Humber Architecture

26/09/2026

Construction costs can feel like a bit of a mystery, so it's great to see our friends at Chartwell Design and Build bringing more transparency to the subject through their social media and new website www.chartwelldesignandbuild.co.uk

With so many variables involved in any build, it's only ever possible to give guide pricing, but it's a really useful starting point for anyone planning a project and helps set realistic expectations from the outset.

What's actually included in our construction costs?

Bit of a follow-on from the planning permission piece the other day. A few people asked what construction pricing actually covers, so worth laying it out properly.

The pricing itself:

Construction is priced from £2,500 per square metre plus VAT. That's a from price rather than a flat rate, since every project's different depending on specification, site conditions and what's actually involved.

So what does that actually cover?

More than people usually expect. On the construction side itself, it includes:

- Demolition and foundation construction
- Below and above ground drainage
- Floors, roofs, windows and doors
- Plastering, tiling and joinery throughout the project-related rooms
- All stages of plumbing, heating, electricity and ventilation
- Hard and soft landscaping, including boundary fencing

There's a fair bit that happens alongside the actual building work too - we put together a tailored management plan covering things like site access, logistics, welfare, neighbour liaison, and any tree or heritage protection measures that apply. Sounds like admin, but it's the sort of thing that keeps a project running smoothly rather than causing headaches halfway through.

Once the build's finished, that's still not quite the end of it. Handover includes a professional post-build clean, return and unpacking of your furniture, and a proper walkthrough to agree any remedial works before we call it done. You'll also get a Home User Manual with guarantees, certificates and a set of as-built drawings to keep.

Full breakdown's on our website if you want to see it all in one place: https://chartwelldesignandbuild.co.uk/fee-structure/

Anyone gone through a staged payment build before? Curious how people found it compared to what they expected going in.

23/09/2026

23/09/2026

From Victorian terrace to light-filled family home, and it's really taking shape 🏗️

We were on site today to check progress on one of our current residential projects, and what a difference a few weeks makes.

The new rear extension is now up to roof level, with the brickwork chosen to sit comfortably alongside the original house. Inside, the lower ground floor has been completely opened up. New steels and joists are in, the old walls have been stripped back, and fresh blockwork is going in to form the new layout. Outside, the below-ground drainage is being laid ready for the next stage.

Moments like this are our favourite part of the process. Drawings turn into real rooms, and you can finally stand in the space and feel how it's going to work. Where the kitchen will catch the morning light, how the garden will connect back to the house, how a dark, cellular Victorian layout becomes somewhere a family will actually want to spend time.

A big thank you to the team at Marben Construction for the care and craftsmanship on site. Great design only works when it's built well, and this one is being built very well indeed.

We'll share more as the project progresses. Follow along to see the finished result! 👀

Thinking about extending or remodelling your own period home in East Sussex, Kent, Hampshire or Surrey? We'd love to hear about it.
📩 Drop us a message or visit 👉 www.humberarchitecture.co.uk

21/09/2026

🏡 Thinking of extending or altering your Eastbourne home? Start with our Pre-Application Design Package.

Before you spend thousands on full drawings, find out how the planners are likely to see your project.

Our Pre-Application Design Package from Humber Architecture is £500 + the council's pre-app fee. There's no VAT on our fee.

✅ Site visit to your property
✅ Development of your brief, so we understand exactly what you want
✅ Concept sketches of your proposal
✅ Design meeting, with one round of amendments
✅ OS block plan
✅ We submit the pre-application enquiry to the council on your behalf

The council's fee depends on the type of project. For a householder extension or alteration it's currently around £100 inc. VAT. Some works, such as disabled access adaptations, are exempt.

Why do it? It flags potential issues early, saves time and money on schemes that may face problems, and gives you a much stronger starting point for a full planning application.

📍 Serving homeowners across Eastbourne. If you're within the South Downs National Park, get in touch. It's a slightly different process and we can guide you.

📞 01323 406092
📧 [email protected]

Pre-application advice is informal and doesn't guarantee planning permission.

14/09/2026

Shout out to our friends at Chartwell Design and Build for this one. We see it from the design side all the time — the best projects happen when architects and builders are talking to each other from day one, not brought in separately down the line. That's exactly what Chartwell's post below gets at. Worth a read.

16/08/2026

Hi Hilary, Thank you so much for your review. We are pleased we where able to help and wish you all the best for the future. Kind Regards Aaron.

15/08/2026

Looking for an architectural practice in Eastbourne that combines practical design with sustainability?

We’ve just updated our Houzz profile – take a look at our recent projects, client reviews (currently 4.9★), and the full range of services we offer, from house extensions and renovations to new builds, listed buildings and Passivhaus design.

👉 https://www.houzz.co.uk/pro/humberarchitecture/__public

Whether you’re planning a project or just gathering ideas, we’d love you to have a browse. And if you’ve worked with us before, a quick review on Houzz would mean a lot!

Humber Architecture – thoughtful, sustainable design for homes and spaces that work.

25/07/2026

Maybe you have found a new home that with work could be your dream home but you don't know if the work actually achievable?

We offer fixed price consultations from £150 for homebuyers who want to explore extending, renovate or remodel their new home.

With over 13 years’ experience working for clients across East Sussex we give professional, honest and practical advice so that you can make informed decisions.

Contact us to discusses your new home on 01273 974 102 or via [email protected].

08/07/2026

Amazing food and Venue to share with great people.

☀️ Another brilliant Late Breakfast was held this morning at cafe joon , where our members had the chance to catch up and enjoy the delicious food. 🍳

Thank you to our team for organising, Café Joon for hosting and to our members for attending.

This is a great chance to keep updated with our members and network within the community.

Make sure to keep updated with all of our chamber events via ➡️ https://www.eastbourneunltd.co.uk/

06/07/2026

Eastbourne Council is asking residents to vote on whether to retain the new seafront gardens or revert back to the traditional carpet bedding gardens.

The traditional carpet gardens depended heavily on imported annual plants from the Netherlands. These plants needed to be replaced each year, as they died off at the end of the season. They also required intensive weeding and frequent watering to maintain their appearance.

In contrast, the new seafront gardens feature hardy perennials that return year after year. These plants are grown locally in UK nurseries, making them more sustainable and reducing the carbon footprint associated with transportation.

Many of the plants are pollinator-friendly, supporting bees and butterflies. The new planting requires significantly less maintenance and water than the traditional carpet gardens.

At Humber Architecture, we love the new seafront gardens and hope you do too, we encourage you to have your say. Please follow the link below to vote for your preferred option.

https://www.lewes-eastbourne.gov.uk/article/1456/Eastbourne-Carpet-Gardens-Survey-2026