loft conversion

[stubbornasamule]

we need to think about a loft conversion. We are in a conservation area so will need planning permission. Any advice on where to start? Do I just ring round architects? What sort of fee are we talking for someone to draw up design, ie before the whole thing is costed and we know if its feasible or not?

[mumoverseas]

we've just had one finished and used a company called Econoloft. They are based in Lancashire but have a London office and have a website (can't remember it offhand) They came around and did a free quote and did rough drawings to give us an idea of what we could get and for how much.
They then did all the survey and plans themselves at which point we had to pay £1,500. They put in for building regs (we didn't need planning permission) and we then had to pay around £450 to the local council. The whole thing (excluding decorating and carpeting but including the £1,500 survey/drawing fee) was around £25,000 and gave us a large double bedroom, a study and proper stairs and landing from 1st floor.