About
Background
Jonathan Clarke Architectural Design (JCAD) has gain an excellent reputation in and around the Chesterfield area.
In 2016, after successfully working together on a number of projects, Jonathan Clarke and Christopher Brightman (Brightman Architects), officially merged, forming Brightman Clarke Architects, an RIBA registered practice.
We still run and maintain this JCAD website as Jonathan’s reputation in and around Chesterfield still generates many enquires each year.
Who are we
Brightman Clarke Architects is a small, award winning architects practice based in Sheffield and Chesterfield. We have a passion for design and we are driven by a belief that well-designed spaces and buildings can improve people’s lives.
Brightman Clarke Architects, with over 15 years experience in the industry, specialise in house extensions, bespoke new build homes, residential developments and commercial projects. Our experience to date has seen us working on a wide range of projects across Sheffield, Chesterfield, South Yorkshire and Derbyshire, across the residential, retail, commercial, leisure and industrial sectors.
We provide a dedicated design-led service, which is tailor-made to each of our client’s requirements. With a particular passion for contemporary architecture, we approach each of our projects individually to create a unique solution to the client’s brief, responding directly to the site context.
Brightman Clarke Architects offer a no obligation design meeting before each project begins, providing informal advice, design ideas and planning guidance to get you off to the best possible start and ensure that your potential project is viable.
Brightman Clarke architects office in Dore
Building a new home or expanding a much-loved one is a truly collaborative endeavour that spans many months.
One of the most critical decisions you will have to make is who you appoint as your architect. You must find someone you think you can develop a trusting relationship with and work with them over an extended period of time.
Every project is unique; no single answer on our website will cover your project perfectly. But, here are some ballpark answers to try and help give you a starting point.
What size of project do you work on?
We are committed to helping our clients on all projects and delivering the highest quality of service.
As a bespoke, multi-staffed architectural practice, we are resourced and best suited to schemes with construction costs from £150,000.
We are occasionally commissioned for smaller projects. But, these are highly bespoke schemes where our design lead approach and level of service have been purposefully sought out.
How much will my project cost?
There are too many factors still to consider before any meaningful figure can be calculated.
That said, an initial starting figure for a typical project starts at approximately £2,500m2 (inc VAT) for construction only.
Please note: this typical project figure doesn't include professional fees, any work on your existing property or site, internal re-configuration, fitting-out or landscaping, amongst many other things; these must all be considered and budgeted.
What are your fees?
We price on a project-by-project basis. We will provide you with a bespoke fee proposal as part of your 'Kickstart' Design Consultation report.
Do I need Planning Permission?
Planning is a key area we cover in detail during your initial Kickstart Design Consultation.
But, in short - Yes, you will probably need planning consent or a Lawful Development Certificate if you want to:
● Build something new
● Make a major change to your building, such as adding a large extension.
● Change the use of your building.
What are Permitted Development rights?
A certain scale and type of works can be carried out under permitted development rights; these do not require planning permission.
Whilst some developments are clear, the permitted development rights guidance is a significant document with many areas open to interpretation.
For certainty, we always recommend submitting for a Lawful Development Certificate (LDC).
What is a Lawful Development Certificate?
An LDC is applied to and issued by your local council. On approval, a certificate of lawful development confirms that the proposed works do not require planning permission.
An LDC is not a replacement for planning permission.
How long will my project take
At this early stage, it is too open to say accurately as it depends on several unknown factors. But, definitely over 12 months, typically closer to 18-24 months from us being appointed to the build finishing.
When can you start?
We are a purposefully small practice offering a genuinely bespoke service; as such, our project lead-in times do vary depending on our current workload.
We aim to schedule initial 'kickstart' design consultations at the first mutually suitable time we can; these are typically arranged within a few weeks of your enquiry.
So we can clearly see your property/site during our meeting. We find it best to keep our consultations to daylight hours.