A crucial decision

Enfield Council is now under Conservative control, switching from Labour. New Leader, Councillor Alessandro Georgiou, was quick to make a massive change to the Council’s stance on development in the borough. He has formally withdrawn the area from the New Towns programme, following up on an election pledge to oppose the plan and protect Green Belt land.

The New Towns programme is one of the cornerstones of Labour’s goal to build 1.5 million new homes. There has been a huge amount of work on the proposals, including refining the list of locations for development. Notably, earlier this year the list was narrowed down to the seven with the best prospects. It includes Crews Hill in Enfield.

Crucially, the proposal for a New Town in Crews Hill would see the delivery of up to 21,000 new homes. The aim is for as many as 50% of them to be affordable. The plan got support because the area has existing transport links, including an “underutilised” station. It provides easy connections to the major labour markets in the city. Trust us if you need help from a leading architect in London.

What next?

The Conservative Enfield Council said they are still focusing on delivering more new homes in the borough. However, they won’t do it at the cost of “precious green spaces”. Instead, they will have a Brownfield-first approach. It will involve identifying underused land for development and focusing on regenerating town centres.

So, is the plan for a new town at Crews Hill dead? Interestingly the answer is no. The formation of a development corporation would take the decision out of the Council’s hands. A spokesperson for the Government said they “will back mayors” to push through plans if necessary. Crucially, they will continue to make decisions on New Towns with a focus on the national interest. So, it is likely there will be a challenge to the decision to pull Enfield out of the programme. The Mayor of London’s office said it will also work with the council and local people on the plans for Enfield.

Plan a project with a leading architect in London

It will be very interesting to see if the plans for Crews Hill do move forward in the future. Whatever the decision, it is clear that we need more housing in England. They should be high quality, sustainable homes in fantastic locations with the right infrastructure to support them.

We’d love to help if you have a project in mind. Coffey Architects has experience with all kinds of projects, including new builds, redevelopments, and more. Most importantly, we know what it takes to create wonderful places, ensuring they are locations where people want to live and can also thrive.

So, get in touch and run your ideas past an award winning architect in London. We can explore all of the key elements with you, including light, space, sustainability, and more.

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What is it?

A site location plan tells the planning authorities and other stakeholders exactly where the site is. Crucially, it shows the area relative to the wider setting. This includes roads as well as neighbouring properties.

You generally need a site location plan for various planning applications, including new builds and extensions. It’s necessary if you are applying for listed building consent too. If you are unsure whether you need to include one, it is best to confirm before you do your application.

Why are they necessary?

You’re probably wondering why such a simple document is so significant. The truth is it actually carries a lot of weight. It allows planning officers to understand exactly where the site is. This can be tricky in many cases, especially rural settings with few landmarks. With a clear map, it becomes much easier. Speak to us if you need help with residential architecture in London.

Additionally, the site location plan gives planning officers an insight into the potential impact on the area. It should include access points to determine how people enter and exit the site. This gives an idea of the impact on traffic. Plus, it shows how close you are to neighbouring buildings. Therefore, it provides an idea of potential issues like privacy, overlooking and noise.

Vital things to include

If you need to create a site location plan, the best thing to do is start by getting an official, up to date Ordinance Survey map of the site. They are the standard form and have been key for planning and land management for centuries. So, don’t risk issues by selecting a poor quality map. Plus, make sure the scale is right to give planning inspectors enough details about the surroundings.

A key thing you must do is clearly identify the site. You need to draw a red outline of the entire site, sometimes all the way to the public highway depending on your proposal. If you own other land in the area, you need to outline this in blue. Finally, you need to include an arrow to indicate which direction is north; it makes it easier to orient the site.

Help planning residential architecture in London

Site location plans are something you may feel confident with, especially if you’re doing the planning application yourself. However, it can be beneficial to hire an architect. Experts like our team at Coffey Residential can handle it, reducing the risk of issues, delays, and additional costs. We can then work with you on bigger design decisions and other parts of the application.

So, speak to us if you’re considering residential architecture in London or other locations. Our planning and design services are exceptional, giving you peace of mind and much more.

