creating beautiful buildings, spaces & places
Independent advice with over 30 years of experience in urban design, architecture, and planning
about us
We understand and communicate proposals effectively to secure the best results for our clients.
How we work | We work both independently and as part of wider multidisciplinary teams. Currently, we are working with a number of planning and development consultancies across the UK including Savills, Quod, Terrence O’Rourke, Barton Willmore, White Young Green, Luken Beck and Boyer Planning. We have close working relationships with a number of urban design, architectural and landscape teams to ensure that we have the right blend of expertise, experience, and resource to meet the challenges of each project.
Who we work with | We work with a range of professionals, designers and artists and one area we strongly believe set us apart from our competitors is our use of hand-drawn and watercolour illustrations to present our work. Our experience tells us that people are able to understand, interpret and believe in handcrafted designs and drawings and we bring together experts in these fields to prepare these drawings.
Where we work | We are currently working on projects nationally with a focus on development proposals in London, the South East, South West and South Wales. We have experience right across the UK and are happy to travel further afield to help our clients including overseas.
expertise
We don't do everything, we just focus on
what we can do best for our clients
feasibility
masterplanning
outline design
Considering the constraints and opportunities of a site and assessing its potential
Establishing frameworks for development based on context and responsive design solutions
Preparing outline planning applications with high-quality visioning and detail
detailed design
Devising designs and planning drawings for detailed applications
engagement
Creating exhibitions, leaflets and web sites for public engagament
briefing and coding
Producing development briefs or design codes to establish the parameters of future developments
recent projects
Just a small selection of projects that we are working on or have recently completed.
our team
We use the best skills and people to create and present our ideas which include working with other designers, artists, and professionals.
Colin Richards
Director
Colin’s expertise lies in understanding the planning and development process and an ability to provide design solutions which fulfil the aims of both the client and the local authority. His strengths are communication and presentation and he has over 25 years experience in the field.
our clients
We enjoy working with a wide range of clients including strategic land promoters, housebuilders, development companies, public sector organisations, and private individuals.
GLEESON LAND
We have worked with Gleeson Land for over 12 years bringing forward sites through the development process and securing planning permission for a larger number of sites.
HIGHWOOD DEVELOPMENTS
We have worked with Highwood on a number of successful projects including the promotion of sites and securing planning permissions for large scale developments.
RYDON HOMES
Working closely with Rydon homes we have secured a number of planning consents, provided feasibility design, promoted sites and provided expert witness at appeal.
NICHOLAS JAMES GROUP
From the detailed designs of extensions to hotels and properties to promotion of land for strategic development including a new garden village.
MILLER STRATEGIC LAND
Working with the strategic land team to understand feasibility, secure and promote sites and provide vision for new places.
TAYLOR WIMPEY
Working with different parts of the business we have provided both strategic and detailed advice for sites across the south of England.
CALA HOMES
Providing detailed planning application and expert witness advice on complex sites
THAKEHAM HOMES
We enjoy working with the Thakeham team in understanding feasibility, securing detailed planning permissions and promoting sites.
BELLWAY HOMES
Providing masterplanning advice across a number of strategic sites across the country.
BROMFORD
Delivering masterplanning and regeneration advice on a number of large scale projects.
contact us
We would love to hear from you so please do get in touch
Richards Urban Design Ltd
59 The Avenue
Southampton
SO17 1XS
+44 7875 338283