John McCall Architects

What John McCall Architects does

John McCall Architects is a privately held, Liverpool-headquartered architecture, master planning, eco design, and urban design practice operating across North West England, North Wales, South Yorkshire, Staffordshire, and Greater Manchester. Founded in 1991 and organised as John McCall Architects Limited, the firm delivers full-service architectural work from concept through project completion for housing associations, local authorities, and private developers. Its project portfolio spans 15+ categories including private housing, social housing, extra care schemes, retirement living, refurbishment, community facilities, and interior design, with individual scheme values ranging from approximately £1.3M to £29M (e.g., the £29M Ascent Housing LLP programme across 16 Staffordshire sites, the £12M Jacobs Gate retirement scheme in Sheffield, and the £6.8M BREEAM-rated Bourke Gardens Extra Care complex in Salford).

The practice's underlying technology is centred on in-house Building Information Modeling (BIM) software, used to model complex geometry and exchange coordinated design data with specialist subcontractors for swift site delivery. Professional credentials — RIBA chartered practice status, ISO 9001 quality management, and Investors in People accreditation — are displayed as trust signals and are prerequisite to competing for public sector and housing association framework commissions. The practice has accumulated recognised industry awards including a Welsh Regional RIBA Award and UK Housing Award (Hwb Dinbych, 2015), RICS and Brick Awards (Belvidere Family Centre, 2012–2013), and a RICS NW Awards shortlisting (Marwood Tower).

The business model is professional services revenue: fees are negotiated per project, tied to scope, complexity, and construction value, with no publicly disclosed standard pricing tiers. Customer acquisition runs through competitive tender, framework agreements, and repeat client engagement, anchored in the firm's demonstrated design quality, regional track record, and professional accreditations. The practice is led by three Directors (Traci Johnston, Carl Grannell, Dave Smith), supported by Associates and Architectural Assistants, with a workforce in the 11–50 employee range and no external institutional investment, parent company, or subsidiary structure disclosed.

Name

John McCall Architects

Legal name

John McCall Architects Limited

Website

https://johnmccall.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

John McCall Architects is a Liverpool-headquartered architecture and master planning practice serving UK housing associations, local authorities, and private developers, delivering social housing, extra care, retirement living, and regeneration projects valued from £1.3M to £29M across North West England, North Wales, and adjacent regions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (541310), Architectural Services (54131), Interior Design Services (541410)

akta.pro primary industry

Urban Planning & Master Planning (BPAHAKAD)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Master planning services
• Social housing design
• Extra care housing
• Urban design practice

Headquarters

HQ city

Liverpool

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Architecture and Design Professional Services: John McCall Architects earns revenue through fees for architectural design services, master planning, eco and urban design, and project delivery from concept through to completion. Revenue is generated on a per-project basis with fees tied to project value and scope.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

John McCall Architects is a Liverpool-based architecture practice delivering full architectural services from concept through completion. The firm provides architecture, master planning, eco design, and urban design across residential, extra care, social housing, refurbishment, community, and interior project categories for housing associations, local authorities, and private developers across North West England, Yorkshire, North Wales, and Staffordshire.

Product overview

John McCall Architects is a leading Architecture, Master Planning, Eco and Urban Design practice offering a comprehensive suite of design services. The firm operates as a single unified practice providing architecture services, master planning, eco design, and urban design capabilities across multiple project categories including private housing, social housing, extra care schemes, community facilities, refurbishments, and interior design. Their portfolio spans residential developments, retirement living, mixed-use schemes, and community buildings throughout the UK, delivered through design studios that provide a personal and professional service to clients.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architecture Services Full-service architecture practice providing design, planning, and project delivery across residential, commercial, and community sectors for housing associations, local authorities, and private developers.
• Master Planning Strategic urban planning and large-scale development design services for multi-site and mixed-use schemes for public and private sector clients.
• Eco Design Sustainable and environmentally conscious design services incorporating renewable energy, recyclable materials, and energy-efficient systems into building projects.
• Urban Design Design of public spaces, streetscapes, and neighbourhood layouts that enhance community interaction and accessibility for local authorities and developers.
• Private Housing Design Custom residential housing design for private clients and developers including individual houses and housing developments for sale.
• Social Housing Design Affordable housing design for housing associations and local authorities including new builds and regeneration projects.
• Extra Care Schemes Specialist accommodation for older residents featuring self-contained apartments with communal facilities including lounges, restaurants, and care services for housing associations and retirement living developers.
• Interior Design Interior design services for residential properties including space planning, finishes, and fixture specifications.
• Refurbishment Services Building renovation and conversion services including historic building restoration, modern extensions, and adaptive reuse of existing structures for housing associations and local authorities.
• Community Facilities Design Design of community centres, family centres, youth facilities, and educational spaces for public and third-sector clients.

