CAD Architectural Design Consultants Ltd
Architectural Design
Free consultation
Contemporary New Zealand home at dusk — cedar cladding, gabled forms and a sweeping entry drive
01 — Residential architectural designServicing clients nationwide

Homes designed to be built. Drawn to be consented.

Book a free consultation Price my project
Nationwide — online or on site No-cost first meeting Reply within one working day Fixed-fee proposal before you commit

Concept through to Building Consent and Resource Consent documentation for new homes, minor dwellings, alterations and multi-unit housing — designed around your site, and drawn so a builder can price it. We work with clients right across New Zealand, online or on site.

Licensed Building Practitioner logoLead designerLicensed Building Practitioner
Projects on the register391 across 23 districts
Selwyn District Council Approved Building Partner 2026
Typical scopeConcept → Code Compliance
A‑01Selected work

Our projects.

Over fifty images of our work, from concept renders to finished homes. Filter below, and click any image to open it full size. Every one left the studio as a coordinated set: site plan, floor plans, elevations, sections, bracing and details, drawn so a builder can price it and a council can process it.

What clients say
391Projects on the register
23Council districts
2017In practice since
Licensed Building Practitioner logoDesigns led by a Licensed Building Practitioner
Selwyn District Council Approved Building Partner 2026

Recognised by Selwyn District Council as an Approved Building Partner for 2026, the district where we take through more projects than anywhere else.

Always check the LBP Register to ensure your building practitioner is licensed. Search the LBP Register

A‑02Where we work

Every district
we've worked in.

Drawn straight from our job register. Each pin is a council district we have taken projects through, sized by how many. Hover a pin to name it. Counted from our job register, cancelled jobs excluded. District level only; no client addresses.

0Projects
0Districts
—Synced from register

A‑03What we do

Ten ways a project
gets off the ground.

From a dreamed-up new home to a compliance upgrade on a building that already exists — innovative, future-ready design that stays buildable, and documentation that stands up at the council counter.

House plan shopReady-made plans

Start from a plan
that already works.

Buy a proven layout and save weeks of design time. Start with a dimensioned floor and framing plan, or go straight to a full builder's pricing set. Our designers can adapt any plan to your site, section and budget.

Floor plan only

A dimensioned floor and framing plan. The low-cost way to test an idea, talk to builders and start your design.

Builder's pricing set

A full set of drawings a builder can price from, ready to adapt to your site for consent.

Tap "Buy plan" to order. We confirm the order and send your files. For example PDFs or CAD DWGs, email info@cadconsultantsltd.com. A purchased plan still needs adapting to your site before it can be lodged for consent.

A‑04Interactive · about 2 minutes

Build your brief.
See the whole picture.

Describe the project you're imagining. You'll see the consents it needs, a realistic total budget, when you could have consent in hand, and the things on your site most likely to cost time or money.

1What are you building?
2Which region is the site in?
3How big?
180 m²Four bedrooms, open plan
10 m²180 m²450 m²
4Finish level

5Your site — tick what applies
6Your total budget (optional)
$

Excluding land. We'll check it against the full cost of the project.

Your project

Four-bedroom new home in Selwyn

Total project budget—excluding land
Consent in hand—if you start this month
Pathway—

Consents and approvals

Where the money goes

Build cost uses New Zealand average rates, adjusted for your region, of — per m² (reviewed September 2026), typically GST-inclusive. Allowances are typical ranges to budget with, not quotes. We confirm the real figures for your site, including development contributions, which vary by council.

Watch-outs for your site, and how we handle them

Programme — 13–19 weeks to consent

CONCEPTDEVELOPEDCONSENT SETCOUNCIL

What we'll draw for you

    Specialists we'll coordinate

      Next step · free

      Get this checked against your actual site.

      1. Send your brief. It takes 30 seconds, and everything above comes with it.
      2. A designer checks your site. Zoning, hazards, title and covenants, within one working day.
      3. Free consultation. We talk through what we found and what's possible.
      4. Fixed-fee proposal. You know the design cost before you commit to anything.

      Indicative guidance for early planning, not a quote or a substitute for a QS, builder's price or council advice. The 20 working-day consent clock stops while council questions are open.

