Your Questions About Architectural Visualisation, Answered
From brief to delivery — what to expect when commissioning
CGI, how much it costs, and what you need to provide.
What's the process for commissioning an architectural visualisation?
Commissioning architectural visualisation typically follows five stages: brief and discussion, scope and quote, 3D production, review and revisions, and final delivery.
Brief and discussion is where the studio understands the project — building type, design intent, target audience, and how the images will be used (planning, marketing, investor pitch). The better the brief, the better the output.
Scope and quote defines what will be delivered: number of views, image resolution, level of context (landscaping, people, sky), and any animations or walkthroughs. This is where timelines and fees are confirmed.
3D production is the main body of work — modelling from drawings or CAD files, lighting, material application, and rendering. Most studios work in V-Ray, Corona, or Unreal Engine, depending on the project type.
Review and revisions gives the client an opportunity to request changes before final output. Most studios include one or two rounds of amends within the quoted fee.
Final delivery provides the agreed outputs at full resolution — typically TIFF or high-res JPEG for stills, MP4 for animations.
Turnaround depends on complexity, but most exterior CGIs for UK architectural projects take one to three weeks from brief to final delivery.
How much does architectural CGI cost in the UK?
Architectural CGI pricing in the UK varies significantly based on complexity, number of views, and studio experience. The information below should be regarded as a general guide and will vary.
Single exterior still: £500–£1,500 for a straightforward residential scheme. Complex commercial or mixed-use projects with detailed context and landscaping typically range from £1,200–£3,000 per view.
Interior stills: £600–£2,000 per view, depending on furniture complexity, material detail, and lighting requirements.
Planning packages (typically three to six views): £3,000–£8,000+ for a full set suitable for planning submission.
Animations and walkthroughs: £2,500–£10,000+ depending on duration, complexity, and whether voiceover or music is included.
Infrastructure and energy sector projects — wind farms, substations, grid infrastructure — are priced by complexity and often require photomontage work for environmental impact assessments, which adds to the scope.
Most reputable studios quote per project rather than per hour. Cheaper overseas services exist from £100–£300 per view, but revision cycles, communication delays, and lack of UK planning knowledge often create additional cost and risk.
Do I need CGI for a planning application in Scotland?
CGI is not always a formal requirement for planning applications in Scotland, but it is increasingly expected — and often decisive — for any project above a certain scale or sensitivity.
Scottish planning authorities might request visualisations for: residential developments of five or more units, commercial or mixed-use schemes in conservation areas or town centres, tall buildings or structures with significant visual impact, and renewable energy infrastructure including wind turbines, solar farms, and substations.
Verified views (also called photomontages or accurate visual representations, or AVRs) are a specific requirement for projects where the authority needs to assess visual impact against the existing landscape. These are produced to NatureScot and SNH guidelines, using surveyed camera positions and calibrated photography — they are not standard CGI renders and require additional technical rigour and are therefore more expensive.
Even where CGI is not required, high-quality visualisations significantly strengthen a planning submission. They help planning officers understand the design intent, reduce objections from neighbours and community groups, and support the design and access statement.
For Scottish applications, it is worth checking pre-application guidance from the relevant planning authority early, as requirements vary between councils.
What files do I need to give an architectural visualisation studio?
The minimum a visualisation studio needs to get started is a set of architectural drawings: floor plans, elevations, and sections in DWG, DXF, or PDF format. The more information provided, the more accurate and efficient the process.
Helpful to include:
— A site location plan or OS map extract showing the surrounding context
— Materials and finishes schedule, with product references or sample images where available
— Landscaping or masterplan information if the setting is part of the brief
— Reference images showing the aesthetic or atmosphere you are aiming for
— Any existing 3D model (Revit, SketchUp, ArchiCAD, Rhino) — this can significantly reduce modelling time and therefore cost
— Notes on camera viewpoints or angles that are important to capture
For planning-grade verified views: surveyed camera positions (Easting, Northing, and height above OS datum), lens and sensor specifications used in site photography, and raw photography from agreed viewpoints are all required.
If you don't have everything listed above, that's fine — a good studio will work with what's available and flag gaps during the briefing call. A basic set of drawings and a clear brief is enough to produce an accurate quote and begin production.
What CGI is needed for a wind farm or renewable energy planning application?
Renewable energy planning applications in Scotland — particularly for wind farms, solar farms, battery storage, and grid infrastructure — typically require a specific type of visualisation called a photomontage or accurate visual representation (AVR), produced to the standards set out in SNH (now NatureScot) guidance.
These are not standard CGI renders. They combine calibrated site photography with accurately scaled, position-verified 3D models of the proposed infrastructure, composited together to show exactly how the development will appear from agreed viewpoints within the landscape.
Typical deliverables for a Scottish wind farm EIA include:
— Wireframe views from agreed viewpoints
— Photomontages at each viewpoint (day and sometimes dusk)
— Cumulative impact views showing existing and proposed wind infrastructure
— Zone of theoretical visibility (ZTV) mapping, sometimes integrated with 3D landscape context
For grid infrastructure such as overhead lines, substations, and converter stations, similar photomontage standards apply, though viewpoint selection is typically agreed with the relevant planning authority and stakeholders.
Beyond planning requirements, CGI is increasingly used by energy developers for stakeholder engagement, bid support, public consultation, and investor documentation — where photorealistic renders rather than AVRs are the appropriate format.
How long does architectural visualisation take?
Turnaround time depends on project complexity, the number of views, and how complete the brief and drawings are at the outset. As a general guide:
Single exterior still (residential): 5–10 working days from receipt of drawings and brief.
Commercial exterior, two to four views: 2–3 weeks.
Planning package (four to eight views, including context): 3–5 weeks, accounting for client review and revision rounds
Animation or walkthrough (60–90 seconds): 4–8 weeks depending on scene complexity and the extent of 3D modelling required.
Verified views or photomontages for planning: Timescales depend on when surveyed camera data and site photography are available. Once received, production of each AVR typically takes one to two weeks, with review time on top.
The most common cause of delays is incomplete information at the brief stage — missing materials schedules, undecided design elements, or slow client feedback. Providing complete drawings and a clear brief at the outset is the most effective way to ensure on-time delivery.
Rush turnarounds are sometimes possible with prior agreement, typically at a premium.