Oliver Architecture

What Oliver Architecture does

Oliver Architecture is a UK-based conservation architecture practice founded in 2014 by Stephen Oliver, operating from a headquarters in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter with additional offices in Pershore and Leek. The firm specialises in the conservation, repair, alteration, and extension of heritage buildings, with particular depth in ecclesiastical architecture and a portfolio spanning cathedrals, country houses, institutional and civic buildings, and industrial heritage. Its client base comprises cathedrals (Peterborough and Brecon, where Stephen Oliver holds Cathedral Architect appointments), the National Trust across multiple properties, Oxford and other colleges, museums trusts (Ironbridge Gorge Museums Trust), local authorities, charities, and private clients.

The firm delivers a comprehensive service stack covering feasibility studies and options appraisals, fabric condition surveys and quinquennial inspections, historical research, planning and listed building consent applications, National Lottery Heritage Fund grant-aided projects, detailed working drawings, and site inspection. It operates an in-house CAA-registered drone/UAV capability used for surveying, 3D modelling, and ortho-photography on heritage assets. Oliver Architecture earns revenue through fee-based professional services engagements — quoted per project scope and complexity, including lead-architect and consultant roles on multi-million-pound grant-funded programmes.

The practice operates on a privately held, founder-led basis with no external institutional investment or parent company, and has grown organically to approximately 11 team members. Its competitive position rests on individual professional credentials (AABC accreditation, Cathedral Architect appointments, Art Workers' Guild membership), a sustained track record of industry awards (RICS, Civic Trust AABC, Historic England Angel, Victorian Society, RIBA national), and long-tenure institutional relationships that generate recurring quinquennial and capital-project fee work.

Name

Oliver Architecture

Legal name

Oliver Architecture Ltd

Website

https://oliver-architecture.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Oliver Architecture is a UK conservation architecture practice founded by Stephen Oliver, delivering heritage building conservation, repair, and alteration services for cathedrals, the National Trust, colleges, museums, local authorities, and private clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Heritage Conservation Architecture Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (54131), Architectural Services (541310)

akta.pro primary industry

Historic Preservation & Conservation Planning (BPAHAKAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Historic Home Renovation & Preservation (HSAPAEAG), Iconic Architecture & Signature Buildings (Cathedrals, Palaces, Castles) (THAJACAE), Cultural Heritage Institutions (Archives, Historic Houses, Monuments Foundations) (THAJADAI)

Keywords

• Conservation architecture
• Heritage building consultancy
• Ecclesiastical architecture
• Historic building repair
• Listed building consent

Headquarters

HQ city

Birmingham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

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 architecture services including conservation, repair, alteration, and extension of heritage buildings. Revenue generated through project fees for services such as feasibility studies, condition surveys, planning applications, detailed working drawings, and contract administration.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Oliver Architecture provides conservation-accredited architectural services for heritage buildings, including conservation, repair, alteration, and extension of historic structures. The firm specialises in ecclesiastical buildings, country houses, institutional and civic buildings, and industrial heritage, offering feasibility studies, condition surveys, quinquennial inspections, planning and listed building consent applications, and detailed working drawings with site inspection. Services are delivered directly to cathedrals, the National Trust, charities, local authorities, Oxford colleges, and private clients across the UK.

Product overview

Oliver Architecture is a conservation-accredited architecture firm offering a comprehensive range of heritage building services. Their core offering consists of Feasibility Studies and Options Appraisals, Fabric Condition Surveys and Quinquennial Inspections, Historical Research, Planning and Listed Building Consent Applications, and detailed working drawings with site inspection services. The firm specialises in ecclesiastical, country house, institutional, civic, and industrial heritage projects across the UK. They also offer drone survey services for building inspection using CAA-registered unmanned aerial systems.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Feasibility Studies and Options Appraisals Early-stage project assessment services evaluating the viability and options for historic building projects, delivered to heritage property owners and institutional clients.
• Fabric Condition Surveys and Quinquennial Inspections Detailed building condition assessments and periodic quinquennial inspections for heritage properties including cathedrals, churches, and country houses.
• Planning, Listed Building Consent and Faculty Applications Planning application services including Listed Building Consent and Faculty applications for historic and ecclesiastical buildings, delivered to institutional and private clients.
• Detailed Working Drawings and Site Inspection Production of detailed working drawings and on-site inspection services during construction for heritage conservation and restoration projects.
• Heritage Conservation Architecture Services Comprehensive architectural services focused on the conservation, repair, alteration, and extension of heritage buildings, including ecclesiastical, country houses, institutional, and industrial buildings.
• Drone/UAS Survey Services Unmanned aerial system (drone) survey services with attached camera for surveying buildings and locations, registered with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) for categories A1 and A3 operations, generating 3D models and ortho-photographs for elevations and roof plans.
• National Lottery Heritage Fund Grant-Aided Projects Project delivery support for heritage conservation programmes funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, including project management and architectural services.
• Procurement of Craftspeople and Heritage Consultant Advisory Procurement of suitable specialist craftspeople for heritage projects and advisory services to other consultants working as part of larger project teams.

