Site appraisal
Review planning context, physical constraints, access, surrounding development and the key issues likely to affect the opportunity before significant design work begins.
Hepburn / Development
Residential development architects.
From land appraisal to planning and technical delivery. We help housebuilders, developers and landowners turn residential opportunities into well-considered, commercially credible schemes.
Birmingham · Solihull · West Midlands
For housebuilders and developers
A development architect should understand more than the elevations.
Successful residential development depends on the relationship between planning strategy, site capacity, access, parking, private amenity, landscape, house types and buildability. Those decisions need to work together from the beginning.
Our role is to help establish a credible development strategy, improve the quality of the proposal and produce clear architectural information as the project moves from feasibility through planning and technical design.
Development services
Support at the stages that affect value and risk.
Appoint us for an early site study or continue through concept, planning and technical delivery.
Capacity studies
Test credible development options, dwelling numbers, unit mix, parking, private amenity and landscape rather than relying on a headline unit count.
Residential masterplanning
Develop coherent layouts around street structure, plot efficiency, house orientation, gardens, parking, servicing, landscape and a clear sense of place.
Planning
Prepare and coordinate the architectural information required for residential planning applications, including layouts, house types, street scenes, sections and supporting design material.
House types
Create efficient, repeatable dwelling types that respond to the site while maintaining a consistent architectural language and commercially sensible footprints.
Technical design
Develop approved schemes into coordinated Building Regulations and construction information alongside structural, civil and specialist consultants where appointed.
The commercial question
Is there enough credible potential to justify the next stage?
For smaller opportunities, our existing Development Potential Appraisal provides a defined first step before a full architectural appointment.
View the £750 appraisal A quick, realistic view of what a site may support
Layouts that balance planning quality with commercial efficiency
Clear identification of risks before unnecessary money is spent
Consistent house types that can be adapted across plots
Responsive architectural input when a scheme needs to move
A route from early feasibility through planning and technical design
A clear development process
From opportunity to deliverable homes.
Land
A site, building or development opportunity is identified.
Appraisal
We review context, constraints, planning history and the principal development risks.
Capacity
We test how the site can work: access, layout, unit mix, parking, amenity and landscape.
Design
The preferred strategy is developed into a coherent masterplan and house types.
Planning
We prepare the architectural planning package and coordinate the required supporting information.
Technical
Following consent, the design can be developed for Building Regulations and construction.
Who we work with
Built for small and regional development teams.
Our developer service is aimed particularly at small and medium-sized residential opportunities where direct senior architectural input, speed and clear decision-making matter.
Local and regional housebuilders
Residential developers
Landowners
Property investors
Builders moving into small-site development
Land and property agents
House types and technical delivery
Design quality without unnecessary complexity.
We develop dwelling types around efficient plans, coherent external character and the needs of the specific site. Where appointed, the approved design can then be developed into coordinated technical information for Building Regulations and construction.
Depending on the project, separate specialist input may be required from planning, highways, drainage, ecology, arboriculture, structural and other consultants. We identify these requirements early and can coordinate the architectural information alongside the wider team.
We do not promise a predetermined unit number or planning outcome. The objective is to establish the strongest realistic development strategy from the information available.
Have a site?
Send us the opportunity before you commit.
Send the site address, sales particulars or plans and tell us what you are considering. We will advise whether an initial appraisal, capacity study or wider development appointment is the appropriate next step.