Swansea Architects
Residential and Commercial Architecture Services
Swansea Architects with Real Knowledge of the City
Dennis Hellyar Architects is a RIBA chartered practice and a team of Swansea architects serving homeowners, businesses and community organisations across the city, the Gower Peninsula and the surrounding areas of Neath and Port Talbot. We deliver house extensions, planning drawings, commercial projects and full architectural services, bringing over 20 years of experience to every brief. Our studio is based in Barry, well-placed to serve clients across South Wales including the Swansea area.
Swansea is a city of real variety and character. Victorian terraces in the Uplands, interwar semis in Sketty and Derwen Fawr, coastal properties along Mumbles and the Gower Peninsula, and modern developments closer to the city centre and SA1 waterfront. Each area has its own planning context, its own architectural heritage and its own set of considerations for anyone looking to extend, renovate or build new.
As architects with experience across the region, we understand how the City and County of Swansea approaches planning applications, how Gower's AONB designation affects what is possible for rural and coastal properties, and how Neath Port Talbot Council handles commercial development in its area. That local knowledge translates directly into better outcomes for our clients.
Whether you are a homeowner in Sketty looking to extend into the garden, a business owner in the city centre considering a remodel, or an organisation in Neath Port Talbot with a community building project, we bring the professional rigour and practical thinking your project needs.
Swansea Architecture Projects We Have Delivered
Here is a selection of projects we have delivered for clients in Swansea and the surrounding area. Each one started with a conversation.
Architectural Services for Swansea Clients
As Swansea architects working across the residential and commercial sectors, we offer a full range of services from initial idea through to completed building. Here is what we most commonly help with:
House Extensions in Swansea
House extensions are among the most popular projects we deliver across Swansea's residential neighbourhoods. Whether you are planning a rear extension to open up a ground floor, a side return on a Victorian terrace in the Uplands, or a two-storey addition to create new bedroom space, we design extensions that work with your home's character and meet the City and County of Swansea's planning requirements. We also have experience with more complex projects in the Gower AONB, where planning policies require particularly sensitive design.
Planning Drawings and Applications
Planning applications in Swansea and the surrounding area require a clear understanding of local policy. The City and County of Swansea, Neath Port Talbot Council and, for Gower, the relevant AONB policies all apply different considerations. We prepare professional planning drawings and supporting documents and manage the submission process on your behalf, giving you confidence that your application is presented as effectively as possible.
Feasibility and Early Advice
Not sure what is possible with your Swansea property? We offer early-stage feasibility advice for both residential and commercial clients, assessing your site, reviewing planning constraints and giving you an honest picture of your options before you commit to anything. This is particularly valuable for coastal or rural properties in the Gower AONB where the range of acceptable development is more restricted.
Full Architectural Services
For clients who want complete support from first idea to finished building, we offer a full architectural service. We manage the design, coordinate with engineers and consultants, handle planning and building regulations, and administer the construction contract throughout the build. One team, one point of contact, from the first conversation to final handover.
Commercial Architecture in Swansea
Alongside residential work, we deliver commercial architecture for businesses and organisations across the Swansea area. Our commercial portfolio includes large-scale industrial and office projects in Port Talbot and Baglan, where we have direct experience of delivering high-quality commercial environments within an industrial context. We understand the planning landscape for commercial development across the City and County of Swansea and Neath Port Talbot.
Award-Winning Architectural Firm
Founded in 2013 after 20 years at large practices, Dennis Hellyar Architects brings the rigour of a bigger firm with the personal service clients value most. We are registered with the Architects Registration Board and hold Certified Passive House Designer accreditation, making us well-placed to advise on energy performance and sustainability across all project types.
From residential extensions in Pontcanna to a £27M social housing regeneration scheme for Cardiff City Council, our track record speaks for itself. Our Cwrt Parc development won the Best Social Housing Award at the Building Excellence Awards 2020.
How Our Architects Work With You
If you have not worked with architects before, here is how our process typically works from first contact to completed project. Not every client needs all of these stages. We are equally happy to provide exactly the level of service your project requires.
Step 1: Initial conversation
We listen to what you are hoping to achieve. There is no commitment at this stage, just a clear conversation about your project, your property and what is realistic within the Swansea planning framework.
Step 2: Feasibility and early advice
We assess your property, review the relevant planning policies whether that is City and County of Swansea, Neath Port Talbot or Gower AONB, and give you a clear picture of your options before any design work begins.
Step 3: Design development
We develop the design in close collaboration with you, using 3D models and visualisations to communicate proposals clearly. For projects in the Gower AONB or Swansea's conservation areas, we take particular care to develop designs that respond to the planning context.
