About

The studio

Fenner Wray Architecture is a small practice working exclusively on houses, extensions and renovations for private clients. We are RIBA Chartered Members, registered with the Architects Registration Board, and we take on a limited number of projects at any one time so that each receives direct, hands-on attention from the first sketch through to completion on site.

Our experience spans thirty years of residential work — everything from modest extensions to substantial new builds, from converting period properties to designing contemporary additions that sit quietly alongside existing homes. We believe the best buildings come from understanding not just what a client wants, but how they actually live: the light that matters to them, the spaces where they gather, the views they cherish, the quietness they need.

How we work

Every project begins with a thorough site visit and a proper conversation. We spend time understanding the building and its surroundings — the orientation, the soil, the microclimate, the character of neighbouring homes — and equally important, we listen to how you live and what matters to you.

We work through options in sketch and model before committing to a direction. This exploratory stage is where the best thinking happens: it costs little and reveals possibilities that a rush to finished drawings would miss. Once we have found the right approach, we develop it in detail with structural engineers and other consultants — planning specialists, building services engineers, acoustic advisors — whoever the project needs.

Throughout, we favour approaches that will wear well: low-carbon and low-maintenance materials, passive design measures like orientation and shading, proper insulation and ventilation, rather than reliance on mechanical systems that need replacing. We believe a well-built house should be comfortable to live in for decades, not exhausting to maintain.

The stages of a project

Initial consultation

We meet at your home, walk the site, discuss your brief, and establish whether the project is feasible. We talk budget, timeline, and what matters most to you.

Concept design

We develop design options in sketch and model, exploring how the building might work. This stage establishes the direction and approach before committing to detailed drawings.

Design development

Working with structural engineers and planning consultants, we develop the chosen concept into a complete design, ready to submit for planning permission.

Planning permission

We prepare and submit drawings and documentation to the local authority. We handle the process, revisions and dialogue — navigating planning is core to our service, not an afterthought.

Technical design

Once planning permission is granted, we produce detailed construction drawings, specifications and schedules for the contractor. Every detail is drawn clearly so the building can be built as intended.

Site supervision

We visit site regularly throughout the build to check that the work matches the drawings and to respond to questions. The design is only complete when it is built.

Working together

Good buildings are made by good teams. We regularly work alongside structural engineers, planning consultants, building services engineers and experienced contractors. If you don't already have trusted collaborators, we can recommend specialists we have worked with and trust.

Navigating planning permission and building regulations is a core part of the architectural service. We stay involved throughout the process — from feasibility through to the final inspection — so that your building is delivered as designed, on budget and on time.