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The issue

High density buildings require more complex building services, including drainage and plumbing, electrics, heating, fire safety systems, and lifts. They can all take up more space within the property. In the worst cases, they can introduce additional constraints and require compromises on designs.

The big problem is the building services, particularly the drainage, can mean an overall reduction in housing, reduce the size of homes, or cut the amount of usable commercial floorspace. In some situations it may require a full reconfiguration of the property. Additionally, it can increase the cost and build time.

What to do?

The most important thing here is to think about the building services early in the design phase of the project. Working with experts, including top architects in London like us, is very useful. We can consider key things like layouts, configurations, efficiency and performance, fire safety, and building regulations. If you want the best results, a collaboration between disciplines is wise, involving architects, drainage engineers, and even manufacturers.

A crucial thing to look at is the type of drainage system you will use. Conventional systems are surprisingly complex. They generally have the main drainage pipes as well as secondary pipes for ventilation, vents and other equipment. Plus, they often need to slope to provide sufficient discharge flows. All of this can take up a large amount of space, so you need to think carefully about the design.

One thing to consider is modern, space saving alternatives like hydraulic drainage systems. They only require a single set of pipes. In addition, in many cases it is possible to reduce the pipe diameter. Plus, it may be possible to design parts of the system without a slope.

The most important thing here is to ensure whatever type of drainage system you choose, it will perform effectively. There are several details to look at, such as the flow rates, noise, fire safety, and structural integrity. The system must be robust and efficient.

Get advice from top architects in London

High density developments present a huge array of challenges. However, the rewards are clear if you choose an effective design. It can deliver more usable space, whether it is residential or commercial. This can be fantastic for the ROI and helps to protect green space from development.

If you’re planning a project and need some help, you can rely on Coffey Architects. We’re no strangers to high density buildings, including housing, commercial, and mixed-use developments. Most importantly, we’ve got a collaborative spirit and can work seamlessly with other experts to create the best plans.

So, get in touch if you want to work with leading architects in London. You can discuss any plans with us and we’ll be happy to provide support and resources.

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Buildings at risk

Historic England did their latest Heritage at Risk Register in November 2025. With 138 new entries, the total is now almost 5,000. This includes various buildings and structures, plus parks, battlefields, and archaeological sites.

A number of special, historically significant structures and sites are at risk. Many urgently need repairs. A notable example is a simple hut in Gloucestershire. While it may not seem like much, it was actually where Edward Jenner, the father of immunisation, did some of the first smallpox vaccinations.

Just last month there were also news stories about Hall’s Croft in Stratford-upon-Avon. The stunning 400 year old timber-frame building has a Grade I listing. It is noteworthy for its links to Shakespeare, once home to his daughter Susanna. Although work is underway to preserve the property, it remains at risk. The fear is it could cost as much as £10m to complete all building work, including on the facades and roof.

A serious issue

While heritage buildings are undoubtedly important, saving them is immensely challenging. Even if you work with a top architect in London like us, there can be serious hurdles to overcome.

By far the biggest challenge is the heritage skills shortage. Older properties are harder to save because they were built at a time when building techniques were very different. Today, some of these skills are very rare or completely extinct. It makes it much more difficult to maintain, renovate, and retrofit these buildings. This leads to problems like higher costs and longer timeframes. While properties are awaiting repairs, they can continue to deteriorate or experience problems such as fires or flooding.

The lack of heritage skills is largely due to a structural problem in the education system itself. Only a small number of courses include some elements. Additionally, apprenticeships are very rare today. Ultimately, you have the double-edged sword of people with heritage skills getting older and fewer new students coming through.

Change is necessary

If we want to save more heritage buildings, it’s vital to ensure there are more people with the relevant skills. This will require changes at the educational level. However, it could provide even more opportunities, particularly when it comes to retrofitting. The right changes could help to make the UK a retrofit leader. This could improve the built environment and help to achieve carbon zero goals.

Work with a top architect in London

At Coffey Architects, we really appreciate heritage buildings. In fact, we’ve had the chance to work on some fantastic projects, including complex retrofit works. Our skills and creativity are great resources for this kind of project. We’re so good at it that we’ve won some incredible awards.

