The verdict in three sentences
For a London lab qualifying spacecraft equipment, a website rebuild takes 10 to 20 weeks on the market, and the schedule almost always slips on technical content and export control review, far more than on development. Budget 13,000 to 42,000 GBP (2026 market ballpark). A credible plan books 2 to 5 weeks of review by your test engineers and export compliance lead from day one.
The plan by phase
| Phase | Realistic duration (2026 ballpark) | Deliverable | Who signs off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discovery | 2 to 3 weeks | Sitemap, list of test facilities, buyer journeys | Commercial director |
| Design | 2 to 4 weeks | Desktop and mobile page templates | Commercial and marketing |
| Copy and asset gathering | 2 to 4 weeks, alongside design | Facility sheets, programme references | Facility managers |
| Technical and export review | 2 to 5 weeks | Copy and photos cleared for publication | Engineers, export compliance lead, named clients |
| Build | 4 to 8 weeks | Full site on staging | Project lead |
| Testing and launch | 1 to 2 weeks | Fixes, redirects, go live | Commercial director |
Export review is specific to space: some facility specifications, client hardware photos or programme details may fall under UK strategic export controls or contractual restrictions. Your compliance lead should clear every page, using guidance from the Export Control Joint Unit where needed.
Week by week schedule
Illustrative 16 week project, median scenario.
| Weeks | Main activity | Watch point |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 2 | Discovery workshops, inventory of shakers, thermal vacuum chambers, radiation sources | List now what must never be published |
| 3 to 5 | Design and facility sheet copy | Supply engineering approved specifications |
| 6 to 8 | Technical and export review, consent requests to named clients | Client replies often take 2 to 3 weeks |
| 7 to 13 | Build, test enquiry form with file upload | Freeze the sitemap after week 8 |
| 14 | References to UK Space Agency funded programmes checked with partners | Use only public programme names and approved wording |
| 15 | Full QA, mobile and form tests | Test large attachment uploads |
| 16 | Launch, redirects, monitoring | Check old URLs redirect and stay indexed |
At Kolonell, the build phase is short: Growth in 14 to 21 working days and Premium in 21 to 30 working days once content is cleared. Kolonell's prices are 1,830 to 3,050 EUR for Growth and 3,050 to 5,340 EUR for Premium, with copywriting at about 90 EUR per page. Internal review weeks stay the same whatever provider you pick.
The most common causes of delay
| Cause | Typical delay (2026 ballpark) | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Technical copy late | 2 to 4 weeks | One content owner per test facility, with dates |
| Late export review | 2 to 5 weeks | Involve the compliance lead at discovery |
| Client consent to cite a programme | 2 to 6 weeks | Prepare an anonymised version in parallel |
| Sitemap changes during build | 1 to 3 weeks | Freeze structure after design |
| Facility photos to reshoot | 1 to 3 weeks | Book the shoot in week 3 |
| Accessibility fixes found at QA | 1 to 2 weeks | Test against WCAG 2.2 AA from design stage |
Mini case study
Illustrative example, fictional company: Priya, commercial director of a 55 person space test lab in London, wants the new site live before a major space industry conference and has 18 weeks.
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Local agency scenario: 28,000 GBP, 16 planned weeks, plus a likely 3 week slip on export review, so 19 weeks and the conference is missed. Kolonell scenario: 6 weeks of discovery, copy and review run in house, then Premium at 4,800 EUR plus 12 extra pages at about 40 EUR each (480 EUR), so 5,280 EUR, delivered in 6 weeks. Total: 12 weeks, leaving 6 weeks of buffer, with Standard maintenance at 114 EUR a month. If the site brings 2 extra test campaign enquiries worth 35,000 GBP each around the conference, that is 70,000 GBP of potential revenue.
FAQ
Why does export review take so long?
Every facility specification and programme reference needs clearance from your compliance lead, sometimes with client consent. Plan 2 to 5 weeks.
Can the project be cut to 8 weeks?
Yes, if content is written and cleared before kickoff. Otherwise 10 to 20 weeks is the realistic market range.
Should we name client programmes?
Only with written consent. An anonymised line such as qualification of a 120 kg instrument for an Earth observation satellite already reassures buyers.
What budget should we plan?
Between 13,000 and 42,000 GBP on the market depending on facilities and languages. Kolonell's Premium tier costs 3,050 to 5,340 EUR.
When should we start before a conference?
At least 20 weeks ahead with a typical agency, 12 to 14 weeks if content is ready. Keep 2 weeks of buffer for QA.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your test facilities, languages and target launch date, and we will build a week by week plan and a firm Growth or Premium budget. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.