I would speak to at least 3 and it's not something I would skimp on, at least upto and including RIBA stage 3. After that, it depends on your experience and your builder.
also this, I think being so painfully millennial I always chose 'services' that are on internet rather than physical. I made this mistake with my accountant too. IRL/trad high st/local is so much better in terms of experience.
Architects.
Initial contact with Resi seem promising for work we might want on a new place.
Meanwhile a local architect gave us a very helpful breakdown of what to expect but charges fees of 11.5% of the total project cost, which sounds huge.
Is that normal?
People here have had good experiences with Resi haven't they?
The trouble is I never know when @amey is being serious.