Step 4: Planning drawings and submission
We prepare professional planning drawings and manage the submission to the relevant planning authority on your behalf, drawing on our knowledge of how Swansea and Neath Port Talbot councils assess applications.
Step 5: Building regulations and construction
Once planning is approved, we can take the project through building regulations, tender and construction, remaining your single point of contact throughout.
Ready to get started? An initial conversation with our architects costs nothing and will give you a much clearer picture of what your project could achieve.
Swansea Areas We Cover
We work across Swansea and the surrounding region. Here are the main areas where we regularly deliver projects. If your area is not listed, get in touch to confirm we cover your postcode.
Swansea City and Inner Suburbs
We work across the city centre, SA1 waterfront, Uplands, Brynmill, Sandfields and Hafod. These areas include a mix of Victorian and Edwardian terraces, converted properties and newer developments. Planning in these inner-city areas involves a range of policies depending on property type and location, and our familiarity with City and County of Swansea planning requirements makes a real difference to project outcomes.
West Swansea
We cover Sketty, Derwen Fawr, Killay, Dunvant and Gowerton. These are predominantly residential areas popular with families, featuring a range of interwar and postwar housing types where extensions and loft conversions are among the most common projects. We are experienced in navigating planning requirements for residential development in this part of the city.
Mumbles and the Gower Peninsula
We work with clients along the Mumbles seafront and across the Gower Peninsula, the UK's first designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Residential and commercial development in the Gower AONB is subject to strict planning policies designed to protect the landscape and character of the area. Our experience with AONB planning requirements means we can guide clients through what is possible and help design proposals that have the best chance of approval.
Neath and Port Talbot
Our work extends west to cover Neath, Port Talbot, Baglan and the surrounding areas within Neath Port Talbot Council's jurisdiction. Our Freudenberg project in Baglan demonstrates our experience delivering large-scale commercial work in this part of South Wales. We are familiar with Neath Port Talbot Council's planning policies for both residential and commercial development.
Planning Permission in Swansea: What You Need to Know
As Swansea architects, understanding the planning frameworks that govern development across the city and region is central to what we do. Here is a plain-language guide to the key considerations that affect most projects in the area.
Permitted development in Swansea
Many smaller house extensions and alterations in Swansea can be carried out under permitted development rights, meaning no formal planning application is required. However, permitted development rules have specific size limits and conditions, and do not apply in all circumstances. Properties in conservation areas, listed buildings and some newer developments may have had permitted development rights removed. In the Gower AONB, permitted development rights are more restricted than elsewhere. We can assess your specific situation and confirm the best route forward.
Gower AONB planning considerations
The Gower Peninsula holds AONB status, meaning planning applications for development in and around the area are assessed against policies designed to protect its natural beauty and character. Extensions, new builds and commercial development in the AONB require careful design that responds sensitively to the landscape. We have experience working within these constraints and can advise on what is likely to be acceptable before you commit to a design.
City and County of Swansea Local Development Plan
The City and County of Swansea's Local Development Plan sets out the planning policies governing development across the city. For residential clients this affects extension size and design quality, parking provision and impacts on neighbouring properties. For commercial clients it covers use classes, employment land designations and design standards. We follow Swansea's planning policies closely so our clients do not have to.
Common Questions About Working with Architects in Swansea
-
Look for a RIBA chartered practice or an architect registered with the Architects Registration Board. Both are markers of professional standards and ongoing accreditation. It is also worth choosing Swansea architects with direct local experience and a track record of successful planning applications with City and County of Swansea. Reading project case studies and asking for references from past clients will give you a clear sense of whether a practice is the right fit.
-
It depends on the size and type of extension and your property's specific circumstances. Many extensions in Swansea fall under permitted development and do not require a formal application. However, properties in conservation areas, listed buildings, the Gower AONB and some newer developments may require planning permission regardless of size. We can assess your situation quickly and confirm the best route forward.
-
Fees vary depending on the scope and complexity of the project. For a residential extension, fees typically cover design, planning drawings and application support. We are transparent about costs from the outset and provide a clear fee proposal before you commit to anything. Our studio is based in Barry, which means lower overheads and competitive fees without any compromise on quality or service.
-
The City and County of Swansea aims to determine most householder planning applications within 12 weeks of a valid submission. Applications in the Gower AONB or for more complex commercial projects may take longer. We give you a realistic timeline at the start and keep you informed at every stage.
-
Yes. We deliver commercial architecture across the Swansea and Neath Port Talbot area for businesses and organisations of all sizes. Our commercial work in the region includes large-scale industrial and office projects in Port Talbot and Baglan. Get in touch to discuss your commercial brief.
If your question is not here, please visit our dedicated residential FAQs or commercial FAQs pages for more information.