Allan Corfield Architects

What Allan Corfield Architects does

Allan Corfield Architects (ACA) is a UK-based architectural practice founded in 2009 by Allan Corfield and headquartered in Dunfermline, Scotland, with a second office at the National Self Build & Renovation Centre in Swindon, England. The firm specialises exclusively in the self-build residential sector, providing end-to-end architectural services from initial site evaluation and planning applications through to construction oversight, with deep expertise in modern construction methods (Structural Insulated Panels, Timber Frame, Insulating Concrete Formwork) and Passive House design and certification. Its core technology stack centres on a Fabric First design methodology, Building Information Modelling (BIM) for multi-discipline coordination, and immersive Virtual Reality consultations that allow clients to visualise homes pre-construction.

The company generates revenue through professional services on a quote-based pricing model, with no publicly disclosed fees. Revenue streams include full architectural design for self-build projects, online and hourly design consultations, Self Build Hour advisory sessions, seminars and webinars, and specialist Passive House certification. Distribution combines sales-led direct engagement (remote consultations, office visits at Dunfermline and NSBRC Swindon) with event-driven demand generation at UK Homebuilding & Renovating Shows in Edinburgh, Surrey, and Glasgow, plus a substantial content marketing engine (blog, Learning Centre, YouTube, free ebooks).

Allan Corfield Structures (ACS) was established in 2020 as a wholly-owned sister company providing structural engineering design for residential projects using modern methods of construction, and is led alongside ACA by founder Allan Corfield and Principal Engineer Katie Bacon. ACA also maintains an ecosystem of partnerships with self-build financing (BuildStore), plot supply (Custom Build Homes), renewable energy (Global Energy Systems, Ceiba Renewables), smart home integrators (Inspiro, Connected AV), and membership in the Structural Timber Association. The firm operates as a private limited company with no external investment, a headcount of 1-10, and a cumulative 550+ completed self-build projects across the UK since founding.

Name

Allan Corfield Architects

Legal name

Allan Corfield Architects Limited

Website

https://acarchitects.biz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Allan Corfield Architects is a UK-based architectural practice specialising exclusively in self-build residential homes, providing end-to-end design, planning, Passive House certification, and structural engineering services (via sister company AC Structures) to individual homeowners across Scotland and England.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Residential Architectural Services (Self-Build)

NAICS

Architectural Services (54131)

akta.pro primary industry

Custom Home Building (IMAFABAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Residential Green / High-Performance Home Construction (Net-Zero, Passive House) (IMAFABAH), Whole-Home Interior Renovation (Non-Structural) (HSAPAEAC)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Self-build homes
• Passive house design
• Residential planning services
• Structural engineering services

Headquarters

HQ city

Dunfermline

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Architectural Design Services: Full architectural services for self-build homes including design, planning applications, and project oversight through construction
2. Online Design Consultation: Remote consultation services for prospective self-builders
3. Self Build Hour: Hourly consultation sessions for self-build project guidance
4. Seminars and Webinars: Educational self-build seminars and monthly webinars
5. Passive House Certification: Specialist certification services for Passive House standard projects

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Allan Corfield Architects provides full architectural design, planning, and project oversight services for self-build residential homes across the UK. The practice focuses on sustainable, low-energy homes built using modern methods of construction (SIPs, Timber Frame, ICF) and the Fabric First approach, with specialist Passive House design and certification. Structural engineering services are delivered through sister company AC Structures.

