Consultancy

Charges are based on time spent on site. No travelling expenses within 25 mile radius of our office in Witney, just outside Oxford, are charged but all fees incur VAT at 17.5%.  Our first visit enables us to meet, show you our portfolio and discuss all aspects of the forthcoming project.   This first meeting normally lasts about a couple of hours. We assess the site and get a clear picture of what you want from the garden. We discuss the basics of the questionnaire and arrange the site survey. Initially there is a charge of £150.00 for the garden survey but this cost is offset against any commissioned design work, so for clients who decide to proceed, this initial survey visit becomes free of charge.

Design Work

As a very approximate guide, the price to design an average-sized suburban garden starts at £250 for a 2D topography plan, to £420 for a 3D plan with walkthrough views, up to around £590, if a planting scheme is included. A large country garden would be higher in price depending upon its size and complexity.

Monitoring the Works

Once the completed design has been approved we pass the design plans to you if you are building your garden yourself,  or we will open dialogue with potential contractors for their appointment. We are then at your disposal to monitor the construction of the project on your behalf.  This is a valuable service for those clients who are just too busy to manage the process themselves or when the project needs to be dovetailed with other major works on site.

If the project’s construction is managed by First Garden Design, our management fees are based upon a sliding scale of 12% of the first £10,000 of the value of the work and 8% of the remainder.  Payments are made in line with the appointed contractors. This means that a project totalling £18000, our management fees will be £1890.00, thus providing you without the hassle or worry of the entire project management.

Sundry Costs

The processing of reference photographs, the printing of plans and planning applications etc. are charged at cost.