LHC Design
LHC Design is a UK-based RIBA Chartered architecture and urban design practice delivering integrated architecture, urban design, landscape architecture, interior design, and graphics services, primarily serving public sector, education, residential developer, and charity clients across the UK.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1992
- HeadquartersExeter, United Kingdom
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What LHC Design does
LHC Design (legally Lacey Hickie & Caley Ltd) is a RIBA Chartered architectural and urban design practice founded in 1992, headquartered in Exeter with a second studio in Plymouth. It delivers an integrated multi-disciplinary offer spanning five core services: Architecture, Urban Design and Masterplanning, Landscape Architecture, Graphics & Visualisation, and Interior Design. Its technical approach is centred on sustainable design, with certified Passivhaus Designers and Building with Nature Approved Assessors on staff, applying LETI, RIBA 2030 Climate Challenge, BREEAM, embodied carbon analysis, and biodiversity net gain frameworks across projects. The practice holds ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and Cyber Essentials certifications and is a signatory to UK Architects Declare, Landscape Architects Declare, and the RIBA 2030 Climate Challenge.
The firm generates revenue through project-based professional fees for commissioned work across public and private sectors. Pricing is bespoke, negotiated by scope, scale, and complexity, with no public rate card; engagements span multi-year build cycles. Its client base is concentrated in South West England but reaches UK-wide, with notable repeat enterprise relationships including the University of Exeter (25 years), Clinton Devon Estates, Cavanna Homes, Linden Homes, Plymouth City Council, Homes England, Children's Hospice South West, and the Donkey Sanctuary. Notable projects include the National Marine Aquarium (£21.8m construction value), Gun Wharf regeneration, JCB Academy (£22m), Tinside Lido, Exeter Science Park Centre, and the Rolle Estate Office.
LHC Design operates as a privately held partnership-style firm with no external investment, no subsidiaries, and no disclosed funding rounds. It markets through its website, social channels (Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn), exhibitions at construction summits (Cornwall Construction Summit 2025, Plymouth Net Zero Expo), and earned media via a multi-decade award track record (Michelmores, RIBA, WhatHouse?, Brick Awards, LABC). Recent activity includes the June 2025 relocation of its Exeter studio to a city-centre premises, the appointment of Positive Planet as carbon reduction partner, and leadership transitions including the promotion of Peter Koch to Director (2023) and the January 2026 departure of long-serving Director Glayne Price.
LHC Design firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- LHC Design
- Legal name
- Lacey Hickie & Caley Ltd
- Website
- https://lhc.net
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1992
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- LHC Design is a UK-based RIBA Chartered architecture and urban design practice delivering integrated architecture, urban design, landscape architecture, interior design, and graphics services, primarily serving public sector, education, residential developer, and charity clients across the UK.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
LHC Design industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Architectural and Urban Design Services
- NAICS
- Landscape Architectural Services (541320), Interior Design Services (54141)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Building Information Modeling (BIM) & Digital Design Services (BPAHAKAK)
Keywords
Where LHC Design is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Exeter
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
LHC Design business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Architecture and Design Services: Project-based professional fees for architectural design, urban design and masterplanning, landscape architecture, interior design, and graphics/visualization services. Revenue generated through commissioned projects for public and private sector clients across residential, commercial, educational, and civic sectors.
- Sustainability Consulting Services: Specialized sustainability services including Passivhaus design certification, BREEAM assessments, Building with Nature assessments, and sustainability strategy development. Provided both as standalone services and integrated within broader design commissions.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Project-based professional services with customized fee structures |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
LHC Design product offering
Product offeringCore offering
LHC Design is a RIBA Chartered architectural and urban design practice delivering an integrated suite of five core services: Architecture, Urban Design and Masterplanning, Landscape Architecture, Graphics & Visualisation, and Interior Design. Projects span residential, commercial, educational, healthcare, leisure, and public sector developments across the UK, with a particular emphasis on sustainable design applying Passivhaus, BREEAM, and Building with Nature standards.
Product overview
LHC Design is a RIBA Chartered architectural and urban design practice offering an integrated suite of five core services: Architecture, Urban Design and Masterplanning, Landscape Architecture, Graphics & Visualisation, and Interior Design. These services are delivered collaboratively across studios in Exeter and Plymouth, with projects spanning residential, commercial, educational, healthcare, leisure, and public sector clients throughout the UK.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Architecture Comprehensive architectural design services for residential, commercial, educational, healthcare, and public buildings, including new build, refurbishment, and conservation projects for public and private sector clients across the UK.
- Urban Design and Masterplanning Strategic urban design and masterplanning services for large-scale developments, garden communities, regeneration schemes, and mixed-use developments across the UK.
- Landscape Architecture Landscape architectural services including landscape frameworks, public realm design, green infrastructure strategy, and biodiversity net gain assessments for estates, public sector, and development clients.
- Graphics and Visualisation Graphic design and visual communication services including branding, interpretation panels, signage, and photorealistic CGI visualisation supporting project delivery and presentations.
- Interior Design Interior design services covering space planning, FF&E specification, artwork commissioning, detailed joinery design, and experiential/interpretative design applying building biology principles across various sectors.
