Architects celebrate successful year

An award-winning firm of architects has taken on new staff and hit a raft of major performance milestones during a highly successful 12 months.

Base Architects – which has offices in Shrewsbury, Chester and Conwy – says it has built a strong portfolio of residential and commercial projects, a reputation for outstanding customer service and a track record of successful delivery.

The firm, which works across both residential and commercial projects and has been established for 23 years, has also developed a national profile for designing homes which are granted permission in open countryside because of the high standard of their design.

Directors Bryn Jones and Ben Embrey said the past 12 months had laid the foundations for further growth in the coming years.

Bryn said: “Over the past year we’ve seen sustained demand across commercial, residential and specialist sectors and our team has continued to deliver excellent results across the board.

“We pride ourselves on the quality of our work and the value we add to any project, our proactive approach and the level of responsiveness we bring to what we do, and all those factors play a huge part in our continued success.”

In the past year the firm has been instructed on 237 new projects, received approval for 36 out of 40 planning applications submitted – a 90 per cent success rate – and managed 24 projects on site through construction.

Ben said: “These results show the breadth of what we do – from early‑stage feasibility through to managing construction on site.

“Our planning approval rate remains exceptionally strong demonstrating that we are a firm which gets things done, and we’re proud of the trust clients place in us to deliver wonderful homes and workplaces.”

Two new members of staff have joined the team – architectural technologist Alex Hudson and architectural assistant Josh Greenwood – with Bailey Gledhill also due to join next month on a T-Level industrial placement.

Jack Harris, who first joined Base in 2017, has been promoted to associate director, while Dan Gibbons and Harry Braid passed their Part 3 qualifications to become fully-qualified architects and have been promoted to associates.

Base continues to build its reputation in specialist areas including Paragraph 84 projects, which are being led by company founder Carl Huntley, who remains as chairman within the business.

Ben said: “We are one of two nationally-recognised firms when it comes to Paragraph 84 projects – sometimes called Grand Designs homes – which allow for the construction of new homes in open countryside because of their exceptional design quality.

“It’s something which not only showcases the quality of our work but also the fact that we are happy to work across the country delivering high-end designs with a high-end service.”

Base also continues to develop its wider portfolio in both commercial architecture and the sensitive restoration and adaptation of listed buildings.