Do I need an architect, a structural engineer, or both?
A Beams designer produces design intent. An architect produces planning-permission-grade drawings. A structural engineer signs off on load-bearing changes. Here's how to tell which you need.
Short answer. A like-for-like refresh usually needs neither — your Beams designer is enough. Anything that touches load-bearing structure needs a structural engineer. Anything that needs planning permission usually needs an architect. Larger projects sometimes need both.
An architect is a qualified professional (typically registered with the Architects Registration Board) who designs buildings, prepares planning-permission drawings, and manages the relationship with the council and Building Control on bigger projects.
A structural engineer is a qualified professional who calculates whether a building stands up. They size beams, design supports for openings, and produce the structural drawings and calculations that Building Control requires for load-bearing changes.
Here's how to tell which you need.
The Beams designer — design intent
Your Beams designer produces a design pack: layout, finishes, materials, the look. They're focused on getting the design right and giving your builder a clear brief to quote against.
They don't produce architectural drawings to planning-permission standards, and they don't sign off on structural changes. That's intentional — those are different professional disciplines.
The structural engineer — when load-bearing changes
If your project involves removing a wall, opening up a ceiling, adding a bathroom where the floor wasn't designed for the load, or any other change to a load-bearing element, a structural engineer is the technical must-have. They produce the calculations and drawings that prove the work is safe. Building Control will typically require these documents before or during the work.
A structural engineer is a technical necessity for that kind of change. There's no way around it.
The architect — when planning permission is involved
An architect adds two things: design (optimising the layout, working with the building) and the planning-permission process. They handle the paperwork, talk to the council, and produce the formal drawings that go with a planning application.
If your project needs planning permission — extensions, conservation areas, listed buildings, certain conversions — an architect is usually the right professional to bring in. They can work alongside your Beams designer; the two roles don't conflict.
For interior renovation that doesn't need planning permission, you can usually proceed with a Beams designer alone.
Common combinations
- Bathroom or kitchen refresh, no structural change, no planning — Beams designer only.
- Knocking through to open up a kitchen-diner — Beams designer + structural engineer.
- Loft conversion, side-return extension, listed building — Beams designer + architect (and usually a structural engineer too).
- You already have an architect — Beams designer optional. The article What if I already have my own architect, drawings, or planning permission? describes that path.
What this means for you
Talk to your planner early about whether your project might need an architect or a structural engineer. They've seen the patterns and can tell you what's likely. Bringing in the right professional at the right time saves money and re-work later.
Related articles
- What's in your design pack
- When you'll need pre-applications or planning permission
- What if I already have my own architect, drawings, or planning permission?