Cost per drawing
- JDS Designs
- Per-drawing pricing, no overheads
- In-House Drafter
- Fixed salary plus benefits and software licences
- Generic Outsourcer
- Low headline rate, hidden revision fees
Architectural CAD Services for UK Practices
Precisely documented. Planning-compliant. Delivered on time.
Planning Drawings
What is included
- Existing floor plans and elevations
- Proposed layout drawings
- Site location plan (OS map base)
- Block plan
- Design and Access Statement support
- Best for
- Architects submitting applications to UK local authorities.
- Typical turnaround
- 3–5 working days
- UK regulatory reference
- UK Planning Portal — householder and full planning applications
Building Regulation Packs
What is included
- Structural layout drawings (Part A)
- Drainage plans (Part H)
- Accessibility details (Part M)
- Fire escape drawings (Part B)
- Full specification notes
- Best for
- Practices needing building control submission packs.
- Typical turnaround
- 5–7 working days
- UK regulatory reference
- Building Regulations 2010, Parts A through P · NHBC standards
3D Rendering
What is included
- Exterior 3D renders
- Interior 3D visualisations
- Architectural walkthroughs
- Planning-quality perspectives
- Marketing renders
- Best for
- Practices needing client-facing visuals or planning committee presentations.
- Typical turnaround
- 5–8 working days per render
Revit Modelling
What is included
- Revit model creation from CAD or PDF
- LOD 200–300 BIM models
- Schedules and tagging
- Coordination-ready model delivery
- Best for
- Practices transitioning to BIM or needing Revit-native deliverables.
- Typical turnaround
- 7–14 working days, depending on scope
- UK regulatory reference
- PAS 1192 / ISO 19650 — UK BIM framework
Drawing Conversion Services
What is included
- PDF, scanned drawing, and hand sketch to CAD redraws
- Floor plans, elevations, sections at correct scale
- Layer structuring to your practice template
- Dimension checking and reconciliation
- Delivered in DWG (AutoCAD) and PDF
- Best for
- Practices holding legacy PDF, scanned, or hand-drawn content that needs converting into working CAD files.
- Typical turnaround
- 2–4 working days
- UK regulatory reference
- BS 1192 / ISO 19650 — UK CAD layer naming conventions
As-Built Drawings
What is included
- As-built floor plans, elevations and sections
- Red-line mark-up to as-built
- As-built schedules and annotations
- Best for
- Post-construction record documentation and building regs sign-off.
- Typical turnaround
- 3–6 working days
- UK regulatory reference
- UK Building Regulations 2010 — final inspection and sign-off
AutoCAD Drafting
What is included
- Floor plans, elevations, and sections drawn to scale
- Site and block plans on OS base mapping
- Detail drawings — construction and joinery
- Practice-template layering and drawing standards
- Redlines and markup converted to clean CAD
- Best for
- Architectural and design practices needing dependable outsourced CAD production.
- Typical turnaround
- 2–5 working days
- UK regulatory reference
- BS 1192 — UK collaborative CAD layer naming conventions
Measured Survey Drawings
What is included
- Existing floor plans, fully dimensioned to scale
- Existing elevations with levels and openings
- Site and block plans on OS base mapping
- Topographical survey drawings with levels
- Layer set-up matched to your practice standard
- Best for
- Architects and surveyors needing precise as-existing drawings from survey data.
- Typical turnaround
- 3–5 working days
- UK regulatory reference
- RICS measured survey guidance — client survey specifications
Lease Plans
What is included
- Demise plans edged and hatched to scale
- Whole-building context plans for multi-let sites
- Floor area calculations (RICS / IPMS / GIA / NIA)
- Land Registry-compliant plan formatting
- OS-based site location plan where required
- Best for
- Chartered surveyors, letting agents, property managers, and solicitors requiring compliant lease plans.
- Typical turnaround
- 2–4 working days
- UK regulatory reference
- HM Land Registry Practice Guide 40 — plans for property
Drawing Revisions & Amendments
What is included
- Redline and markup implementation into existing CAD
- Design changes across plans, elevations, and sections
- Planning and building control comment responses
- Revision numbering and issue schedule updates
- Coordinated updates across the full drawing set
- Best for
- Practices needing quick, accurate updates to existing drawings without in-house drafting capacity.
- Typical turnaround
- 1–3 working days
Specialist Services
Sector-specific packages that combine the core services.
Residential Design Support
CAD and drafting support for UK residential extension, renovation, and conversion projects
Turnaround · Varies by drawing type — 2 to 5 working days per stage
Commercial Design Support
CAD and drafting support for UK commercial fit-out, refurbishment, and mixed-use projects
Turnaround · Varies by drawing type — 3 to 7 working days per stage
HMO Projects
CAD and drafting support for HMO conversions and new HMO developments
Turnaround · Varies by drawing type — 3 to 6 working days per stage
New Build Development
CAD and drafting support for ground-up new build residential and mixed-use projects
Turnaround · Varies by drawing type — 3 to 7 working days per stage
MEP CAD Services
Coordinated mechanical, electrical, and plumbing CAD drawings to UK standards
Turnaround · 3 to 6 working days
Architectural Walkthroughs
Animated 3D walkthroughs for planning committees, investors, and marketing
Turnaround · 7 to 12 working days, depending on scheme scale and length
Make the call
Why outsource to JDS rather than hire in-house?
UK planning knowledge
- JDS Designs
- Planning Portal and local authority literate
- In-House Drafter
- Depends on the individual hire
- Generic Outsourcer
- Rarely UK-specific
Turnaround
- JDS Designs
- 48 hr standard, 3–7 days for full packs
- In-House Drafter
- Limited by single-team capacity
- Generic Outsourcer
- Variable, often time-zone bound
Revisions included
- JDS Designs
- Two rounds included as standard
- In-House Drafter
- Unlimited but tied to salary cost
- Generic Outsourcer
- Each revision billed separately
Communication
- JDS Designs
- Named contact, UK working hours overlap
- In-House Drafter
- Direct, in-house
- Generic Outsourcer
- Ticketed, no continuity
UK regulatory compliance
- JDS Designs
- Building Regs Parts A–P, NHBC familiar
- In-House Drafter
- Depends on the individual hire
- Generic Outsourcer
- Often follows non-UK standards