Recent comments on our service

Stephen Hargreaves has worked on three projects for me over the past four years all with considerable success, a planning application for a new build was handled with great acumen and tact, the latter being of great importance to resolve tricky local issues, he has produced an excellent and innovative design for an extension to a listed building and handled the conceptualisation of a small overseas development with speed where that was a key factor. As well as saving me money with his knowledge of planning, building and design issues his work has resulted in three very profitable transactions worth many tens of thousands of pounds. I hope shortly to embark on a new project with him with all expectations of similar success.

James Anderson

Now that we are about to be "signed off" for building regulations I really feel it is time Val and I sent our thanks for all your help. Before this project I kind of imagined that the architect just did the drawings and then vanished from the scene, and perhaps some do. But you were always there to answer any of our (many!) questions, advise on the planning application, the engineering side and a myriad of other things.

Thanks Stephen, we would never have done it without you.

 Peter & Val Miles

Stephen has proved invaluable on a number of occasions, demystifying complicated planning issues and delivering innovative yet cost effective solutions.  His expertise and wealth of experience are self evident; I can't recommend him highly enough.

Ceri Jones  

“We have worked closely with Stephen for two years and have found him to be helpful and courteous at all times. 

 

Our first involvement with him was upon recommendation whilst we were virtually rebuilding a Grade 2 listed cottage in East Village.  Prior to Stephen’s involvement we had upset local authorities including listed buildings inspectors due to our positive approach to the works being carried out but without obtaining the necessary permissions.  Once Stephen was on board he negotiated in a most professional manner in order to make our renovation appear satisfactory to conservation officers and building inspectors alike.   This involved the production of suitable documentation that was immediately acceptable to all parties who were also under severe pressure from neighbours who were causing unnecessary bother to MDDC.  He undertook meetings with the authorities on our behalf and managed to negotiate for us where we would surely have failed.

 

Recently we have worked with Stephen in designing a starter home to be economically constructed in a nearby village where again neighbour pressures were difficult.  This he accomplished successfully and provided high quality reproducible drawings that so far have satisfied all parties concerned and we foresee no difficulties with their application. All works have been carried out by him at an acceptable price bearing in mind the particularly sensitive nature of this project.

 

Overall we find him a professional, positive and calming influence on our team with whom it is a pleasure to work.”

 

 Regards

Richard Hammock

I have just appointed Stephen as architect on the third building project I have taken on. The first project was conversion of a barn to a house where it was important that the old character was retained and a strict tight budget was adhered too and the second was an agricultural tied property that involved complicated planning issues. In both projects Stephen has always given immediate attention to any queries or problems, once we were sitting at his computer screen discussing a problem within an hour of my phone call, and I have found his work of a high standard and although not the cheapest always good value for money. I am looking forward to working with him on the next project.

Roger Pennington

Stephen was commissioned by me to work on a medium sized project within the conservation area of Morchard Bishop.

This has been regarded as controversial by a very small sector of the community thus every single issue has had to be specifically and painstakingly addressed to a conclusion.

Though this project is still ongoing I now regard it a being on the finishing straight. Without Stephen's knowledge and overall input we would still be in the "also ran" category.

I have other projects in mind at a later date I will have no hesitation to assign Stephen for further work.

 Tim Schofield