So, if you need help and want to work with a leading architect in London, tell us your vision for your project. We’re excited to see what you have in mind and what we can contribute.

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Demand

Before the Covid pandemic, home offices were quite rare features. They were nice to have, space allowing, but weren’t typically make or break. However, this all changed with the lockdowns in 2020. Suddenly a lot of people needed an office at home. Almost overnight it became one of the most important requirements for homes.

While there was a huge wave of momentum for home offices, demand has cooled more recently. Much of this is driven by return to office mandates and businesses favouring hybrid working instead of full-time remote. So, we’re currently at a point in 2026 where a home office is more than just nice to have, but not always a key requirement.

How to add the most value?

The most important thing to take away from this is that home offices can add value to homes. It will vary though depending on the type of office, type of property, and the location. Talk to us about designing high end residential architecture in London, including spaces for whatever you need.

According to data from earlier this year from Benham & Reeves, an office inside the home in its own dedicated space can add the most value to a property. This can easily exceed £40,000 depending on the location. In many cases, buyers are willing to pay a premium if a home has a permanent, purposeful room for working.

It can also be a viable option to convert an outbuilding or install a dedicated garden office. While this may not add as much value, it can pay off. From the same data, small garden offices can add over £13,000 on average. Larger ones can provide over £20,000 of value.

If you do opt for a garden office or converting an outbuilding such as a garage, shed, or summer house, ensure you make the right decisions. Good insulation, heating, lighting, and electrics are all important. Most crucially, ensure the internet service will be strong.

Creating incredible high end residential architecture in London

There is a lot to think about if you want to design a high end home. Location, size, architectural style and features, amenities, materials and finishes, sustainability, air quality, noise, and security all matter. It’s a good idea to work with creative architects to help you decide exactly what you want and how to achieve your goals. It can ensure you add as much value as possible to your property.

Coffey Residential is one of the best teams you can work with. We design award winning homes that have everything you need for a wonderful day-to-day life. So, get in touch today if you are thinking about residential architecture in London or other parts of the UK.

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Issues

The electrical infrastructure is one of the main things that cause buildings to age. Over time it can struggle to handle the demand. Even properties built just a decade or two ago can encounter problems when you consider how intense demand is from modern systems such as EV chargers, smart systems, electric HVAC, and even lighting.

There can be a number of issues here. Most worryingly, it can lead to electrical faults and potentially cause fires in different properties. Power supply issue can cause harmonic distortion, leading to overheating and damaged equipment. Plus, the supplies may not be sufficient to allow you to use different systems. Ultimately, it can increase energy consumption and running costs.

Plan carefully

A crucial thing to remember is it’s always cheaper to get it right first time. That is the case with electrics and much more. So, discuss your needs with top architects in London like us.

There are several key things you should definitely think about upfront if you want to include them in a property. They are harder, more costly, and more disruptive to retrofit.

EV chargers

There is a massive push to improve the infrastructure for electric vehicles. In fact, many planning authorities in different parts of the UK now require it if they are to approve a project. Retrofitting EV chargers can be very difficult, sometimes requiring new groundworks, replacing supply cables, and new distribution boards. It’s better to plan charging infrastructure at the design stage, considering charger locations, cable routing, the supply-side, and hardware.

Smart systems

Another thing to look at is automation, particularly systems with electric motors. They can demand a surprising amount of power. So, whether it is barriers, gates, blinds, doors, or even shades, plan ahead. Think about the power supply and ensure it is sufficient. Plus, make sure all groundworks, including conduit, will be adequate. Talk to us if you want advice from leading architects in London.

Lighting

Next, make sure you plan the lighting carefully. It’s common knowledge that LED lights are more energy efficient and last longer. However, if you want the best results, you need to put the effort in to planning. Think about things like the colour, lux level, dimming and control solutions, and even maintenance. Ultimately, the goal is to ensure the lighting will suit the function of each area within the property.

