Yes, Plan7Architect is fully suitable for use in the UK and supports all essential requirements for residential design in line with British building practices. Whether you are planning a new build, an extension, or a renovation, the software allows you to model your project according to UK construction methods, measurements, and technical expectations. You can use metric or imperial units and adjust all core elements—such as wall thickness, floor heights, roof pitches, insulation layers, and structural details—to match national and local building standards. Many UK homebuilders, designers, and self-builders already use Plan7Architect to prepare floor plans, elevations, sections, and site layouts for both personal use and planning submissions.
Customisable for UK Residential Construction Norms
Wall and Floor Structure
Plan7Architect enables you to build up realistic wall compositions that align with common British construction systems. For example, cavity wall assemblies with external brickwork, internal blockwork, thermal insulation, vapour barriers, and plasterboard can be configured in layers. Users can define exact wall thicknesses in millimetres or inches and apply materials from the built-in catalogue or add custom textures.
Floor constructions can be detailed just as flexibly. Whether you are designing a suspended timber floor, concrete slab, or raised foundation, Plan7Architect allows you to define the floor structure by height, depth, and layering. You can also adjust for insulation, floor finishes like laminate or tiles, and skirting board placement.
Roof Types and Pitches
The software supports a wide range of traditional and modern UK roof types. You can choose between gable, hip, flat, and complex roof structures with customisable pitches. Most UK homes feature a roof pitch between 30 and 45 degrees—these can be defined manually to meet local planning requirements or match surrounding architecture.
It’s also possible to add common UK elements such as fascia boards, soffits, gutters, and overhangs. For loft conversions or dormers, Plan7Architect allows you to model complex roof cuts and multi-pitch systems, ensuring accurate visualisation and structural clarity.
Floor Plan Creation for Planning Submissions
The software provides a full 2D floor planning interface with layer-based control and precise dimensioning tools. This is especially useful for those preparing drawings for UK planning permission. You can label each room appropriately (e.g. “Lounge”, “WC”, “Utility Room”) and add furniture or fixtures to demonstrate spatial intent.
All dimensions can be placed manually to indicate room sizes, wall lengths, and fixture locations. You can also insert annotation text, area calculations, and drawing symbols like section lines or north arrows. These features are essential when submitting applications to local councils.
Plans can be prepared to scale, with metric units as default, but imperial units can be selected as needed.
Tip: Use the title block editor to include project name, address, applicant details, and scale information in a layout that resembles UK architectural drawing standards.
Sections, Elevations & Site Layouts
Plan7Architect allows you to generate vertical section drawings showing wall layers, floor thickness, ceiling heights, roof slopes, and stair placements. These can be cut at any position in the building and labelled with dimensions.
You can also create full building elevations from each side—front, rear, left, and right. These views support annotations such as wall finishes, roofline dimensions, door/window heights, and more. The software makes it easy to visualise what your house will look like from the outside and to prepare realistic submissions for design approval.
For site plans, you can place your building on a defined terrain area and indicate property boundaries, fences, driveways, patios, and landscaping features. These site layouts are helpful for both planning applications and coordination with surveyors or builders.
Compatibility with Architects, Builders & Local Authorities
Plan7Architect projects can be exported in a variety of formats suitable for collaboration. PDF exports are ideal for council submissions or printouts, while DWG and DXF formats allow sharing with architects, engineers, or contractors who use professional CAD tools.
Each drawing can be scaled and dimensioned properly, with layout options for A4 to A0 sheets. Users can insert all necessary technical data, including floor areas, structural notes, and visual references.
These export tools ensure that your design work can be used across the full planning, approval, and construction process—without needing to redraw your plans in another program.
Room for Personalisation and Extensions
The flexibility of Plan7Architect makes it well-suited to a wide variety of UK housing types. Whether you are planning a rear extension on a Victorian terrace, a dormer loft conversion in a semi-detached house, or a new two-storey build on an open plot, the software supports every layout configuration.
You can create rooms with sloped ceilings, define multi-level layouts with ground, first, and loft floors, and place UK-specific fixtures such as bathtubs, kitchen units, radiators, and internal partitions.
Rear extensions, wraparound additions, and garage conversions can be added to existing plans at any time, allowing you to work flexibly as your project evolves.
Practical Features That Support UK Projects
- Define story heights for each floor and manage all levels using the built-in story manager
- Add staircases, including straight, U-shaped, and spiral designs, with automatic floor linking
- Place electrical components, such as sockets and lights, using 2D/3D symbols
- Plan outdoor areas including gardens, paths, and boundary fences
- Assign materials and textures to surfaces for realistic 3D renderings
All features can be customised to reflect your specific needs, whether you’re building from scratch or updating an existing structure.
Measurement Units – Metric or Imperial, Your Choice
In the UK, the standard for architectural work is metric, especially millimetres and metres. Plan7Architect is fully set up to use metric units, but you can switch to imperial (feet and inches) if you work with professionals or resources that use the imperial system.
This flexibility is ideal for internationally oriented projects or when combining UK and imported construction elements.
Conclusion – Plan7Architect is UK-Ready
Plan7Architect provides everything UK-based homebuilders and renovators need to plan and present their residential construction projects professionally. It supports UK building standards, enables precise technical drawings, and offers a flexible set of tools for both 2D drafting and 3D visualisation.
Whether you’re working on a single-storey extension, a full new build, or a planning submission for council approval, Plan7Architect is a reliable, efficient, and affordable choice.