Quantifiable outcome
- Multiple projects achieving BREEAM Excellent/Very Good ratings
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use LHC Design
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
LHC Design technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
LHC Design partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered supporting, core and regional.
- Moor TreessupportingPartnership to help restore native woodlands. LHC collaborates with Moor Trees on tree planting initiatives as part of their carbon offset strategy and environmental commitment to addressing climate and biodiversity emergency.
- South West Women in ConstructionsupportingLHC Design joined forces with South West Women in Construction to support and promote women in the construction industry. Partnership includes advocacy, networking, and professional development initiatives.
- organicARTSsupportingorganicARTS designated as LHC's Charity of the Year 2023. Partnership involves fundraising activities and charitable support for the arts organization.
- UK Architects DeclarecoreLHC Design is a proud signatory of the UK Architects Declare movement, committing to address climate and biodiversity emergencies through sustainable design practices and climate action.
- UK Landscape Architects DeclarecoreLHC Design is a signatory of the UK Landscape Architects Declare movement, committing to sustainable landscape architecture practices addressing climate and biodiversity challenges.
- RIBA 2030 Climate ChallengecoreLHC Design is a signatory to RIBA's 2030 Climate Challenge, committing to adopt targets for reducing operational energy, embodied carbon, and potable water in projects to help navigate toward net-zero in the built environment.
- Devon Climate DeclarationregionalLHC Design endorses the Devon Climate Declaration, committing to local climate action alongside regional partners and stakeholders.
- Plymouth Resurgam Devon Climate EmergencyregionalLHC Design is a signatory to Plymouth Resurgam, committing to climate emergency response and sustainable practices in Plymouth operations and projects.
- Exeter City Future Zero PlanregionalLHC Design participates in Exeter City Future Zero Plan, supporting the city's net-zero ambitions through sustainable design practices.
- Positive PlanetcorePositive Planet appointed as LHC's carbon reduction partner to develop comprehensive sustainability strategy. Partnership involves extensive analysis of LHC's carbon footprint, expert guidance on carbon reduction initiatives, tailored sustainability training, and support for internal and external stakeholder communications on environmental commitments.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
LHC Design competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Allies and Morrison: Multi-disciplinary UK architecture practice with strong reputation in masterplanning, urban design, and heritage-sensitive projects across public and residential sectors.
- Stride Treglown: UK multi-disciplinary architecture and design practice with studios across the country offering architecture, urban design, interior design, and landscape services — closely matching LHC's integrated service model and project scale.
- Levitt Bernstein: UK architecture and urban design practice with particular strength in sustainable design, housing, and public realm — comparable sector mix and sustainability-led positioning to LHC.
- Corstorphine & Wright: UK architecture practice with regional studio model delivering architecture, urban design, and masterplanning across education, residential, and commercial sectors.
- AHR (formerly Aedas): UK architecture and design consultancy delivering architecture, masterplanning, landscape, and interior design across education, residential, and commercial sectors — comparable integrated design service to LHC.
- Scott Brownrigg: UK architecture and design firm offering architecture, masterplanning, interior design, and landscape architecture with comparable project scale across commercial, education, and residential sectors.
- Feilden Fowles: UK architecture practice known for heritage, cultural, and education projects with strong design credentials — comparable sector exposure and project scale to LHC.
- HLM Architects: UK architecture practice with a strong education, healthcare, and public-sector focus; comparable mid-sized practice model and multi-disciplinary offering to LHC.
Broad incumbents
- BDP (Building Design Partnership): Large UK-headquartered international architecture and engineering practice offering architecture, masterplanning, landscape, and interior design across all major sectors — represents the scaled-up version of LHC's integrated model.
Others
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
LHC Design social profiles
Digital presenceLHC Design compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
LHC Design financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
LHC Design leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
LHC Design funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
LHC Design M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about LHC Design
What does LHC Design do?
LHC Design is a RIBA Chartered architectural and urban design practice delivering an integrated suite of five core services: Architecture, Urban Design and Masterplanning, Landscape Architecture, Graphics & Visualisation, and Interior Design. Projects span residential, commercial, educational, healthcare, leisure, and public sector developments across the UK, with a particular emphasis on sustainable design applying Passivhaus, BREEAM, and Building with Nature standards.
Is LHC Design a public or private company?
LHC Design is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was LHC Design founded?
LHC Design was founded in 1992. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is LHC Design based?
LHC Design is headquartered in Exeter, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does LHC Design make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Architecture and Design Services are the primary driver. The others are sustainability Consulting Services.
Who are LHC Design's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Allies and Morrison, Stride Treglown, Levitt Bernstein, Corstorphine & Wright, AHR (formerly Aedas), Scott Brownrigg, Feilden Fowles and HLM Architects. BDP (Building Design Partnership) is listed as a broad incumbent. Purcell Architecture is listed as an others.
Does LHC Design have an API?
No public API is recorded for LHC Design.
What industry is LHC Design in?
LHC Design's product category is Architectural and Urban Design Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAK, Building Information Modeling (BIM) & Digital Design Services. Its NAICS code is 541320.