The UK housing market is changing, with growing numbers of people renting rather than buying their own properties. Housing schemes such as build-to-rent and co-living are creating new opportunities to reimagine how we live, particularly in urban areas.

We are constantly considering how people use their homes, how that might change over time, what appeals to them most and how to incorporate sustainability. Co-living, for example, is about creating active communities within a building. Providing high quality facilities, shared spaces and group activities that are tailored to the target demographic are key to their success. Therefore the way spaces are used and factors such as flexibility, noise, light and ambience must be carefully considered to support the community feel, while also creating spaces for residents to retreat.

The planning process involves many conflicting challenges: daylight versus overheating, private versus public space, cars versus the environment, commercial versus residential etc. We work closely with our clients every step of the way to produce well-balanced proposals and we have a great track record of gaining planning permission.

We have delivered schemes for high profile sites, often working within strict site constraints and in complex settings that range from conservation areas to busy city-centre locations. To produce the best design proposals, we develop options appraisals, feasibility and scoping studies. We use these to communicate the challenges and opportunities to the local authority and other consultees in the planning process.

Following on from this, we remain hands-on while the project is on site to ensure our clients’ vision is realised.