Quantifiable outcome

• Hwb Dinbych (Denbigh, £2M) won a Welsh Regional RIBA Award and a UK Housing Award for Outstanding Development of the Year in April 2015.
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Wigan & Leigh CollegeminorOthers · 17 February 2023In conjunction with Wigan Council and Wigan & Leigh College, John McCall Architects takes on T Level Construction students for work placements. The arrangement supports talent pipeline development.
• Ascent Housing LLPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAscent Housing LLP was the client and joint venture partner in the £29M Ascent Programme across Leek, Biddulph & Cheadle, Staffordshire. The JV between Ascent Housing, Moorlands Housing, and SMDC delivered 16 sites of affordable housing, shared ownership, and community facilities.
• Bardsley ConstructioncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBardsley Construction was the main contractor on the Jacobs Gate project (£12M, Sheffield), working with John McCall Architects and client Adlington to deliver 65 high-end retirement apartments.
• Torus HousingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTorus Housing (formerly Liverpool Mutual Homes, part of Torus 62 group) commissioned Ivy Mews (£3.1M) in Garston, Liverpool. The practice also completed Marwood Tower for Liverpool Mutual Homes prior to the Torus merger.
• RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects)coreOthersJohn McCall Architects is a RIBA chartered practice, with accreditation displayed on the firm's contact page. RIBA membership governs professional standards and provides the practice with professional recognition in the architecture sector.
• Investors in PeopleminorOthersThe practice holds Investors in People (IIP) accreditation, displayed on the contact page as a trust signal for talent and workforce quality.
• ForVivacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerForViva (parent of City West Housing Trust) commissioned Bourke Gardens Extra Care (£6.8M, Salford) and is a partner in the Sutton Way Regeneration (£350M+ project, 350+ units) alongside Cheshire West & Chester Council.
• City West Housing TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity West Housing Trust (part of ForViva group) commissioned the £6.8M Bourke Gardens Extra Care scheme in Walkden, Salford, designed by John McCall Architects with BREEAM 'very good' certification.
• Imagine (Charity)minorOthersImagine charity collaborated with Liverpool Mutual Homes and John McCall Architects on the Marwood Tower project, ensuring a number of apartments enable people with support needs to live independently.
• We Make PlacesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWe Make Places led community engagement workshops and events for the Sutton Way Regeneration Project in Ellesmere Port, working alongside John McCall Architects and Cheshire West & Chester Council.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Stride Treglown: Large UK architectural practice with housing, healthcare, and regeneration capabilities across multiple regions. Comparable in targeting housing association and local authority commissions but operates at significantly greater national scale.
• Assael Architecture: UK-wide practice with a leading specialism in care homes, retirement living, and residential development for operators and housing providers. Comparable in extra care and retirement specialism but operates at greater national scale than John McCall Architects.
• Austin-Smith:Lord: UK architectural practice with offices including Liverpool working on residential, community, and regeneration projects for public sector clients. Comparable client base and regional presence but broader sector portfolio.

Direct peers

• Buttress Architects: Manchester-based architectural practice with a strong heritage, conservation, and refurbishment portfolio alongside residential and community work. Regional North West peer with overlapping client base in housing associations and local authorities.
• Haworth Tompkins: Liverpool-based architectural practice with a portfolio spanning housing, community, education, and heritage projects across the North West and London. Direct regional peer with comparable housing association and local authority clients and similar studio size.
• Mikhail Riches: London-based practice recognised for award-winning social housing, retrofit, and residential projects for housing associations and councils. Comparable in specialism around housing association and local authority commissions, though London-centric.
• PRP Architects: UK architectural practice with a deep specialism in housing, retirement living, and care homes for housing associations and local authorities. Highly comparable to John McCall Architects in client type (housing associations, local authorities) and product category (extra care, social housing, regeneration), though typically operating at larger national scale.
• DPP Architecture: North West England architectural practice working across residential, healthcare, and community sectors. Comparable in geographic focus (Merseyside/North West) and service scope, including housing association and local authority commissions.
• Khaa: UK practice (formerly Karakusevic Carson Architects) specialising in social housing, estate regeneration, and master planning for housing associations and local authorities. Direct peer in social housing design with master planning overlap.
• McInnes Usher McKnight Architects (MUMA): Liverpool-based architectural practice with extensive extra care, retirement, and social housing portfolio across North West England and Wales. Highly comparable on geography, size, and extra care specialism.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/johnmccalls
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/john-mccall-architects-limited
• Instagraminstagram.com/johnmccallarchitects

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 John McCall Architects