Website contract for an architecture firm in London: ownership, milestones and acceptance (2026)

The verdict in three sentences

For a London architecture practice, the website build contract matters as much as the design, because it decides who owns the domain, the code, the copy and the photographs on the day you change provider. Insist on a closed page list, payment milestones tied to verifiable deliverables and written acceptance criteria that include WCAG 2.2 AA accessibility, the performance of image-heavy pages and sign-off of content by a registered partner. A clear exit clause is worth more than a 10% discount.

Which clauses should you require before signing?

London agency contracts are often drafted in the provider's favour: a licence to use instead of a transfer of ownership, a hosting account in the agency's name, a vague number of revisions. The table compares what you often see, what to ask for and Kolonell's fixed terms.

The price and rate ranges reflect typical agency quotes and public agency rate pages in London, as a 2026 ballpark. Our packages are detailed on the international websites page.

What about photographs, drawings and copyright?

This is the clause specific to architecture practices. Under UK law, the photographer you commission generally keeps the copyright in the images unless it is assigned in writing. Yet your website, competition entries and award submissions all use the same photographs. The agency contract should therefore state that it will only use images for which the practice holds a licence covering web, social media and publications, and that a credits table is delivered. Your own drawings and renders remain your property: the provider should acquire no rights in them beyond a licence limited to the project.

On the professional side, the title architect is protected under the Architects Act 1997 and the Architects Registration Board (ARB) Code applies to registrants; if you are a RIBA Chartered Practice, check the conditions for using the logo. These points justify a dedicated acceptance step: a registered partner reviews the team, services and project pages before go-live, including each person's title and the credits on collaborative projects.

How do you write acceptance criteria that protect the practice?

Acceptance turns vague expectations into measurable criteria. A practice's project pages often load 15 to 40 high-resolution images: without a written threshold, slowness is discovered after the final payment.

For data, the contract should include processor terms meeting Article 28 of the UK GDPR, alongside the Data Protection Act 2018, and state where hosting is located. Non-essential cookies fall under PECR and need prior consent. This is not legal advice.

Which exit clause should you include?

Provide for a full handover within 10 working days: access to the domain registrar, hosting, code repository, CMS and analytics accounts, plus an export of content and media. Rule out any withholding over a small disputed invoice. Add a confidentiality clause covering unpublished projects and live competitions, often under a non-disclosure agreement with the client.

Mini case study

Illustrative example: Priya, practice manager of a fourteen-person practice in Clerkenwell, compares two offers. The local agency proposes £28,000 payable 50 / 50, with changes at £95 an hour; she expects 20 hours of changes, or £1,900, for a total of £29,900. Kolonell Growth costs £3,900; she adds £1,200 to extend two photographers' licences to web use, for £5,100. In both cases she requires the domain in her practice's name and a 2.5 s LCP threshold, and signs knowing exactly what she gets back if she leaves.

FAQ

Who should hold the domain name?

The practice, always, with its own registrar credentials. A domain in the agency's name can block a migration for weeks, for a name that often costs less than £20 a year.

What payment split is reasonable?

A 30 / 40 / 30 split tied to design, acceptance and go-live protects both sides. Avoid paying more than 50% before you have seen a working project page template.

Should we require WCAG 2.2 AA or 2.1 AA?

Level 2.2 AA adds a few useful criteria, notably on target size and focus. Writing it in as an acceptance criterion costs little if planned from the design stage, and avoids retrofits estimated at £1,500 to £4,000.

How many revision rounds should we plan?

Two rounds on the design and one round on the built site are usually enough. Beyond that, each request should be priced in writing, at a local hourly rate of £80 to £140.

What does the support period cover?

At Kolonell, 3 months of support follow delivery, with a project manager reachable on London time. New features, such as a custom application, are priced on quote.

Let's scope your project. An architecture practice website with full ownership, written acceptance criteria and verified photo licences, from £2,300 to £6,900, delivered in 3 to 4 weeks. See the international offer or request a free quote: detailed reply within 48 hours.