Architect
The Design Social
Trust score
78out of 100
Rating4.9★
Review volume104
Source diversity1 source
VerificationListed
Based on rating, review volume, independent sources and verification. Evidence context — not a guarantee of workmanship.
About
Verified architectural services in Leicester.
Reviews · public evidence
What the public record says
4.9out of 5
Highlights
"Barnaby and his team were great. As well taking our ideas for our kitchen and sitting room extension from a sketch to a completed design, he also advised on and undertook the requirements for planning, building control and a party wall agreement, and produced all the drawings. The finished extension fits in well with the original building. Barnaby was open to our ideas and to making changes that we requested during the design process. We would have no hesitation in using The Design Social again."
"Excellent work from Barnaby at Design Social. Helped us with 3d designs for a loft conversion (converting some architect drawings). Talked us through them and even bought new ideas to the table on how it could be designed - which we are taking forward. Highly recommend his services and customer care!"
"Excellent service, would recommend"
Detailed reviews
Barnaby and his team were great. As well taking our ideas for our kitchen and sitting room extension from a sketch to a completed design, he also advised on and undertook the requirements for planning, building control and a party wall agreement, and produced all the drawings. The finished extension fits in well with the original building. Barnaby was open to our ideas and to making changes that we requested during the design process. We would have no hesitation in using The Design Social again.
Excellent work from Barnaby at Design Social. Helped us with 3d designs for a loft conversion (converting some architect drawings). Talked us through them and even bought new ideas to the table on how it could be designed - which we are taking forward. Highly recommend his services and customer care!
Excellent service, would recommend
Page 1 of 6
Local context
Rated 4.9★ — in line with the local average for architects in Leicester
Across 26 rated architects in Leicester, the typical rating is 4.9★. We compare against the same businesses a homeowner would find searching for this trade locally.
Public evidence checks
Public evidence shownTrust checks and red flags
Public review evidence4.9★ from 104 public reviewsCheckatrade
Sources
1 named sourcesEvery signal, traced to its origin
Review sources
Checkatrade
Public evidence checks
What's strong, and what to check yourself
✓Strong signals
✓Rating: 4.9★
✓Review volume: 104
!Worth checking yourself
!Source diversity: 1 source
!Verification: Listed
Verify at the sourceCheck them yourself
"Architect" is a title protected by law - only people on the official Architects Register (held by ARB) may use it. Confirm they're on it before you commission a design.
Check the Architects RegisterSmart checks
Before you hire an architect
Only someone on the Architects Registration Board (ARB) register may legally call themselves an 'architect' in the UK — ask for their ARB number and check it free at arb.org.uk. An 'architectural designer' or 'technologist' is a different, unregistered role (often capable, but not the same protection).
Agree how they charge before any work starts — a percentage of the build cost, a fixed fee, or an hourly rate — and exactly which stages it covers (concept design, planning application, building-regulations drawings, work on site), so there are no surprises later.
Confirm what they will actually handle versus what is excluded — the planning application, the building-control drawings, and whether they will administer the builder's contract on site — and get it, and a portfolio of similar projects, in writing.
Ask to see a portfolio of completed work like yours, plus recent references you can contact.
Check the credentials and registrations that matter for this work — and that they are current.
Want an extra legitimacy check?
Run the Cowboy Checker on The Design Social before you contact them.
