Design For Homes
Design For Homes is a UK social enterprise that develops housing standards, research, awards, training, and study tours for government bodies, developers, housing associations, architects, and urban designers through digital content and professional services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2000
- HeadquartersSaffron Walden, Essex, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Design For Homes does
Design For Homes is a UK social enterprise founded in 2000, based in Thaxted, Essex, and reported to have 15 employees. It develops housing-design standards, research, education, and professional programs intended to improve new-build housing quality. Its main users and commissioning audiences are government housing bodies and planning authorities, developers and housebuilders, housing associations, architects, and urban designers.
Its core portfolio includes the Housing Design Awards; a web-based library of 1,500+ award-winning development case studies and 100+ films; the Building for Life/Building for a Healthy Life toolkit; the HAPPI report; and guides on density, privacy, parking, bin storage, streets, and local centres. The disclosed digital asset is a content platform rather than a software application or public API, although it receives tens of thousands of unique visitors each week. The company also provides training, consultancy, and organized study tours in the UK, Europe, and North America, with access to projects and development teams facilitated through its awards relationships.
Revenue is generated through unit-priced DVDs and research publications, paid tours, training, and consultancy, alongside free or low-cost guides and low-cost support for not-for-profit organizations. Homes England is a key institutional user and commissioner. Design For Homes has no external shareholders and directs any surplus toward design improvement; Building for a Healthy Life runs at a loss in most years, so the portfolio mixes commercial fee generation with mission-oriented activity.
Design For Homes firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Design For Homes
- Legal name
- Design For Homes
- Website
- https://designforhomes.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2000
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Design For Homes is a UK social enterprise that develops housing standards, research, awards, training, and study tours for government bodies, developers, housing associations, architects, and urban designers through digital content and professional services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Design For Homes industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Urban Design Consultancy
- NAICS
- Architectural Services (54131), Architectural Services (541310)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Residential Design-Build & Renovation-Integrated Builders (IMAFABAE), Aging-in-Place Structural & Layout Reconfiguration (First-Floor Living, Open Plans) (HSAPANAK)
Keywords
Where Design For Homes is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Saffron Walden, Essex
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Design For Homes business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- DVD Sales: Sale of physical DVD copies of housing documentaries and films about award-winning housing developments. DVDs cover topics including UK housing case studies, international examples like Hammarby in Stockholm, and sustainable community design.
- Research Publications: Sale and distribution of research reports on housing design topics including car parking, bin storage, superdensity, and privacy research. Publications sold at various price points including £90 for detailed reports.
- Study Tour Services: Organized study tours to housing developments in UK, Europe and North America. Customized itineraries for groups ranging from 2 to 80 people, with varying levels of access and experience.
- Training Services: Training in urban design issues for Homes England staff and UK leading companies. Day programs typically include site visits to reinforce learning concepts.
- Consultancy Services: Commissioned consultancy work for the housing industry's supply chain, using database of scheme information to analyze emerging patterns of design and construction.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Individual DVD purchases |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | DVD bundle deals |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Research reports |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Not-for-profit support |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
Design For Homes product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Design For Homes is a social enterprise that runs the Housing Design Awards (England's oldest, dating back to 1948), produces and maintains the Building for a Healthy Life design toolkit, publishes research and guidance on residential design topics, organizes study tours to award-winning housing schemes, and provides training and consultancy to government bodies, developers, and architects seeking to improve housing design quality.
Product overview
Design For Homes is a social enterprise founded in 2000 that operates a portfolio of interconnected products and services focused on improving housing design quality. The core offerings include the Housing Design Awards (the oldest such awards in England since 1948) and associated video library of over 60 HD documentaries. The company also produces research publications including Building for a Healthy Life (the design toolkit recommended by NPPF), the HAPPI Report for senior housing, and various guides on parking, bin storage, streets, and local centres. Additional services include Study Tours, Training, and Bespoke Consultancy. The portfolio functions as a unified platform combining awards recognition, educational content, research publications, and professional services to advance housing design standards.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Housing Design Awards Government-backed annual awards program recognizing and documenting high-quality housing developments in England. Features 1500+ case studies and 100+ films, attracting tens of thousands of unique visitors weekly to the awards website.
- Study Tours Organized visits to award-winning housing schemes across the UK, Europe and North America. Customized itineraries for groups ranging from 2 to 80 people with varying levels of access to developments and development teams.
- Building for a Healthy Life Design evaluation toolkit for housing quality, recommended by the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and used by Homes England as a KPI in its corporate strategy. Provides evidence-based criteria for assessing residential design quality.
- Research and Publications Bespoke research services and publications on housing design topics including car parking, bin storage, superdensity, privacy, and senior housing. Reports sold at various price points, with some guides available as free downloads.
- Training Services Training programs in urban design issues for Homes England staff and UK leading companies. Day programs typically include site visits to reinforce learning concepts and practical application.
- Consultancy Services Bespoke consultancy for the housing industry's supply chain, using the database of scheme information to analyze emerging patterns of design and construction. Low-cost support offered to not-for-profits such as LPAs and neighbourhood forums.
- Housing Documentary DVDs Physical DVD copies of housing documentaries about award-winning developments and sustainable community design, including UK case studies and international examples. Available for purchase individually or in bundles with discounts.
- Housing Design Awards Video Library Over 60 HD videos featuring Housing Design Awards winners, documenting project stories and resident feedback. The world's largest stock of housing project storytelling content, freely accessible on the Housing Design Awards website.
