Bristol-based architectural practice Stride Treglown has added Birmingham to its expanding regional network through the acquisition of the Bournville Village Trust’s (BVT) architects division.
Now one of the largest practices in the UK – and already the biggest in the South West – Stride Treglown has grown through a combination of acquisition and opening new offices. Birmingham will be its 10th base.
The £20m turnover practice has worked on a number of projects in the Midlands, including a 1,116-bed student housing scheme in Coventry, which was recently granted planning consent.
With an increasing number of inquiries in the Midlands, the practice leadership felt the time was right to open an office in the region.
BVT was founded in 1900 and is one of the oldest housing associations in the country. It provides housing and estate management services to 8,000 homes of mixed tenure and 25,000 people in Birmingham and Telford.
Bournville Architects has designed sustainable communities in the Midlands for BVT and built a portfolio of housing, education and care projects for clients throughout the UK.
It will now operate under the Stride Treglown name but will continue to operate from its office in Bournville and provide a range of services to BVT, as well as building its local client base further.
The combined team has already collaborated on a bid for the masterplanning of a historic village trust in the south of England.
Stride Treglown chairman David Hunter said: “When we began the [acquisition] process, we took soundings from clients, consultants and colleagues in Birmingham and the Midlands region and Bournville Architects very quickly emerged as the ideal organisation.
“With a growing workload in the area we are excited about the opportunities that the new office will open up for Stride Treglown.
“This acquisition absolutely follows our ethos of providing a service locally while being able to draw on a huge bank of expertise from throughout the UK.”
The Birmingham office will be led by former Bournville Architects director Ian Tipton, who added: “The team here is excited to be joining Stride Treglown. It’s an extremely good fit both in terms of culture and workload. We have a proud and significant track-record working within Bournville Village Trust and are looking forward to being able to share our experience even more widely.”
Bournville Village Trust chief executive Peter Roach said: “Stride Treglown is an experienced and respected architect’s practice and by joining with the organisation, Bournville Architects will be able to share its expertise nationally as part of one of the largest practices in the UK.”
Pictured, from left: Ian Tipton and David Hunter
