What Howarth Litchfield does

Howarth Litchfield is a Durham-headquartered chartered architecture practice operating as Howarth Litchfield Partnership Ltd., founded in the late 1970s/early 1980s and delivering multi-disciplinary design services across the UK for over 40 years. The firm offers five integrated service lines: Architecture, HL Interiors, Building Surveying, Heritage Conservation, and Sustainability. Project delivery is Director-led, with each engagement supervised at director level, and the practice employs 11-50 staff with active recruitment ongoing in 2026 for Senior Architects, Architects, Building Surveyors and graduate positions.

The underlying technology stack is built around Building Information Modelling (BIM), 3D CAD using Revit for design development and structural engineer collaboration, and VR visualization equipment used for client design sign-off. There is no proprietary software product; the technology layer supports service delivery rather than constituting a standalone platform.

The firm serves a primarily public-sector and institutional client base including the Ministry of Justice (via the Galliford Try partnership on the £2.5bn Constructor Services Framework), Durham University, multiple local authorities (Stockton Borough Council, Westmorland and Furness Council, Redcar and Cleveland Council, North East Museums), education clients (Christ's College Sunderland, Barnard Castle School, Sugar Hill Primary School), and developer/investor clients (Ward Group Investment, IWG Group, Bridge Referrals). Revenue is generated through project-based professional fees, typically calculated as a percentage of construction cost or hourly rates for surveying, on multi-year engagements across education, justice/custodial, heritage, residential, and cultural sectors. New business is acquired through competitive appointments, client recommendations, repeat business, and framework agreements, with all engagement delivered through direct Director-led client relationships.

Name

Howarth Litchfield

Legal name

Howarth Litchfield Partnership Ltd.

Website

https://howarthlitchfield.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Howarth Litchfield is a Durham-based chartered architecture practice delivering multi-disciplinary design services — architecture, interior design, building surveying, conservation, and sustainability — to UK public sector, education, heritage, justice/custodial, and developer clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Durham

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, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Architectural Services: Professional services revenue derived from delivering architecture, interior design, building surveying, conservation and sustainability services. Projects range from small to large-scale developments with each project under Director control. Revenue is project-based, typically one-time engagements for specific client commissions.
2. Project Management Services: Additional revenue stream from providing project management, contract administration, and health and safety services alongside architectural delivery.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Howarth Litchfield is a Chartered Architecture Practice delivering fee-based architectural, interior design, building surveying, heritage conservation, and sustainability services across the UK. The firm operates on a Director-led, multi-disciplinary model, providing design solutions from concept to completion for clients in education, justice/custodial, heritage, residential, public sector, and commercial markets.

Product overview

Howarth Litchfield is an award-winning Chartered Architecture Practice offering a multi-disciplinary service portfolio comprising five core service lines: Architecture Services, HL Interiors, Building Surveying, Heritage Conservation, and Sustainability Services. The practice operates across sectors including higher/further education, residential, heritage, sports/leisure/theatre, and justice/custodial facilities. Projects range from small-scale renovations to large new-build developments, with the firm providing individual design solutions and professional services throughout the UK. The practice emphasizes its Director-led approach, with each project supervised at director level, and maintains a focus on sustainability targets and carbon reduction across its portfolio.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architecture Services Full-service architectural design covering new build, refurbishment, and conversion projects for clients across the education, residential, heritage, sports/leisure, justice/custodial and commercial sectors, delivered on a Director-led basis throughout the UK.
• HL Interiors Interior design services including space planning, furniture selection, colour schemes, and material specification for residential, commercial and institutional projects under the HL Interiors brand.
• Building Surveying Building surveying services covering surveys, condition assessments, project management and professional consultancy for property owners, developers and institutional clients.
• Heritage Conservation Specialist heritage and conservation architecture services for listed buildings and historic properties, including restoration, refurbishment and adaptive reuse within UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as Durham.
• Sustainability Services Sustainable design services focused on carbon reduction, energy efficiency and environmentally responsible building solutions, including air source heat pumps and high-performance specifications, integrated across the firm's project portfolio.