Quantifiable outcome
- HAPPI report recommendations implemented in senior housing design standards
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Design For Homes
Customer profileNamed customers28 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Design For Homes technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Design For Homes partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- The Housing ForumcorePartner organization that collaborates on housing design initiatives and shares industry expertise
- Homes EnglandcoreGovernment's housing delivery agency. Homes England uses Building for a Healthy Life as a KPI in corporate strategy and key test for accessing loans and land sales. Also commissioned updates to research guides.
- NHBCminorNational house-building warranty insurance provider. Partner in housing industry ecosystem.
- Urban Design LondoncoreJoint work on New London Vernacular pamphlet analyzing schemes from Housing Design Awards entries. Co-development of design guidance for London.
- Landscape InstituteminorProfessional body for landscape architects. Partner organization supporting housing design initiatives.
- RTPIminorRoyal Town Planning Institute. Partner organization in housing design ecosystem.
- Wood for GoodminorCampaign promoting wood in construction. Partner organization supporting sustainable housing design.
- Barking RiversideminorMajor housing development organization in London. Partner in housing design network.
- Ebbsfleet Garden CityminorGovernment-backed garden city development. Partner in housing design initiatives.
- Home Builders FederationminorIndustry trade body for housebuilders. Partner organization in housing design ecosystem.
- Cambridge Quality PanelminorCambridge-based design review panel. Partner organization for design quality initiatives.
- NorthstoweminorNew town development in Cambridgeshire. Partner in housing design network.
- Cambridge City CouncilminorLocal government authority in Cambridge. Partner organization.
- Design NetworkminorCollaborator organization in housing design network.
- RIBA (Architecture.com)minorRoyal Institute of British Architects. Historical relationship as predecessor to Design for Homes running Housing Design Awards.
- Property Industry IrelandminorIrish property industry organization. International collaborator.
- Housing LINminorHousing Learning and Improvement Network. Collaborator on senior housing design initiatives including HAPPI report.
- NHSminorNational Health Service. Co-commissioner of HAPPI report for housing our ageing population.
- Greater London AuthoritycoreSponsor of Housing Design Awards, with deputy Mayor for housing participating as one of 16 judges.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Design For Homes competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Landscape Institute: UK's professional body for landscape architects, listed as a Design For Homes partner. Operates in adjacent built-environment design quality standards and policy advocacy, particularly relevant given Design For Homes' landscape-inclusive housing guidance.
- Housing LIN (Learning and Improvement Network): A collaborative network on housing for older and vulnerable people. Co-collaborated with Design For Homes on the HAPPI report and operates in the same niche of senior housing design guidance and knowledge dissemination.
- RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects): UK's main architectural professional body that previously ran the Housing Design Awards before Design For Homes took over in 2005. Competes in the same architectural standards, awards, and member services space, with a much larger member base and broader scope.
- Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI): The UK's professional body for town planners, listed as a Design For Homes partner. Operates adjacently in housing design quality standards, planning policy advocacy, and professional accreditation.
- Urban Design London: A design advisory organization co-developing design guidance for London with Design For Homes (e.g., New London Vernacular pamphlet). Operates in the same urban design quality and policy advisory space, focused on London's housing and built environment.
- The Housing Forum: A cross-industry housing body bringing together housebuilders, housing associations, and government. Listed as a core strategic partner of Design For Homes and operates in the same intersection of housing policy, design quality, and industry collaboration.
Broad incumbents
- Design Council: The UK's national design advisory body, which absorbed CABE's built-environment work. Provides design guidance across multiple sectors including housing, with significantly greater scale, government funding access, and brand recognition than Design For Homes.
- Home Builders Federation: The principal trade association for UK housebuilders, listed as a Design For Homes partner. Represents the industry that Design For Homes' standards and awards directly influence, and competes for attention in housing quality advocacy.
Emerging players
- Create Streets Foundation: UK think tank focused on design quality of streets and built environment, producing research and policy advocacy that overlaps with Design For Homes' Streets for a Healthy Life and residential design guidance.
- URBED (Urbanism, Environment & Design): A research and consultancy cooperative working on urban design, sustainable communities, and housing design quality. Operates in overlapping territory around design standards, place-making, and consultancy for developers and local authorities.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Design For Homes social profiles
Digital presenceDesign For Homes financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Design For Homes leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Design For Homes funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Design For Homes 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 Design For Homes
What does Design For Homes do?
Design For Homes is a social enterprise that runs the Housing Design Awards (England's oldest, dating back to 1948), produces and maintains the Building for a Healthy Life design toolkit, publishes research and guidance on residential design topics, organizes study tours to award-winning housing schemes, and provides training and consultancy to government bodies, developers, and architects seeking to improve housing design quality.
Is Design For Homes a public or private company?
Design For Homes is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Design For Homes founded?
Design For Homes was founded in 2000. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Design For Homes based?
Design For Homes is headquartered in Saffron Walden, Essex, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Design For Homes make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. DVD Sales are the primary driver. The others are research Publications, study Tour Services, training Services and consultancy Services.
Who are Design For Homes's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Landscape Institute, Housing LIN (Learning and Improvement Network), RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects), Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), Urban Design London and The Housing Forum. Broad incumbents are Design Council and Home Builders Federation. Emerging players are Create Streets Foundation and URBED (Urbanism, Environment & Design).
Does Design For Homes have an API?
No public API is recorded for Design For Homes.
What industry is Design For Homes in?
Design For Homes's product category is Urban Design Consultancy. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAA, Architectural Design Services, with a secondary code of IMAFABAE, Residential Design-Build & Renovation-Integrated Builders. Its NAICS code is 54131.