Website redesign for an architecture firm in Bath: budget, timeline and risks (2026)

The verdict in three sentences

When two studios merge in Bath, the resulting architecture firm often inherits two websites, two domains and hundreds of heavy photos that hurt mobile performance. A merger redesign typically costs £12,000 to £38,000 with a local agency (2026 ballpark), against £2,300 (Starter), £3,900 (Growth) or £6,900 (Premium) on Kolonell's fixed grid, delivered in 3 to 4 weeks once content is ready. Two workstreams decide the outcome: image weight (WebP, AVIF, lazy loading, Core Web Vitals) and WCAG 2.2 AA accessibility on project pages.

What does a merger change for the website?

Two sites mean two structures, two histories in Google and often projects published twice. Before any wireframe, three questions need an answer: which domain becomes primary, which projects are merged or retired, and how the photo credits from both studios carry over.

Signals that merging the menus will not be enough:

• the same project exists on both domains with different text;
• bios mix registered architects and other staff: the title architect, protected under the Architects Act 1997, is reserved for people on the ARB register, and RIBA Chartered Practice appears only if the merged entity holds it;
• project pages exceed 10 MB and take over 4 seconds to show the main image on mobile;
• galleries cannot be used with a keyboard and photos have no alt text.

In a UNESCO World Heritage city with many listed Georgian buildings and conservation-led projects, listed building consent and planning are described in general terms, never as advice.

Which performance targets should project pages hit?

The LCP, CLS and INP thresholds are those Google publishes for Core Web Vitals; the before values are ballpark figures seen on unoptimised architecture portfolios.

On accessibility, the WCAG 2.2 AA target, in line with the Equality Act 2010, means useful alt text for every project photo ("south elevation in Bath stone after restoration" rather than "image 12"), a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for text, galleries and menus fully usable by keyboard, and a visible focus indicator.

What budget for a merger redesign?

2026 ballpark figures from typical agency quotes and public agency rate pages in Bath and Bristol.

Every tier includes a project manager reachable in your time zone, native English or French copywriting and 3 months of support, detailed on the international offer. On quote: project extranet, BIM viewer, client portal, tender document room and CRM integration, linked or embedded, never rebuilt inside a fixed-grid site.

Which risks are specific to a merger?

• Domains competing with each other: one primary domain, the other 301-redirected page by page, then 6 weeks of Search Console checks, using the change of address tool.
• Duplicate projects: one page per project, credits for both teams stated, client approval checked; private houses shown without addresses.
• Lost photo credits: a single log of photographers and licences before migration.
• Email on both domains: MX records kept on the old domain as long as its addresses exist.
• Forms: name, contact, project type, location area, rough budget; drawings sent through a separate secure channel, on quote. Data handled under UK GDPR, the Data Protection Act 2018 and ICO guidance, cookies under PECR. This is not legal advice.
• Unverified content: awards, sustainability ratings and press only if real and supplied.

A recruitment page for architects and technologists is a useful companion to the merger announcement.

Questions to ask, and when a local agency fits better

Ask for written Core Web Vitals targets, a WCAG 2.2 AA audit before go-live, and who writes the alt text. A Bath agency is preferable if the merger comes with a new brand identity built in workshops, or a full on-site shoot of your work. To consolidate two sites quickly, a fixed grid in 3 to 4 weeks shortens the period when both brands coexist.

Mini case study

Illustrative example: Helen, partner at Sallow Pike Studio, born from the fictional merger of two studios of 4 and 5 people. Site A: 90 URLs; site B: 55 URLs; 30 projects on both.

• URLs to redirect: 90 + 55 = 145, to about 70 new pages.
• Alt text: 40 projects x 12 photos = 480; internal review at 1 minute each, about 8 hours.
• Growth tier: £3,900, against a local quote of £19,000 over 15 weeks.
• Gap: £15,100, and 11 fewer weeks during which both old brands coexist.

FAQ

Which domain should we keep after a merger?

Usually the one carrying the new name, provided the other is 301-redirected page by page. Keep the old domain registered for at least 2 years.

Do AVIF images display everywhere?

Most recent browsers support them, and a WebP or JPEG fallback covers the rest. A main image often drops from 4 MB to under 400 KB.

Who writes the alt text for photos?

Kolonell drafts a first version, which the firm approves because it knows each project. For 480 photos, plan about 8 hours of review.

Can Starter be enough after a merger?

Starter at £2,300 works if you keep 10 to 12 flagship projects. With two domains and more than 100 URLs, Growth at £3,900 fits better.

How long should redirects be monitored?

At least 6 weeks in Search Console, with a weekly check for 404 errors. To scope that monitoring, use the free quote page.

Let's scope your project. Merging two architecture sites, with light images, WCAG 2.2 AA and a 301 map for both domains, from £2,300 to £6,900 in 3 to 4 weeks. See the international offer or request a free quote: detailed reply within 48 hours.