Charles Louwerse Architects

I’ve used this company many times over the years and have always found them very thorough and professional in how they work with the local authorities from start to completion of the project. I would definitely use them again in the future and would recommend them to others.

Contacted this company to give advice, ideas and draw up plans for our listed cottage because their website states ‘ You can also rely on us for APPROPRIATE DESIGN, effective submission of planning and listed building applications,’After some discussions, the plans drawn up and submitted were not approved by the conservation officer who subsequently said that she would be reluctant to approve any form of extension similar in footprint’ which given the ideas and advice of the architect along with their assurances on their website for an appropriate design left me feeling completely let down and hugely out of pocket. After they informed me of the decision by the council I asked them to give an explanation of why it had gone so wrong but they ignored me and have not heard from them since.It is also worth noting that our original idea ( before engaging with the architects) for an extension which was to join it on to an existing extension was suggested by the conservation officer as a possibility but after the architects came round to look at the property they suggested the bigger extension which was subsequently rejected by the CO. And although we agreed as clients to go with the suggested bigger extension and understand there are no assurances, we were wholly following the advice of the architects given their credentials who got the plans so wrong as nothing even similar to their suggestion would have been approved.

We are delighted with the results of a major refurbishment project Charles helped us with. He created a design for our home that makes excellent use of light and views and feels more spacious than we had anticipated. We felt listened to and enjoyed working with Charles and his assistant Tim at all stages of the project.