PRP Architects

PRP Architects is an interdisciplinary architectural practice with a history spanning over six decades, having been founded in 1963 by Peter Phippen, Peter Randall, and David Parkes. The firm's origins were rooted in addressing the housing agenda in Britain during a period of accelerated housebuilding. From its inception, PRP established a philosophy centered on designing for and with the individuals and communities who would occupy the homes, a principle that continues to guide the practice today. What began as a residential specialist has evolved into a multidisciplinary firm comprising over 500 staff across five offices located in London, Manchester, Cardiff, Wroclaw, and Sopot. The practice operates under an LLP model, with PRP Group LLP serving as the umbrella entity for PRP Architects LLP, PRP Technical LLP, and PRP Architecture LLP.

Throughout its history, PRP Architects has expanded its expertise beyond its initial focus on housing. During the 1990s, the practice diversified into urban regeneration, specialist housing, low-energy design, healthcare, and education. The firm rebranded as PRP Architects Ltd. and opened its London studio in 1994 to support a significant estate regeneration project in east London. PRP has since broadened its skill base to include urban designers, landscape designers, and environmentalists as part of its development consultancy team. The firm provides a range of complementary design and consultancy services, including masterplanning, urban design, landscape design, environmental services, project management, transport planning, and town planning.

PRP Architects maintains a commitment to delivering intelligent, responsive, and sustainable solutions with professionalism and integrity. The practice's underlying principles include context-led design, which emphasizes that local knowledge and context form the foundation of its design approach, aiming to create designs that are welcoming and recognizable to users. An "inside-out" approach ensures that designs are developed with the end-user in mind. The firm's studio culture is characterized by open, accessible, and instructive environments where leadership works directly with teams. PRP achieved B Corp certification in April 2024, formally embedding social and environmental responsibility into its partnership and demonstrating high standards of transparency, accountability, and impact.

PRP Architects possesses experience in the design of large-scale Build to Rent, Co-Living, and Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) projects, particularly in high-density urban areas such as London and Manchester. The firm's team has delivered various high-profile schemes within these sectors, including Brook Avenue's student accommodation in Brent. The company works with landlords and developers to create student accommodation that balances functionality, comfort, and investment potential. PRP's in-house architectural team focuses on designing efficient layouts, while interior designers optimize shared and private spaces to enhance the student experience. The firm's approach to student accommodation design aims for high occupancy and tenant satisfaction, with a structured process from planning through to delivery to ensure projects meet regulatory standards and achieve commercial success.

With over 60 years of experience, PRP is recognized as an interdisciplinary practice that creates places of distinction and purpose. The firm employs over 300 staff across its studios in London, Manchester, Cardiff, and Poland. PRP has also served as Technical Advisors to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) since 2017, providing strategic advice on fire safety, building regulations, and the Building for a Safer Future programme. The firm further supports the Welsh Government with risk assessment and remediation of buildings, gaining insights into emerging standards and strategic changes in the regulatory environment. PRP's development consultancy offers expertise throughout the lifecycle of a building or development, encompassing design, construction, occupation, and refurbishment.