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Arbtech vs Heritage Collective: Volume Portal or Specialist Consultancy?
Reviewed by
Oliver Wakefield-Smith
Founder, Digital Signet
Last reviewed 22 June 2026 · Refreshed quarterly
Direct answer
Volume portal or specialist consultancy?
Both quote per case: Arbtech withdrew its old from-£695 published fixed fee and now prices Heritage Statements on a free-quote basis through a partner consultancy. Arbtech tends to be the faster, lower-friction route for a one-page Heritage Statement in support of minor Grade II works (typically quoted at 10 to 15 working days). Heritage Collective is the better fit for any case requiring genuine consultant judgement (extension, change of use, conservation-area shopfront), where a bespoke fee buys both deeper analysis and a stronger LPA-credibility signal. Neither firm publishes a per-project rate; commission a quote directly.
Pricing model contrasted
- Arbtech. Quote-only via a partner consultancy (a published from-£695 fixed fee was previously advertised but has been withdrawn). Volume play. Strong website conversion. Standard template, customised to the case.
- Heritage Collective. Bespoke quote per case. Higher day rate. RIBA-CA architectural lead. Tailored narrative.
Where Arbtech wins
- One-page Heritage Statement for minor internal Grade II works.
- Tight budget cases where the LPA has expressed no specific concern.
- Speed: 10 to 15 working days is faster than most bespoke consultancies.
Where Heritage Collective wins
- Anything requiring an architectural design-led narrative.
- Grade II extension or external alteration.
- Cases requiring direct conservation-officer engagement.
- Conservation-area or WHS-buffer-zone applications.