About

Urban Design Box is a practice member of the Urban Design Group, a campaigning organisation which raises the standards of Urban Design.

UDB delivers integrated Masterplanning, Architecture and Urban Design.  We enjoy creating exciting new places for our clients through establishing strong creative visions which are then robustly carried through to detailed, viable proposals.

We work with you as a team to provide a flexible, responsive service within a design focussed working environment.

  • Masterplaning

    • We start with an overall vision which includes the benefits of the development along with how it should respond to context and the needs of users.

    • A robust and informative site analysis will ensure that development responds positively to the features of the site and its context.

    • We analyse sites through engagement with the design team and stakeholders, consulting and reporting back to build the foundations for a strong design response.

    • Our masterplans are produced at all stages of detail and have included a diverse range of land uses, sites and locations from ports and factories to regeneration and infill though to sensitive urban extensions.

    • Residential design is our passion: making homes and places where people can thrive and life healthy and sustainable lives.

    • From development layouts to the design of homes and streets, we have a commercial eye for detail and a design focussed approach.

  • Expert witness

    • We have represented both our own designed proposals as well as where other designers have worked at application stage helping steer the proposals through the Appeals process.

    • We have enjoyed working with several top-rated Planning Barristers providing expert witness at cross examination, round table Public Inquiry and at Planning Hearings.

    • We use the Building for a Healthy Life framework to produce independent design reviews of emerging proposals on behalf of applicants and local authorities which may at future stage be taken forward through the Homes England scheme for accreditation.

    • Jonathan Vernon-Smith is a Co-Chair of the Design Commission for Wales and one of the Chairs of the Design Review Panel, in both roles advising on Masterplanning and Urban Design in particular.

  • Design presentation

    • We use 3D visualisation at all stages of the design process to test our visions and interrogate our sites and layouts in three dimensions though massing models and sketch views.

    • Our documents explain a clear rationale for development through a justification of the benefits of development and a case for the role of a site within the urban realm.

    • We summarise the work that has been undertaken by the team as a whole as part of a comprehensive and well-reasoned promotion.

    • We propose a strong vision for future development to effectively engage stakeholders.