Privacy Policy
Last updated: September 2026
1. Who we are
FT Architects is a RIBA Chartered Practice based in London. This policy explains how we collect, use and protect personal information when you visit ftarchitects.co.uk, contact us, or work with us.
For the purposes of UK data protection law, FT Architects is the data controller for the personal information described here.
- Name: FT Architects Ltd, trading as FT Architects
- Address: The Stanley Building, 7 Pancras Square, London N1C 4AG
- Email: info@ftarchitects.co.uk
- Company number: 07735033, registered in England and Wales
We are a small practice and have not appointed a Data Protection Officer. Questions about this policy can go to the contact details above.
2. The information we collect
We collect only what we need to respond to you, deliver our services and run the practice.
Information you give us
- Enquiry form: your name, email address, telephone number (optional), project location (optional), subject, budget range, timescale and the content of your message. The form emails your enquiry to us; submissions are not stored in our website's database.
- Email and telephone: any details you choose to share when you contact us directly.
- Clients: contact details, property addresses, drawings, surveys, photographs, planning and listed building information, and billing details needed to deliver and invoice a project.
- Suppliers, consultants and contractors: business contact details and correspondence.
- Job applicants: CVs, portfolios and covering letters sent to us.
Information collected automatically
When you browse the site, our web server and Google Analytics 4 (if you accept analytics cookies) may record technical information such as your IP address, browser type, device, pages visited and the site that referred you. See section 4 for cookies.
We do not knowingly collect special category data (such as health information). Please don't include it in an enquiry unless it is relevant, for example an accessibility requirement for a home adaptation.
3. How we use your information
We use personal information only where UK GDPR gives us a lawful basis to do so.
| Purpose | Lawful basis |
| Replying to your enquiry and discussing a potential project | Legitimate interests (responding to people who contact us); steps before entering a contract |
| Delivering architectural services, managing projects and liaising with consultants, contractors and planning authorities | Performance of a contract |
| Invoicing, accounting and keeping business records | Legal obligation; performance of a contract |
| Meeting professional obligations (ARB, RIBA, professional indemnity insurance) | Legal obligation; legitimate interests |
| Considering job applications | Legitimate interests; steps before entering a contract |
| Understanding how the website is used so we can improve it | Consent (for analytics cookies) |
| Keeping the website secure and preventing spam | Legitimate interests |
We do not use your information for automated decision-making or profiling. We do not sell it. We will only send you marketing, such as project news, if you have asked us to, and you can opt out at any time.
4. Cookies and analytics
Cookies are small text files placed on your device. We use essential cookies so the site works, and analytics cookies only if you agree to them.
| Type | What it does | Example | Consent needed? |
| Strictly necessary | Keeps the site secure and remembers your cookie choice | FAZ Cookie consent cookie. Our form's spam protection sets no cookies. | No |
| Analytics | Tells us which pages are visited and how people find the site, in aggregate | Google Analytics (GA4): _ga and _ga_<ID> cookies, up to 2 years | Yes |
You can accept or reject non-essential cookies using the banner when you first visit, and change your choice at any time using the Cookie settings link in the website footer. You can also block or delete cookies in your browser settings; the site will still work.
Google Analytics 4 only loads after you accept analytics cookies. We do not use Google Signals or GA4 advertising features. Google’s privacy information is at policies.google.com/privacy.
5. Who we share information with
We share personal information only where needed to run the practice or deliver your project. We never sell it.
- Service providers who process data on our behalf: website hosting (Cloudnext), email and file storage (Google Workspace), analytics (Google Analytics 4, provided by Google), accounting software and our website developer for maintenance.
- Project team members such as structural engineers, surveyors, heritage consultants, interior designers, contractors and cost consultants, where needed for your project.
- Public bodies such as local planning authorities, Historic England and building control. Planning applications are placed on public registers.
- Professional advisers including accountants, lawyers and insurers.
- Regulators or law enforcement where the law requires it.
Our service providers may only use your information on our instructions and must keep it secure.
6. International transfers
Most of the information we hold stays in the UK. Some service providers, such as Google (for Google Workspace and Google Analytics 4), may store or access data outside the UK. Where this happens, we make sure it is protected by a UK adequacy decision, the International Data Transfer Agreement, or the UK Addendum to the EU Standard Contractual Clauses.
7. How long we keep information
We keep personal information only as long as we need it, then delete or securely destroy it.
| Information | How long we keep it |
| Enquiries that don't become a project | 2 years from our last contact |
| Project files, drawings and correspondence | 15 years after the project completes, to cover professional liability limitation periods |
| Financial and accounting records | 6 years from the end of the financial year, as required by HMRC |
| Unsuccessful job applications | 6 months, unless you agree we can keep them longer |
| Website analytics data | 14 months |
8. Your rights
Under UK data protection law you have the right to:
- Access a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
- Rectification of anything inaccurate or incomplete.
- Erasure of your information, where we have no good reason to keep it.
- Restrict how we use your information in certain circumstances.
- Object to processing based on our legitimate interests, and to direct marketing at any time.
- Data portability, where processing is based on consent or contract and carried out by automated means.
- Withdraw consent at any time, for example to analytics cookies. This doesn't affect processing already carried out.
To use any of these rights, email info@ftarchitects.co.uk. There is no charge in most cases. We will respond within one month and may ask you to confirm your identity first.
9. Security, other websites and changes
Security. The website uses an encrypted (HTTPS) connection. We limit access to personal information to people who need it and use password-protected, access-controlled systems. No online transmission is completely secure, but we take reasonable steps to protect your information.
Other websites. Our site links to others, including Instagram and LinkedIn. We are not responsible for their privacy practices, so please read their policies.
Children. Our website and services are not aimed at children, and we do not knowingly collect their information.
Changes to this policy. We may update this policy from time to time. The latest version will always be on this page, with the date it was last updated.
10. Contact us and complaints
If you have a question or concern about how we handle your information, please contact us first:
FT Architects Ltd, The Stanley Building, 7 Pancras Square, London N1C 4AG
info@ftarchitects.co.uk
You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), the UK data protection regulator, at ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint or on 0303 123 1113.