Quantifiable outcome

• Delivered six live projects across five sites in one year in justice sector alone
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Galliford TrycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHowarth Litchfield has become a trusted design partner for Galliford Try on Ministry of Justice projects through the £2.5bn Constructor Services Framework. The firm delivers six live projects across five sites with Galliford Try, with five or six more in the pipeline. Director Keith Handy brought a 15-year working relationship with Galliford Try when joining the practice. Collaboration spans high-security facilities in Durham, Stockton, Barnard Castle, London, Wakefield, and Hemel Hempstead.
• Ward Group InvestmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture practice appointed to work on Ward Group Investment's Hopper House student accommodation scheme in Durham, representing the firm's first project with this client.
• Meldrum GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with Howarth Litchfield on refurbishing learning spaces at Northumbria University, transforming art studios into lecture theatres.
• North East MuseumscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHowarth Litchfield Architects led the £3 million restoration project for Blandford House (Discovery Museum), working with North East Museums who secured the £3,079,042 grant from DCMS.
• John Flowers LtdcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerContractor for the Discovery Museum roof restoration project led by Howarth Litchfield Architects.
• T Manners & Sons LtdcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerContractor for Christ's College Sunderland's £1.6m 'Lighthouse' restaurant facility, designed by Howarth Litchfield.
• Gardiner & TheobaldcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProject and cost management consultancy supporting Howarth Litchfield on heritage restoration work at Durham's UNESCO World Heritage Site including Cosin's Almshouses and Pemberton Building.
• Durham UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor client for multiple heritage and conservation projects including Durham Castle Norman Chapel, Neville Hall, Cosin's Almshouses, and wider refurbishment programmes within the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Bridge ReferralscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVeterinary referral business expanding at Boldon Business Park where Howarth Litchfield is providing architectural services for the expansion into a second unit.
• Redcar and Cleveland CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClient for Grade II-listed Redcar Central Station refurbishment project. Howarth Litchfield working with Identity Consult, Billinghurst George & Partners, Sine Consulting and Robertsons.
• Sendrig Construction LimitedcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerContractor for St Chad's College, Durham University internal renovation project completed by Howarth Litchfield.
• IWG Group (Regus and Spaces)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHowarth Litchfield successfully delivered flexible office interiors for IWG Group incorporating the Regus and Spaces brands, working with Key Property Solutions on a UK-wide development programme.
• BRIMScoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDesign and Build partner for the Sunderland Music, Arts and Cultural Quarter (MACQ) project where Howarth Litchfield is the architect.
• Northumberland EstatescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAppointed by Northumberland Estates to ensure the future of Alnwick's Historic Railway Station through conservation and restoration work.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Feilden+Mawson: UK architecture practice with deep heritage conservation and education sector expertise. Comparable multi-disciplinary model and project scale, making it a benchmark for HL's heritage work.
• Purcell: UK heritage and conservation architecture specialist with a comparable niche focus on listed buildings and UNESCO-relevant projects. Direct competitor in the heritage conservation vertical.
• Buttress Architects: Manchester-based architectural practice with strong heritage, conservation, and public sector portfolio. Comparable size, multi-disciplinary model, and northern England regional presence.
• Donald Insall Associates: UK's leading heritage architecture consultancy with deep conservation credentials. Closest direct peer for HL's heritage and conservation work within UNESCO sites and listed buildings.
• Watson Batty Architects: North East UK architectural practice with comparable size, multi-sector delivery, and director-led project approach. Direct regional competitor for public sector and education work.
• Ryder Architecture: North East England-based architectural practice with multi-disciplinary capability and comparable size, heritage, education, and conservation portfolio. Strongest geographic and operational overlap with Howarth Litchfield.
• JDDK Architects: Newcastle-based architecture practice with similar scale, regional North East focus, and multi-sector project portfolio spanning heritage, residential, education, and commercial.

Broad incumbents

• AHR: Major UK architecture and building consultancy with national coverage across education, heritage, justice and commercial sectors. Larger incumbent competing for public sector framework appointments.
• BDP (Building Design Partnership): Major UK multi-disciplinary design firm operating across architecture, interior design, and urban planning. Represents the larger incumbent alternative clients consider for integrated project briefs.
• Allies and Morrison: Established UK architecture practice with broad sector coverage including heritage, education, and masterplanning. Larger-scale incumbent competing for similar public and institutional commissions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/hlparchitecture
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/howarth-litchfield-partnership

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Howarth Litchfield