The future

Do you know why so many properties encounter issues with their electrical infrastructure in the future? It’s because the original design did not allow room for expansion. Don’t fall into this trap, especially when tech is developing at such a rapid pace. Plan ahead, considering how different systems may need to expand or be replaced.

Planning the key details with top architects in London

The electrical infrastructure is crucial if you want buildings to be efficient and compliant. Plus, it has a big impact on occupants. Give it the respect it deserves and design it with care. If you want some help with a project, you can rely on us. We design beautiful high end homes, mixed use developments, and more, so call today.

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Some key stats

According to the Department of Business & Trade, there are 1.042 million private sector businesses in London. This is more than any other region in the UK. On top of that, the city is a hotspot for public sector jobs, including civil servants, NHS workers, and police.

As you would expect, all of the private businesses and public sector jobs in London creates a lot of demand for office space. Therefore, it creates a dynamic market for office construction and renovation.

According to new data from Deloitte though, it has been a mixed bag for office construction in London. Notably, a massive 7.1 million square feet of new offices were built in Central London in 2025. That was one of the highest totals in the last thirty years. Crucially, it was an 8% year on year increase. Speak to us if you want to design an office with a top architect in London.

While the news about office completions in 2025 was very positive, the data for new starts was more worrying. According to the same figures, it was just 4.8 million square feet. This is down 35% on 2024. Worse, it is far below the five year average.

Fears

Commenting on the data, Deloitte said the drop in starts could lead to a potential supply gap as early as 2027. There have already been concerns about a lack of top end Grade A offices for a few years. In fact, there are fears a large volume of office space in London will be obsolete by 2030.

Refurbishment popularity

Deloitte’s report also indicates there has been a shift, with refurbishments dominating the new starts. Their data says a massive 66% of projects starting in 2025 were office refurbs. They have become more popular as businesses look to tackle issues with viability. The right designs can also offer more flexibility and reduce delivery risk. Plus, they align with sustainability goals.

Discuss plans with a leading architect in London

Coffey Architects is one of the top companies in London, with a diverse portfolio of work and an exceptional team. We’ve won awards for various designs, including cutting edge offices and wonderful homes. Whether it is new builds or refurbishments, we can bring your ideas to life.

We will create the perfect plans to achieve your goals, ensuring you have spaces for your business and workers to thrive. Even better, our amazing designs will make an incredible impression on your customers, clients, and partners. So, speak to us today about your project and work with an exemplary architect in London.

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Letting heat escape

If you want to improve energy performance, you need to ensure you don’t let heat escape from the property quickly. If that happens, it consumes more energy to achieve a consistent, comfortable temperature. Using insulation effectively is important. However, there can still be issues because of thermal bridges. They are points where heat can get out easily.

Disappointingly, as insulation use increases, thermal bridges actually become a worse and worse issue. In fact, in a well-insulated modern home, they can account for 20-30% of the total heat loss.

Why does it happen?

Thermal bridges happen for a number of different reasons. Most commonly, they occur anywhere there are gaps in the insulation. You get the best results if you have a consistent layer of insulating materials, but it’s very difficult to do this. Buildings need various junctions between elements, such as where walls meet floors and roofs. Naturally you also end up with joints around openings like doors and windows.

Another major cause is conductive materials penetrating the insulation. For example, you may have structural steelwork. It conducts heat effectively, allowing it to bypass the insulation and escape. Speak to us if you want advice from top architects in London.

Solutions

It can be very tricky to prevent thermal bridges. However, there are a number of things you can do.

One of the best opportunities is to utilise modern tools to analyse where there could be thermal bridges, including insulation weak spots and junctions. Doing this at the design stage provides more opportunities to improve designs and boost performance.

More importantly, be careful designing junctions and insulation. Continuity is vital, ensuring there are no gaps or misalignments. Wrapping corners is a good tip. Think about gaps around openings and how to fill them. Plus, minimise the use of conductive materials, especially where they penetrate through insulation.

Get advice from leading architects in London

Whether you’re designing a new build or looking to upgrade a property to improve energy efficiency, it’s essential to think about insulation and thermal bridges. Coffey Architects would love to work with you. We can help to design properties that are energy efficient and comfortable.

