RRA Architects

What RRA Architects does

RRA Architects Ltd is a privately held UK architectural practice founded in 1986 by Rod Robinson in Hereford (originally as Rod Robinson Associates), now operating under the Powles Group Ltd umbrella. The firm delivers full architectural services across all RIBA stages (0-7), spanning feasibility studies, planning applications, building regulation drawings, tender documentation, construction administration, and project handover. Its service portfolio covers bespoke residential homes, developer residential and strategic land, extensions and small projects, conservation and heritage (including listed buildings and scheduled ancient monuments), ecclesiastical and church reordering, commercial/industrial/agricultural buildings, retail and leisure, and education/healthcare/public sector work. RRA operates from four offices in Cheltenham (regional headquarters), Hereford, Ludlow, and Cirencester, serving clients across the West Midlands, South West, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Worcestershire, the Cotswolds, and South Wales, with stated coverage extending to Bristol and Avon.

Technically, the practice employs BIM (Building Information Modeling) up to Level 2 and uses digital visualisation tools including Twinmotion for rendering. Its specialist technical differentiators include pioneering expertise in Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) construction — RRA co-designed what is believed to be the first SIPs house in the UK in 2000 with Oakwrights — and a fabric-first, low-energy sustainable design methodology that prioritises passive measures (solar gain, airtightness, insulation, responsible materials). The heritage and ecclesiastical practice is anchored by an RIBA award-winning scheme at All Saints Church, Hereford, and the firm holds RIBA Chartered and ARB registrations alongside Cyber Essentials certification.

The revenue model is professional services fee-based, with each project quoted on a scope, complexity, and RIBA stage basis. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; clients are offered a complimentary no-obligation telephone consultation to qualify projects. Customer acquisition is sales-led, relying on referrals, word of mouth, online reputation (Houzz 5/5 with 50+ reviews; Google 5/5 with 17+ reviews), direct website/email enquiries, and active community engagement including sponsorship of Gloucester Rugby, Fresh: Art Fair, and the Gloucestershire Schools COP30 Climate Conference. The client roster spans named enterprises (Asda, Bovis Homes, Cadbury, Ford, NHS, White Stuff, Savills), multiple local councils, and a long tail of bespoke residential commissions.

Name

RRA Architects

Legal name

RRA Architects Ltd

Website

https://rraarchitects.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

RRA Architects is a UK architectural practice founded in 1986, delivering full RIBA stage 0-7 services across residential, commercial, heritage, ecclesiastical, and public sector projects from offices in Cheltenham, Hereford, Ludlow, and Cirencester across the West Midlands, South West, and South Wales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Design Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (541310)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Heritage conservation architecture
• Residential architectural practice
• Sustainable low energy design
• Ecclesiastical church reordering

Headquarters

HQ city

Hereford

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Architectural Design Services: RRA Architects generates revenue through fees for professional architectural services. These are quoted on a project-by-project basis reflecting the scope, complexity, and RIBA stages required. Services range from full architectural services (concept through completion, RIBA stages 0-7) to selected stage commissions such as planning applications or technical drawing packages. Smaller projects include small-scale extensions, remodelling, and feasibility studies. The practice also offers ancillary services including Principal Designer services under CDM 2015 and specialist drawing/CGI packages for marketing and fundraising.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

RRA Architects is an award-winning UK architectural practice founded in 1986 that delivers professional architectural design services across the full RIBA Plan of Work stages 0 to 7, from concept and feasibility through planning, building regulations, tender documentation, construction administration and completion. The firm serves residential homeowners, residential developers, heritage/conservation clients, ecclesiastical bodies, commercial/industrial/retail clients and public sector organisations across the West Midlands, South West and South Wales, with specialist expertise in heritage conservation, fabric-first sustainable design and SIPs (Structural Insulated Panels) construction.

Product overview

RRA Architects offers a comprehensive suite of architectural services spanning the full project lifecycle. The core offering includes Full Architectural Services (managing RIBA stages 0-7), Site Analysis and Feasibility Studies, Small-Scale Projects/Extensions/Remodelling, Specialist Conservation/Heritage/Ecclesiastical Works, Sustainability and Low Energy Design, and Ancillary Services. These services work together to take projects from initial concept through to completion, with specialist capabilities in heritage conservation and sustainable design. The practice primarily serves the residential sector including bespoke homes, developer residential, barn conversions, and conservation/heritage projects, as well as commercial, retail, education, healthcare, and ecclesiastical clients.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Full Architectural Services Creative, practical design tailored to client briefs, managing all RIBA stages 0 to 7 from concept to completion, including concept and detailed design, planning applications, building regulation drawings, tender sets, construction and contract administration through to completion and handover. Selected stages (e.g. planning applications or technical drawing packages) are also offered.
• Site Analysis and Feasibility Studies Early-stage advisory service providing clear advice on a site or building's potential, value and constraints for homeowners, developers, landowners and community groups, including review of planning policy, access, services and buildability, viability assessments and budget guides.
• Small-Scale Projects, Extensions and Remodelling Smaller-scale residential improvements including rear and side extensions, lofts and basements, garden studios, annexes, garages, interior remodelling, micro homes, holiday lets, outdoor kitchens and garden rooms.
• Specialist Conservation, Heritage and Ecclesiastical Works Sensitive conservation and adaptive reuse of listed buildings, heritage assets and scheduled ancient monuments, including church reordering and an RIBA award-winning scheme at All Saints Church, Hereford.
• Sustainability and Low Energy Design Energy-aware design as standard with a fabric-first approach prioritising passive measures such as solar gain, airtightness, efficient insulation and responsible material choices for long-term energy savings, grounded in the practice's pioneering SIPs expertise (first UK SIPs house in 2000).
• Ancillary Services Principal Designer services under CDM 2015 for health and safety coordination, drawing and CGI packages for marketing and fundraising, and specialist problem solving for complex projects such as floodplain design or structural lifting for basement addition.