Quantifiable outcome

• £3.3 million roof restoration project completed for Coughton Court (2023-2025)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Birmingham Conservation TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Oliver Architecture led the feasibility study for The Golden Lion (17th-century timber-framed building) and is now delivering emergency repairs funded by £344,265 from Historic England. Previously worked on Coffin Works rescue which won multiple awards.
• National TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Oliver Architecture has an ongoing relationship with National Trust as conservation architect for multiple properties including Coughton Court (£3.3m roof restoration), Canons Ashby (Property Architect since 1999), Baddesley Clinton (visitor facilities), and other National Trust estates. The firm conducts quinquennial inspections and delivers conservation programmes.
• Ironbridge Gorge Museums TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Lead Architect for the £5.5m Conserving the Historic Estate (CHE) project covering 49 heritage buildings at Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site. A further £4.5m endowment has been secured from NHMF for ongoing stewardship. Oliver Architecture completed a Quinquennial Review of 52 heritage assets in 2021.
• Brecon CathedralcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Stephen Oliver appointed Cathedral Architect in 2015, delivering quinquennial inspections and the National Lottery Heritage Funded 'People | Passion | Priory' project including new west door, reroofing, and internal reordering.
• Peterborough CathedralcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Stephen Oliver appointed Cathedral Architect in 2014, responsible for ongoing conservation and stewardship of the cathedral and its precinct buildings.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Buttress Architects: Manchester-based conservation and heritage architecture practice with a strong track record on listed buildings, ecclesiastical projects, and award-winning adaptive reuse. Directly comparable mid-size UK conservation peer.
• Donald Insall Associates: One of the UK's longest-established conservation architecture practices, working on cathedrals, castles, and heritage estates for clients including the National Trust and Church of England. Directly comparable in service offering and institutional client base to Oliver Architecture.
• Wright & Wright Architects: London-based practice recognised for sensitive work on historic and listed buildings including heritage institutional and cultural projects. Comparable in conservation methodology and ecclesiastical/institutional mix.
• Nissen Richards Studio: Mid-size UK practice combining contemporary architecture with heritage conservation, with a cultural and museum-led portfolio. Overlaps with Oliver Architecture on heritage-led cultural and institutional commissions.
• Feilden+Mawson: UK conservation-led architecture practice with ecclesiastical, heritage estate, and institutional portfolio work. Merged into Purcell in 2024, but historically a directly comparable conservation peer to Oliver Architecture.
• Purcell Architecture: Major UK architecture firm specialising in heritage, conservation, and cultural projects across cathedrals, museums, and listed buildings. Operates from multiple UK studios with similar institutional and ecclesiastical client mix to Oliver Architecture.
• Levitt Bernstein: London-based architecture practice with significant heritage, conservation, and education sector work including listed building adaptations. Comparable to Oliver Architecture on listed institutional and ecclesiastical commissions.

Broad incumbents

• John McAslan + Partners: Large UK architecture firm with a heritage, cultural, and education portfolio including conservation-led projects. Acts as a broad incumbent with overlap on ecclesiastical and institutional conservation commissions.
• Allies and Morrison: Major UK architecture practice whose portfolio includes heritage, education, and civic projects with conservation-led briefs. Operates as a broad incumbent with conservation capability rather than as a specialist niche firm.

Others

• Historic England: Public body that funds, regulates, and advises on heritage building conservation including £344k grants to Oliver Architecture projects. Listed as the most directly relevant ecosystem partner/funder rather than a competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/oliver-architecture-ltd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Oliver Architecture