So, get in touch today and discuss your ideas with award winning architects in London. We create high end homes, offices, educational buildings, and much more.

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Liveability

If neighbourhoods aren’t safe for children, are they really suitable for anybody at all? Even more worrying, are they doing the right things to protect our future?

When neighbourhoods are safe for children, it makes areas more vibrant. It uplifts the mood and enhances the wellbeing of everybody who lives here. Crucially, designing for the younger members of society means fostering sociability, connections, and community. It ultimately benefits all age groups.

Keep in mind that play is absolutely crucial for children. It teaches the importance of physical, cognitive, and social development. These are things that benefit them later in life. Most importantly, it teaches them how important it is to consider risks, make good judgements, develop autonomy, and appreciate boundaries.

What role do architects have to play?

There is a lot to think about here. Therefore, it is a good idea to get inputs from different professionals. If you’re planning a project, working with a top architect in London like Coffey Architects can really help.

A big problem at the moment is many developments don’t do enough to design neighbourhoods for children. They do basic things like think about green space and play areas, but it can easily become formulaic just to tick the boxes. It misses the opportunity to create spaces to help children to thrive.

In the worst cases, neighbourhoods can be over-protective. That can actually deprive children of the chance to grow and learn. It can have a big impact, affecting their decision making skills later in life.

The most important thing is to design neighbourhoods to be safe but not over-protective. There is a lot to think about here, including green space, play areas, and infrastructure. Key are the streets connecting homes, parks, schools, and other places in the neighbourhood. They should be safe as well as easy to navigate. It will encourage autonomy, connectivity, and community, benefiting everyone.

Create amazing designs with a leading architect in London

If you want to design a fantastic neighbourhood, make sure you focus on everyone who will live there. Ensure it is inclusive, exciting, and also inspiring. If you maximise liveability, you will get the most incredible results.

Speak to Coffey Architects if you want some help. We’re a dynamic team and always think outside the box, so we never fall into the trap of doing something the same way every time. You can work with us to design amazing inclusive neighbourhoods where health and wellbeing are the priority.

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Clutter is weighty

The core idea of minimalism is less is more. It doesn’t mean sparsity though; the focus is mainly on reducing clutter and simplification. It can have a hugely calming effect.

A key thing to keep in mind is clutter can carry a lot of weight. For example, it could be a daily reminder of unfinished tasks or not having enough time to do the things you love. That instrument gathering dust or unread book can produce a lot of negative energy.

Crucially, removing the clutter can be incredibly liberating. Instead of reminders of tasks you haven’t done or things you don’t get the time to use, you have clearer, freer spaces. It can completely remove the emotional weight and enhance wellbeing.

Calming

One of the best reasons to work with leading architects in London like us is you can design spaces to be calmer. They are ideal for restoration as well as stress reduction. It can help improve sleep quality, thinking, mood, and communication.

Remember, everything in a property can create background noise and stimulation. It can easily get to a level where it is distracting, especially if there is no order. Making spaces quieter and less stimulating can be fantastic. A more orderly property can provide internal calm and boost wellbeing.

Relationships

Minimalism also has the power to help improve relationships, both at home and in the workplace. Clutter can easily become a barrier to communication. Additionally, it can lead to negative feelings, comparisons, tension and resentment. Getting rid of it to focus on the important things is a wonderful idea.

Keep in mind that the more things there are in a property, the more it will influence routines. For example, it will require more time for cleaning. In the worst cases it can even have an impact on how people can move around. If you keep it simple and minimal, there will be less chaos and more time to spend together. It will also be easier to communicate.

Discuss designs with top architects in London

Whatever type of property you’re designing, it’s a great idea to think about minimalism. You can look at it for both the exterior and interior of the building. Make sure you are intentional with every part of the designs. If you keep it simple and give everything a place, the results can be exceptional.

If you want to create an incredible property, you can rely on Coffey Architects. We understand the merits of minimalism, as well as the potential it offers. Most importantly, we won’t limit what you can do; we’ll give you the space and freedom to explore your ideas and support you every step of the way. So, get in touch and work with some of the very best architects in London.

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