Architectural designers in Letchworth Garden City
About 35 minutes south, the world's first Garden City, with Heritage Foundation design controls that shape every extension, dormer and porch.
Letchworth Garden City, the world's first Garden City, founded in 1903, is about 30–40 minutes from St Neots, and it's one of the most distinctive places in the country to own a home. Its Arts & Crafts cottages, generous plots, tree-lined avenues and soft hedged frontages are part of a carefully protected design legacy, alongside mid-20th-century estates like Grange and Jackmans. We love designing here, and we know how to do it properly.
Letchworth comes with a crucial local rule most homeowners don't expect: you usually need two separate approvals for external work, planning permission from North Herts Council (currently), and a separate written "Landlord's Consent" from the Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation under its Scheme of Management. This applies to most homes in the original estate and covers extensions, porches, garages, loft conversions, outbuildings, roof and window/door changes (even like-for-like), frontage alterations including fences and hedges, driveways, painting, solar panels and tree work, and, critically, it applies even when the work is permitted development and needs no council application. Consent must be in place before work starts, or you risk enforcement and problems when you sell. We manage both routes for you, in line with the Foundation's Heritage and Modern Character Area design principles.
How we help in Letchworth
- Extensions and alterations designed to satisfy both the council and the Heritage Foundation
- Sympathetic work on Arts & Crafts and Garden City homes
- Loft and garage conversions within the Scheme of Management
- Guiding you through both consents, start to finish
Frequently asked questions
Who is the planning authority for Letchworth?
North Herts Council (currently), but most homes also need separate consent from the Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation.
I've got planning permission for my Letchworth extension, do I still need the Heritage Foundation's consent?
Yes. Most homes in the Garden City need separate Landlord's Consent under the Scheme of Management for external work, including works that are permitted development, and it must be obtained before you start. We handle both.
Planning a project in Letchworth?
Book a free 30-minute consultation. We’ll discuss feasibility, costs, and the planning route.