IDPartnership

What IDPartnership does

IDPartnership (IDP) is a Newcastle upon Tyne-based, partner-led multidisciplinary architectural practice operating across the United Kingdom. Founded in 1982 as Smith Darby Partnership and rebranded to Ian Darby Partnership in 1989 when it acquired the former Church of St Jude as its headquarters, the practice now operates as IDPartnership Northern. With a team of 11-50 staff including four partners (two architects and two urban designers/planners), IDP delivers an integrated suite of services across architecture, masterplanning and urban design, and planning, structured around the RIBA Plan of Work from feasibility through construction. Its core client base comprises major UK private housebuilders (Bellway, Taylor Wimpey, Keepmoat), housing associations (Home Group, Karbon Homes, Thirteen Group), local authorities (Newcastle City Council, Sheffield City Council), Homes England, and select commercial and education clients (Sage Group, Northumbria University).

The practice's technical capabilities centre on BIM Level 2 standards, in-house CAD and 3D visualization expertise, digital twins used for town centre consultation, and recognised expertise in Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) developed through the Innovation Village Gateshead live test site, which evaluated five different MMC methods. An internal Sustainable Design Toolkit supports urban design, embodied energy, and operational energy outcomes, and projects have achieved BREEAM 'Very Good' ratings. The practice operates as a traditional professional services firm generating revenue through project-based architectural fees billed at RIBA milestones, with no public pricing or subscription model. GTM is direct enterprise engagement via competitive tendering, design competitions (e.g., Holborn Riverside, Kirkleatham Walled Gardens), and framework agreements, including a formal role delivering Homes England training on accelerated delivery programmes.

Name

IDPartnership

Legal name

IDPartnership Northern

Website

https://idpartnership.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Newcastle Upon Tyne

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Architectural Services: IDPartnership generates revenue through professional architectural fees, planning services, masterplanning, and urban design consultancy. Services follow RIBA Plan of Work stages from inception through to construction and project coordination. Revenue is project-based, typically billed at project milestones.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

IDPartnership is a multidisciplinary architectural practice delivering architecture, masterplanning and urban design, and planning services across the UK. The firm serves housing developers, local authorities, registered providers, and private clients, supporting projects from initial planning through detailed design, with particular specialisation in Modern Methods of Construction and sustainable community design.

Product overview

IDPartnership is a multidisciplinary architectural practice offering an integrated suite of services centered on three core offerings: Architecture Services, Masterplanning and Urban Design Services, and Planning Services. The practice operates using RIBA Plan of Work stages as a project roadmap. Notable specialized offerings include the Innovation Village Gateshead project (a live MMC test site), the South Seaham Garden Village (1,500-home development), the Sustainable Design Toolkit (internal sustainability framework), and Plan B Housing (joint venture for affordable housing). The practice also leverages BIM Level 2 standards and 3D visualization capabilities across projects.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architecture Services Full architectural service covering concept design, planning support, technical design, and on-site delivery for residential, mixed-use, and regeneration projects for UK housing developers, registered providers, and local authorities.
• Masterplanning and Urban Design Services Site-wide masterplanning and urban design for new settlements, garden villages, town centre regeneration, and large housing schemes, typically supporting local authorities, Homes England, and developers.
• Planning Services Town planning support including planning applications, stakeholder consultation, and planning strategy for residential, mixed-use, and regeneration schemes across the UK.

Quantifiable outcome

• Innovation Village achieved 2025 Future Homes Standard compliance ahead of legislation.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major, advisory, research and supporting.

• Homes EnglandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Government housing agency commissioning IDP for training sessions on Building for Life and accelerated delivery programme. Working with Homes England, landowners, private house builders and registered providers to deliver large mixed-use schemes including garden villages.
• Home GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Major housing association partner collaborating on Innovation Village Gateshead (41 houses testing MMC) and South Seaham Garden Village (1,500 homes). IDP worked closely with Home Group and Engie to develop proposals for Innovation Village as a live test site for modern methods of construction.
• EngiecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Main contractor partner on Innovation Village Gateshead project. Collaborated with IDP and Home Group to deliver the experimental housing development testing multiple MMC methods.
• Design for HomesmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Partner in preparing day-long training sessions for Homes England staff covering key elements of accelerated delivery programme for housing.
• TolentcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2018Construction partner for South Seaham Garden Village delivering 1,500 homes. Working with Tolent and Coolmore on this major garden village development.
• Plan B Housing LLP (with Elliott Associates and Housing Consultancy Plus)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011Joint venture formed by IDP to deliver innovative approach to affordable social housing. Specialises in design and development of accommodation for elderly and people with special needs.
• Professor Roy SandbachadvisoryStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner from National Innovation Centre for Ageing at Newcastle University contributing to garden village design proposals.
• National Innovation Centre for Ageing (Newcastle University)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner ensuring garden village proposals create national and international exemplar for all ages. Bringing expertise in ageing and technology-enabled homes.
• Northumbria UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner for garden village research. Also partnered on PHD research into adaptable and technology enabled homes, and Innovation Village research into promoting independence through technology enabled modular homes.
• John Carr (Northumbria University)researchStrategic or Co-development PartnerPHD researcher hosted by IDP studying adaptable and technology enabled homes. Research fed directly into live design projects including South Seaham Garden Village.
• Hemingway DesignmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesign collaboration with Wayne and Gerardine Hemingway on Staiths South Bank Gateshead (635 homes) and Green Hills Blackburn (167 homes).
• Glen Kemp (Landscape Architects)supportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLandscape architecture partner on Staiths South Bank Gateshead project.
• Balfour BeattysupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConstruction partner for Ecclesall Primary School expansion project delivered on time and budget.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• JTP (John Thompson & Partners): Masterplanning-led practice working on large-scale residential developments, estate regeneration, and community engagement across the UK. Comparable to IDPartnership's masterplanning and urban design services.
• Haworth Tompkins: UK practice with strong residential, education, and heritage portfolios, including significant housing association work. Comparable to IDPartnership's residential and heritage education segments.
• Levitt Bernstein: UK architectural practice with strong housing, retirement living, and affordable housing portfolios, including work for housing associations and local authorities. Closely comparable to IDPartnership's residential and retirement living segments.
• HTA Design: Multidisciplinary practice specialising in housing, regeneration, and placemaking with RP, developer, and local authority clients. Comparable to IDPartnership in housing-led masterplanning and framework work.
• Featherstone Young: London-based practice with expertise in housing, estate regeneration, and community-led design. Comparable to IDPartnership's housing association and regeneration focus.
• Karakusevic Carson Architects: London-based practice focused on housing, regeneration, and public sector clients, with strong reputation for council and housing association work. Comparable to IDPartnership's RP and local authority focus.
• PRP Architects: One of the UK's leading housing-focused architectural practices, working with housing associations, local authorities, and housebuilders on residential and mixed-use schemes. Directly comparable to IDPartnership given shared client base and masterplanning depth.
• Mikhail Riches: RIBA Stirling Prize-winning practice recognised for sustainable housing design and MMC. Comparable to IDPartnership's MMC expertise and sustainability credentials.

Broad incumbents

• Allies and Morrison: Large UK architectural practice with broad masterplanning, residential, and urban design capabilities. Comparable to IDPartnership's masterplanning services but operates at significantly larger scale.

Regional players

• Ryder Architecture: Newcastle-based architectural practice with comparable North East heritage and multi-sector portfolio. Comparable to IDPartnership on geographic roots and mixed residential/commercial/education work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/idpartnership
• Xx.com/idpnorthern
• Facebookfacebook.com/idpartnership
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/idpartnership-group

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 IDPartnership