Product overview

Allan Corfield Architects (ACA) operates as a self-build-focused architectural practice offering a unified service portfolio anchored by core architectural design for self-build residential projects. The primary product is Self Build Homes architectural services, supplemented by Passive House Design & Certification for energy-efficient builds and structural engineering delivered through sister company AC Structures. Additional services include Online Design Consultation, Self Build Seminars, Virtual Reality visualisation, House Extensions, and Pre-Loved Home Designs. Educational resources including the Self Build Blog, Learning Centre, and free Introduction to Self Building eBook support client education throughout the self-build journey. The company prioritises sustainability and Fabric First principles, incorporating modern construction methods such as SIPS, Timber Frame, and ICF construction.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Self Build Homes Architectural Services Full-service architectural design and project management for self-build residential projects across the UK, covering the complete journey from initial consultation through planning permission to construction completion. Designed for individual self-builders seeking custom dream homes.
• Passive House Design & Certification Specialised passive house design service with certification, incorporating super insulation, airtightness, MVHR systems, and Passive House Planning Package (PHPP) calculations for energy-efficient homes. Targeted at self-builders pursuing Passive House or ultra-low energy standards.
• Online Design Consultation Remote consultation service providing prospective self-builders with initial design advice and project guidance via video or telephone appointments. Designed to enable UK-wide access without requiring travel.
• Self Build Hour Hourly consultation sessions providing self-build project guidance and ad-hoc expert advice for clients at any stage of their project.
• Self Build Seminars Educational seminar sessions covering self-build topics including house construction, low-energy homes, and common self-build mistakes, presented at Homebuilding & Renovating Shows and the NSBRC. Targeted at prospective self-builders seeking foundational knowledge.
• Virtual Reality Design Consultation Immersive Virtual Reality experience allowing clients to visualise and walk through their future home designs before construction begins. Delivered as part of office visits at the Dunfermline and Swindon locations.
• House Extensions Architectural design services for residential house extensions, expanding existing homes for homeowners seeking additional space.
• Pre-Loved Home Designs Collection of pre-designed architectural home plans available for purchase and customisation, providing a faster route to self-build for clients.
• AC Structures Structural Engineering Comprehensive structural engineering design service offered through sister company Allan Corfield Structures (ACS), specialising in Modern Methods of Construction including Timber Frame, SIPS, and ICF for residential projects, plus specialist design services for steel connections, stair and balustrade design.

Quantifiable outcome

• 550+ successful self-build projects completed across the UK
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AC StructurescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister company providing full structural engineering design services for Custom and Self Build clients. Led by Allan Corfield and Principal Engineer Katie Bacon, ACS specialises in designing residential projects using Modern Methods of Construction including Timber frame, SIPS and ICF. They use BIM design and analysis software for integration with wider design teams.
• Home Energy ScotlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganisation funded by Scottish Government and managed by Energy Saving Trust. Provides free advice on renewable technologies for self-builders and access to interest-free loan scheme funding up to £17,500 for home renewable technologies with up to 75% cashback on some technologies.
• SIPs IndustriesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStructural Insulated Panels manufacturer. ACA shares exhibition stand at Homebuilding & Renovating Shows and specialises in designing homes using SIPs construction.
• Custom Build HomesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLand enabler bringing custom build to the forefront of the housing market. Provides access to custom build sites with outline planning approval.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Scandia-Hus: Established UK self-build timber frame home provider with an in-house design service for self-builders. Comparable to ACA on self-build architectural offering and shared emphasis on timber frame MMC construction.
• Potton Homes: One of the UK's largest self-build timber frame home design and supply specialists, offering full design-and-build packages for self-builders. Directly comparable to ACA on customer (UK self-builders) and product (custom design-led home delivery) overlap.
• Norscot: Scottish timber frame manufacturer and self-build home supplier with both geographic and product overlap with ACA — both serve Scotland's self-build market using timber-based MMC construction methods.
• Acorn Timber Frame: UK timber frame self-build home designer and supplier with a comparable niche focus on custom residential builds using timber frame MMC and similar energy-efficiency-led design principles.
• Kaber Consulting: UK chartered self-build architectural practice offering design and project management for self-builders; a comparable practitioner-scale architectural firm serving the same custom/self-build customer segment.

Others

• BuildStore: Leading UK self-build and custom-build mortgage provider and current ACA ecosystem partner (BuildStore mortgage products feed ACA's project funnel). Comparable through its role in the same self-build ecosystem rather than as a design competitor.
• Custom Build Homes: UK custom-build land enabler and current ACA partner, supplying serviced plots for self- and custom-builders. Comparable through its role in the same self-build project pipeline rather than direct design competition.

Regional players

• Huf Haus: German premium prefabricated/post-and-beam home manufacturer with a UK self-build sales presence. Comparable to ACA on bespoke, design-led custom self-build positioning, but serves primarily Continental European customers with limited UK-direct competition.
• Baufritz: German eco-timber-frame self-build home company with UK delivery footprint; comparable on sustainability/Passive House orientation and custom design service for self-builders, but headquartered outside the UK.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCfV0AJw9qZZe8LB-Qmay7wA
• Xx.com/acarchitects

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Allan Corfield Architects