Can CGI be used in a design and access statement?

Yes, CGI can be used in a design and access statement. Planning officers expect images that explain the proposal. The one condition is accuracy. The views must match the submitted drawings, show the real context and avoid flattering tricks. Treat each image as evidence, not marketing, and the CGI will support your application rather than weaken it.

Where CGI helps in the statement

CGI helps most where drawings are hard to read. A statement has to explain use, amount, layout, scale, landscaping and appearance. Plans and elevations do this for trained eyes. Councillors and neighbors often read images faster.

Useful views include:

• An exterior view from the main public approach.
• A street-level view that shows scale against neighbors.
• An aerial view for larger sites or masterplans.
• An interior view where access or layout is the key point.

Each image should back up a point in the text. If a picture does not support a claim, leave it out. A short caption linking the image to the argument works well.

What makes CGI acceptable to a planning officer

CGI is acceptable when it is a faithful record of the design. That means the massing, heights, materials and openings match the drawings you submit. Any difference invites questions.

Avoid a few common problems. Do not use wide lenses that make a building look further away. Do not show planting at full maturity if it will take years to grow. Do not fill the sky with dramatic light that hides a blank wall.

Choose a neutral, realistic daylight. Show trees and fences as they exist today. Label proposed landscaping clearly. Label each view with its purpose, such as “proposed view from the north approach.”

The goal is trust. A plain, honest image is easier to approve than a polished one that raises doubts.

What to give your rendering studio

The quality of the CGI depends on your inputs. Praxis Studio works from CAD, Revit and SketchUp drawings, reference images and material lists. The more complete these are, the less guessing is needed.

A useful brief includes:

• Final or near-final plans, sections and elevations.
• Site photographs and any survey data for context.
• Material and finish choices, with samples or product names.
• The view positions you want, marked on a plan.
• A note on what the planning authority has asked for.

Agree the camera positions before rendering starts. Locking them early keeps the images consistent with the drawings. It also stops late changes from reopening the whole set.

Revisions and file formats

Plan for revisions, because designs often shift during pre-application advice. Praxis Studio delivers in rounds with your markups. Mark each comment on the image, and keep notes short and specific.

If the design changes, tell the studio which drawings were updated. A new elevation can change several views at once. Share the revised set rather than describing the change in words.

For the statement itself, ask for high-resolution files. A PDF-ready image works for most submissions. Many portals limit file size, so also request compressed copies. Keep the full-size versions for presentations and consultation boards.

We also work in US and UK time zones, with overlap in US and UK mornings. That makes feedback calls easier to schedule around a submission date.

When photomontage is the better choice

Use photomontage when the authority needs to see the design in its real setting. It places the proposed building into a photograph of the actual site. This is common for sensitive locations, such as conservation areas or protected views.

Plain CGI suits new sites, large masterplans and interiors. Photomontage suits infill, extensions and visible skylines. Many statements use both.

Our photomontage rendering service covers this work, with photomontage from $399 per image. Final price depends on scope. For a deeper read, see Photomontage in Architecture: Blending Design with Reality. You can also look at A Civic Facade Package Built for Design Review to see how images support a review.

If you are unsure which approach fits, ask the planning officer early. Then brief your studio with that answer in hand.