Studio Charrette Reviews 520

So far so good, with my planning application. Advise is honest and I am hoping to get started on my project in Cambridge.

Planning approval granted for Out building. Thank you Studio Charrette!!!!

Planning Consultancy was very good by John and advise was worthy of the fee. Thank you was Concise and punctual.

I appreciate the effort by Mark Strawbridge from Studio Charrette. Thank you for the help.

I had a very positive experience with this firm. The solicitors were professional, responsive, and explained everything clearly throughout my case. I felt supported at every stage and would confidently recommend them to anyone needing legal advice in the UK.

I had a fantastic experience working with Studio Charrete for my change of use application. From start to finish, their team demonstrated professionalism and expertise. They guided me through the entire process, ensuring all documentation was accurate and submitted. Their clear communication and proactive approach made what could have been a stressful process smooth and straightforward. I highly recommend Studio Charrete to anyone needing expert assistance with planning applications or related services. They truly exceeded my expectations!

All the information I got was clear. I was satisfied.

After emailing over the weekend, I was able to speak to a project manager at 10:30 on the Monday morning. The phone call was concise and informative. I was given lots of clear detail and able to ask questions - all of which were answered straight away. I did not need it in the end, but I was given the option of a meeting with a planning consultant the next day at a time convenient to me. I felt reassured and confident in the subject I was contacting Studio Charrette about and will come back to them as soon as my project is at the appropriate stage.

On initial phonecall I was advised they will be able to help with planning application without problem. I paid 2k to find out application will not be successful. Requested refund with no response or apologies.

AVOID AT ALL COSTS

Beware SCAMMERS!!!!

As this was my first time being involved in the planning process I cannot thank Studio Charrette enough for all the guidance I was given through the whole process.
From the initial phone call to discuss the feasibility of my ideas, through to a confirmation of costings and timescales I was kept informed.
The whole team then worked together advising me of progress at every stage even when I considered changing my initial request, which meant the drawings may have had to be changed.
The whole process was painless, the fact that my extension was allowed under ‘permitted development’ may have helped, but if the need ever arose I would not hesitate in using Studio Charrette again and would definitely recommend to friends or family who may need panning advice in the future.

Back in June 25 went onto planning portal put me onto studio charrette i paid the fees ,they done plans to submit to the council which they did ,but they made a mistake not asking all the properties that boader mine so my planning was refused ,they asked me to pay another fee to submit the plans again I refused and told them in emails ,several times ,I wrote a letter to the MD in November voicing my complaint asking to reply within 7 days as instructed by citizens advice, I sent an email with copy of my letter to colin the planner a week ago again saying I won't pay another fee because the mistake was there's not mine but they never reply to my emails or the letter I sent it seem the only time they contact you is when they want a payment the way I've been treated is not very professional. Jc

The company itself is okay, but they’re after care and there accounts department do not give a …… about you. They are very quick to take your money. They also tell you a complete figure with a job forget about loads of other things that need to be paid. It was so it made it sound good at the time for them. They have ignored about 1000 emails. I have sent trying to get money that they stole from me double payments they took without permission that their accounts won’t pay it back even though I’m a disabled man retired 14 years now this company have no heart and no mercy they only care about themselves and they’re full of lies. They’ve told me many times they would pay me and admitted it was their fault but still no payment destroyed my Christmas making me physically ill that they don’t care. They just promise you the world
and give you nothing.
I am taking this to every level that I can.
I would not give one star.
I most certainly would not recommend this company to any domestic family. They are just for themselves horrible in my opinion would not advise to use them if you’re on a budget they will break you.
They will leave you high and dry.
And then they will never answer you

Only had a free call with them and what we went through was good and has given us feedbacks things to go over. Overall pleased with the advise we received

Studio Charrette have been efficient and very professional since I first approached them to deal with my planning application.
The original application was refused by my local authority. The local authority inspector showed very little interest.
Permission was finally granted after and appeal through Studio Charrette.
I highly recommend Studio Charrette to any potential customers.

MY advice is to avoid giving yourself a giant headache and look to avoid this company. I had an initial phone consultation with what I thought was a very nice, knowledgeable man who explained the scope of work and then mentioned I needed to make a payment now in order to get the process started before Christmas. I asked for a full breakdown of the fees including everything from their fees to council charges and everything in between. He promised me the total cost for the whole project would be £995. Immediately they charged me far more than this without my permission, and then told me there are in fact other fees to pay which will need to be paid at a later date. When I asked how much these might be they told me usually around £600-700. So a quote for £995 soon turned into what would end up costing closer £2000. I tried to seek a refund for three weeks over Christmas, and this was met with nothing but stalling tactics. I did eventually receive a refund after what can be described as the worst three weeks being left in limbo completely destroying my Christmas and impacting a very close family bereavement. It is a shame this company are able to promote their work through the planning portal as I found them to be very unprofessional! To top it all off I have since gone to another planning consultant, and they have told me what I want to do doesn't even need planning permission and explained my next best steps without charging me a penny.

The company seems somehow to remove all 1* reviews. This is a test. Terrible experience with them. Avoid like the plague. Money back promised 2 months ago and it’s still “with accounts” whereas they couldn’t have been any faster at taking our money!

All staff are wonderful so helpful they really did a great job for us and a big thank you to john

John was perfect throughout the process highly recommended

They quote you a cost. This quote is a lie. It does not include things they know they will have to charge you, like £200 for a couple of OS map pictures, the many hundreds for the Planning portal fees, and the consultants' fees. Yes, they are there in the small print of the contract, and they will point that out to you, but you won't notice it to begin with and then it's too late. You will trust them on their costings. This is a mistake. Then there are the extra fees they can come up with, the £250 we had to answer a letter fee, and the final you think it's all over £75 FU-because-we-can fee. (Not to mention the £86 Council fee for discharge of the application that was mentioned nowhere.) They tell you there is nothing more to pay then another invoice comes in. Then that's the final one, and suddenly another comes in. Then when you think you've paid everything and they are behind you, bam, another invoice. Oh and their web portal means that once you're signed a document or paid, you can't go back and access it again weeks later because the link expires, so you have trouble keeping track of everything they have charged you. And the quality isn't even that good. I provided all the maps and drawings for them to tidy up into a submitable format, and they still got it wrong the first time. Find someone independent and local and save yourself a lot of bother.

I cannot recommend Studio Charrette highly enough. From the very beginning, the team demonstrated a level of professionalism, knowledge and dedication that is incredibly rare to find in the planning world.

My project, securing planning permission for the change of use of a former pub was a huge challenge and something that many consultants would have struggled with. But Studio Charrette handled it with absolute expertise and confidence.

A special mention must go to Mark, who represented my application at the Planning Committee. His three-minute presentation was exceptional: clear, decisive, factual and delivered with total authority. It genuinely shifted the room. It became a waking moment of realisation that the proposal presented was the only sensible and justified option.

I honestly believe no one else could have represented us better. His depth of knowledge, calm confidence and ability to communicate complex planning matters so effectively were instrumental in securing approval.

This entire experience has shown me that true expertise still exists — you just have to find the right people. Studio Charrette are exactly that. Because of this experience, I will continue to use them for all future projects.

If you are looking for a planning consultancy that genuinely delivers, cares about outcomes and stands head and shoulders above the rest, do not hesitate. Studio Charrette are outstanding, and Mark is a true asset to their team.

Thank you again for everything — absolutely five stars.