Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Architect Designs Limited ("we", "us", "our") is committed to safeguarding the privacy of our clients and website users. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, and protect your personal data. Please read the following carefully to understand our practices regarding your data and how we will treat it.

By visiting our website at www.architectdesigns.co.uk or by using our services, you agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy and consent to the collection, use, and processing of your data as described herein.

For the purposes of the UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the data controller is Architect Designs Limited, a company registered in England and Wales under company number 15900040. Our registered office is 102 Ternata Drive, Monmouth, Wales, NP25 5UY.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide Directly

You may provide us with personal data when filling in forms on our website, corresponding with us via phone, email, or otherwise, or registering for services or submitting queries. This data may include:

• Your name, address, and contact information
• Payment and financial details
• Property measurements and images
• Designs created as part of the services provided

2.2 Information Collected Automatically

We automatically collect certain information when you visit our website, including:

• Browsing behaviour: Information about your activity on our website
• Device information: Including device type, operating system, and screen dimensions
• Location data: Your approximate geographic location based on your IP address

2.3 Information from Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to distinguish you from other users, provide you with a better browsing experience, and improve our website. Cookies allow us to collect information about your browsing habits and preferences.

In addition, we use Microsoft Clarity to generate heatmaps and track web browsing behaviours. This helps us understand how users interact with our website and improve our site functionality.

For more details on the cookies we use and how to manage your preferences, please refer to our Cookie Policy.

3. How We Use Your Information

We process your personal data to:

• Provide services such as property surveys, architectural designs, and project management
• Fulfil contractual obligations and process payments
• Communicate with you about your project and respond to queries
• Improve our website and services by analysing user behaviour, including through tools like Microsoft Clarity and Google Analytics
• Show you relevant advertisements through Google Ads, Facebook, and Instagram (with your consent)
• Ensure the security of our website and prevent fraudulent activities

We only use your data for marketing purposes if you have explicitly consented. You can withdraw your consent at any time.

4. Legal Basis for Processing Your Data

We process your personal data under the following legal bases:

• Contractual necessity: To provide the services you have requested and fulfil contractual obligations
• Legitimate interests: To improve our services and user experience, and to ensure security
• Consent: For marketing communications and the use of cookies that are not strictly necessary for site functionality

5. Sharing Your Data

We only share your personal data when necessary to provide services or comply with legal requirements. Your data may be shared with:

• Third-party contractors and professionals (e.g., structural engineers) involved in your project. We only share information relevant to their role.
• Analytics providers, such as Microsoft Clarity and Google Analytics, to track and optimise website performance.
• Advertising platforms, such as Google Ads, Facebook, and Instagram, to serve targeted advertisements (with your consent).

We do not sell or share personal data with third parties for unrelated marketing purposes. Any data shared externally is processed with strict confidentiality agreements and security protocols in place.

6. Data Retention

We retain your personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, including to comply with legal obligations (e.g., tax or accounting requirements).

We retain sensitive data for a maximum of 1 year after your project is completed. After this period, we anonymise the data by removing any personal identifiers, leaving only non-sensitive information such as postcode and the nature of the services provided.

7. Data Security

We take data security seriously and employ appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your data. Your information is stored using encryption to prevent unauthorised access, and payment transactions are secured using SSL encryption.

While we work hard to protect your personal data, please note that the transmission of information via the internet is not completely secure, and any transmission is at your own risk.

8. Your Rights Under GDPR

Under GDPR, you have the following rights:

• Access: To request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
• Rectification: To correct any inaccurate or incomplete data.
• Erasure: To request the deletion of your personal data under certain circumstances.
• Restriction: To restrict how we process your personal data in specific situations.
• Data Portability: To request a copy of your data in a commonly used format.
• Objection: To object to the processing of your personal data, particularly for marketing purposes.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at legal@architectdesigns.co.uk with the subject line "Obtain my data". We will respond to your request within one month and may ask for verification of your identity before processing the request.

9. International Data Transfers

We do not transfer your personal data outside the European Economic Area (EEA). If we need to transfer data in the future, we will ensure that appropriate safeguards, such as Standard Contractual Clauses, are in place to protect your data.

10. Marketing Communications

We will only send marketing communications if you have explicitly consented. You can unsubscribe from marketing emails at any time by clicking the "unsubscribe" link in our emails or by contacting us directly at legal@architectdesigns.co.uk.

11. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page, and where appropriate, we will notify you via email. Please check back regularly for updates.

12. Contact Us

Last updated: 23 September, 2024.