultants and manufacturers, each bringing valuable expertise as we focus on bringing the details to fruition. We work closely with structural and building services engineers to integrate their input seamlessly into the project.
Stage 4b focuses on compliance with the building regulations. This involves preparing and submitting detailed technical drawings, calculations and specifications to a Building Control body — either the Local Authority or an Approved Inspector — for review and approval before works begin. Building Control ensures your design complies with statutory technical standards covering structural safety, fire protection, energy efficiency, accessibility and other regulatory criteria, giving you and your contractor reassurance that construction will meet current regulations.
Securing Building Control approval marks the completion of Stage 4b and confirms that your project is ready to be priced and tendered, with a sound basis for quality, safety and compliance.
4t
Detailed Design Development & Tender
With Building Control approval secured, Stage 4t focuses on preparing the project for construction. At this point, the design is fully coordinated, and we move into the tender and procurement phase, enabling contractors to price and plan the works accurately.
Our team coordinates closely with contractors, consultants, and suppliers, specifying products, materials, finishes, and bespoke elements to ensure that your design intentions are faithfully delivered. We manage communication with manufacturers and specialist providers, clarifying technical details, lead times, and installation requirements.
This stage ensures that the project is tender-ready, with cost certainty and supply chain clarity, so that when construction begins, everything is aligned — from materials and products to quality and performance standards.
4b
Detailed Design & Building Regulations
With a clear and agreed scheme in place, Stage 4 is about refining your design into a fully coordinated and technically compliant set of information that can be built confidently. We develop the design in greater depth — resolving plans, sections, elevations and construction details so that spatial relationships, proportions and material intentions remain coherent as complexity increases.
At this stage, our design team expands to include third‑party specialists, consultants and manufacturers, each bringing valuable expertise as we focus on bringing the details to fruition. We work closely with structural and building services engineers to integrate their input seamlessly into the project.
Stage 4b focuses on compliance with the building regulations. This involves preparing and submitting detailed technical drawings, calculations and specifications to a Building Control body — either the Local Authority or an Approved Inspector — for review and approval before works begin. Building Control ensures your design complies with statutory technical standards covering structural safety, fire protection, energy efficiency, accessibility and other regulatory criteria, giving you and your contractor reassurance that construction will meet current regulations.
Securing Building Control approval marks the completion of Stage 4b and confirms that your project is ready to be priced and tendered, with a sound basis for quality, safety and compliance.
4t
Detailed Design Development & Tender
With Building Control approval secured, Stage 4t focuses on preparing the project for construction. At this point, the design is fully coordinated, and we move into the tender and procurement phase, enabling contractors to price and plan the works accurately.
Our team coordinates closely with contractors, consultants, and suppliers, specifying products, materials, finishes, and bespoke elements to ensure that your design intentions are faithfully delivered. We manage communication with manufacturers and specialist providers, clarifying technical details, lead times, and installation requirements.
This stage ensures that the project is tender-ready, with cost certainty and supply chain clarity, so that when construction begins, everything is aligned — from materials and products to quality and performance standards.
Construction
5
Construction
Once on site, we remain actively involved to safeguard the design intent and support delivery. We respond to site queries, review contractor information, and carry out regular inspections to monitor progress and quality. Acting as a trusted advisor, we help resolve issues efficiently and collaboratively, ensuring decisions are made with the long-term success of the project in mind.
6+
Handover & In Use Monitoring
All the planning, design and patience will have paid off. We will do a full handover to make sure you settle in properly and will be there should you need us.
5
Construction
Once on site, we remain actively involved to safeguard the design intent and support delivery. We respond to site queries, review contractor information, and carry out regular inspections to monitor progress and quality. Acting as a trusted advisor, we help resolve issues efficiently and collaboratively, ensuring decisions are made with the long-term success of the project in mind.
6+
Handover & In Use Monitoring
All the planning, design and patience will have paid off. We will do a full handover to make sure you settle in properly and will be there should you need us.