Quantifiable outcome

• RIBA award-winning All Saints Church, Hereford reordering, setting the benchmark for modern ecclesiastical reordering
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• OakwrightscoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2000Long-standing collaboration with Oakwrights, a Herefordshire-based timber frame company. RRA Architects and Oakwrights co-designed the first SIPs house in the UK in 2000, with Oakwrights manufacturing the bespoke Douglas fir post and beam frame sourced from Woodhouse in Pennsylvania. The partnership has continued on multiple projects including the Hereford Eco-Pavilion (2010/2011).
• Cheltenham Local History SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCheltenham Local History Society provided historical images and research for the Tivoli Street Conversion project blog, including a 1904 photograph of Tivoli Place.
• Tompkins Thomas PlanningminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPlanning consultants engaged for the Beautiful Barns project in Ludlow, working with RRA Architects to secure planning permission for the conversion of redundant agricultural buildings into commercial units and workshops.
• Blackmore Jones PartnershipminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerQuantity surveyors and cost consultants engaged on the Beautiful Barns project in Ludlow to finalise construction costs and assemble the project team.
• Ark Stained GlassminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSpecialist craftspeople who reimagined existing 'hit and miss' diamond brickwork using coloured glass panels for the Coach House conversion project, creating an 'Array of Light' feature.
• Gloucestershire County CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of the Gloucestershire Schools COP30 Climate Conference alongside RRA Architects, Precision Green Energy, Spirax Sarco, and hosted by Cheltenham Borough Council.
• Precision Green EnergyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of the Gloucestershire Schools COP30 Climate Conference, reflecting shared commitment to sustainable design and energy efficiency.
• Spirax SarcominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of the Gloucestershire Schools COP30 Climate Conference alongside RRA Architects and other local organisations.
• InterClimate NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK-wide network coordinating the Schools COP30 programme, of which the Gloucestershire Climate Conference was a part. RRA Architects participated as a sponsor and exhibitor.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Donald Insall Associates: UK specialist heritage and conservation architectural practice working on listed buildings, scheduled monuments, and adaptive reuse. Directly comparable to RRA's heritage and ecclesiastical specialism, including RIBA-recognised conservation work.
• Purcell: One of the UK's leading architectural practices specialising in heritage, conservation, and culturally significant projects. Highly comparable to RRA's conservation and ecclesiastical work and similar award-winning profile.
• Adam Architecture: UK award-winning practice specialising in classical and traditional residential architecture, heritage work, and country houses. Closely comparable to RRA's bespoke home, country house remodelling, and conservation portfolio.
• Feilden Fowles: Award-winning UK architectural practice with strong sustainability and contextual design credentials, including RIBA Stirling Prize shortlistings. Comparable to RRA in scale, sector mix, and award-driven positioning, though more urban-focused.
• Haworth Tompkins: Established UK mid-sized architectural practice with award-winning heritage, theatre, and cultural sector projects. Directly comparable to RRA in size, profile, and conservation orientation.
• Buttress Architects: UK mid-sized architectural practice with heritage, residential, and commercial work, operating across regional UK markets. Comparable in size, regional footprint, and sector mix to RRA.
• Proctor & Matthews: UK residential-led architectural practice with strong housing, masterplanning, and community sector credentials. Comparable to RRA's developer residential and strategic land work.
• Ben Pentreath Ltd: UK heritage, residential, and townhouse architecture practice with strong conservation credentials. Comparable to RRA's bespoke residential and listed building conversion portfolio.

Broad incumbents

• Allies and Morrison: Major UK architectural practice with broad portfolio across residential, heritage, education, and commercial sectors. Comparable to RRA's heritage and residential work but at significantly larger scale.
• Stride Treglown: Larger UK architectural practice with regional offices across the West Midlands and South West, covering residential, commercial, heritage, and education sectors. Comparable in geographic footprint and sector diversity to RRA.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/rraarchitects
• Facebookfacebook.com/rraarchitects
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rra-architects
• Instagraminstagram.com/rra_architects
• Pinterestuk.pinterest.com/rra_architects

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about RRA Architects