      A‑05How it runs

      Six stages, in order.
      No surprises.

      Each stage ends with something you can hold, sign off and price. Nothing moves forward until you're happy with what came before it.

      A‑06The studio

      Who we are.

      Sophie, LBP Designer and Director of CAD Consultants

      Sophie

      LBP Designer · Director
      Licensed Building Practitioner logo

      Sophie started CAD in 2017. With 15+ years in business and 15+ years of experience in the building industry, she brings a strong understanding of construction, compliance and architectural innovation.

      Her experience has varied from on-site coordination to council approvals — giving clients confidence that every design is both beautiful and buildable. That experience forms the foundation for efficient processes, adaptive problem-solving and future-ready architectural outcomes.

      Nina Donaldson, Architectural Designer at CAD Consultants

      Nina Donaldson

      Architectural Designer

      Nina recently joined CAD as an Architectural Designer while she completes her Master of Architecture at the University of Auckland.

      Nina's pathway into architecture has been a little different — before this, she completed a Bachelor of Science with First Class Honours in Neuroscience. That experience really shaped the way she thinks about people and place, and gave her a strong curiosity about how the built environment impacts our everyday lives, our wellbeing and even our behaviour.

      Now Nina is very excited to be pursuing that curiosity through design. At CAD she has been able to contribute to projects that balance technical detail with creativity, and is learning so much from working alongside such an experienced team. Nina is looking forward to working with you to help turn your vision into reality.

      How we work

      We're a dynamic, all-female team of young, hardworking mothers who bring passion, empathy and innovation to every project. As women empowering women, we know the value of adaptability, clear communication, and balancing big ideas with real-life needs. Our down-to-earth, flexible approach means we design with heart and hustle — always finding creative, future-focused solutions that work for real families, real budgets and real lives. At CAD, we don't just design homes; we help shape futures.

      Instagram@cadconsultantsltdnz

      Follow the work
      as it happens.

      New designs, renders and finished homes, posted as they leave the studio.

      Follow on Instagram
      Before you askCommon questions

      The things people
      want to know first.

      What does the first meeting cost?

      Nothing. We talk through your site, budget and what you're picturing, and tell you plainly whether it stacks up. You then get a fixed-fee proposal for the design work, so you know the cost before you commit to anything.

      How long until I have a building consent?

      For a typical new home, allow roughly 13 to 19 weeks from first sketches to consent. Council has 20 working days to process an application, but that clock stops whenever they ask a question (an RFI). A complete, well-drawn set is the best way to keep it moving.

      The brief builder above gives a timeline for your own project.

      Can I build a granny flat without a building consent?

      Often, yes. Since 15 January 2026, a single-storey detached dwelling up to 70 m² can be built without a building consent if it meets the exemption conditions. These include simple design, being at least 2 m from boundaries and other buildings, and Licensed Building Practitioners doing or supervising the work. You still need a PIM from council before you start, and you notify council when it's finished. Some rules change from 8 October 2026.

      "No consent" doesn't mean "no plans". We design granny flats to meet every condition, so you get the speed without the risk.

      Do I need an architect?

      Not for most homes. Our design work is led by a Licensed Building Practitioner (Design), who signs the Certificate of Design Work that council needs for restricted building work. If your project needs specialist input, such as a structural or geotechnical engineer, we bring them in and coordinate them.

      What do you need from me to get started?

      The site address, a rough idea of what you want and your budget. If you have them, send your title, LIM, any council letters and photos of the site. Pinterest boards and sketches on the back of an envelope are welcome too.

      Where do you work?

      Mostly Selwyn, Christchurch, Waimakariri and Hurunui, plus Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago. We've taken projects through councils from Auckland to Southland, so if your site is further afield, ask us.

      A‑07Get in touch

      Tell us about
      your site.

      Book your free initial consultation. Send through the address, what you're picturing, and any council correspondence you've already had. We'll reply within one working day and tell you honestly what's possible.

      Emailsophie@cadconsultantsltd.com
      Phone022 108 4097
      Instagram@cadconsultantsltdnz Facebookcadconsultantsltd Plan shopReady-made house plans Granny flatsMinor residential units

      Free consultation request
      A designer will reply within one working day.
      Free consultation Call 022 108 4097