Business Details
50 Years
experience
Architects & Town Planning Experts in Colchester
Based in Colchester, Essex, A D P is a multidisciplinary consultancy offering integrated architecture, urban design, and town planning services. Established in 1976, we combine architectural expertise with strategic planning to deliver sustainable developments tailored to client needs. Our team, led by directors David Rose, Stephen Sanderson, and Andrew Ransome, has over four decades of experience in residential, commercial, and heritage projects. We pride ourselves on a holistic approach that aligns design and planning strategies from inception, ensuring successful outcomes for landowners, developers, and local authorities.Our work spans Essex, Suffolk, Kent, and London, with a focus on creating functional spaces that enhance communities and environments. Recognised for our role in transforming the Truman Brewery into a thriving mixed-use site, we continue to prioritise innovation and quality in every project. Our commitment to good design as a driver of social, economic, and environmental value underpins our long-standing reputation and client relationships.
Services
Architectural Design
Town Planning
Urban Design
Planning Appeals
Listed Building Consent
Residential Development
Commercial Development
Technical Design
Public Consultation
Land Promotion
Details
- Year established: 1976
Highlights and features
- We have over 45 years of combined experience in architecture and town planning.
- Our directors are chartered members of the Royal Town Planning Institute.
- We offer integrated architectural and planning services for holistic project delivery.
- Our team has secured planning consent for complex projects in sensitive areas like the Green Belt.
- We provide tailored solutions for residential, commercial, and heritage developments.
Associations and certifications
- Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI)
Services
Architectural Design
We provide full architectural services from concept to completion. Our approach focuses on creating functional, aesthetically pleasing spaces tailored to client needs while respecting site context. With expertise in new builds, conversions, and extensions, we deliver projects ranging from single dwellings to large-scale housing developments across Essex and the South-East.
Town Planning
Our planning services include strategy development, application preparation, and appeals for residential and commercial projects. We specialise in navigating complex planning processes, including Green Belt developments and permitted development rights. Our team has secured numerous planning consents for challenging sites across multiple local authority areas.
Urban Design
We create cohesive urban environments through masterplanning and area regeneration projects. Our urban design services integrate land use, transportation, and public spaces to deliver sustainable communities. Recent projects include village extensions, rural redevelopment schemes, and mixed-use urban centres that balance growth with environmental considerations.
Planning Appeals
When planning permission is refused, we prepare and submit robust appeal submissions to the Planning Inspectorate. Our approach combines strategic analysis of planning policies, case law precedents, and technical evidence to challenge refusals. We have a strong track record of successful appeals for residential and commercial developments in sensitive locations.
Technical Design
Our technical design team ensures projects meet all regulatory requirements through detailed construction documentation. We prepare tender-ready plans, secure Building Regulations approvals, and provide technical guidance throughout the construction phase. This service supports seamless transition from planning consent to physical implementation while maintaining design integrity.
People
David Rose
Director
David Rose brings extensive architectural experience to A D P, with a focus on residential and commercial developments. He contributes strategic design leadership to projects across the South-East, ensuring high-quality outcomes that balance client needs with regulatory requirements.
Stephen Sanderson
Director
Stephen Sanderson specialises in urban design and masterplanning, with particular expertise in transforming historic sites. His work on the Truman Brewery conversion demonstrates his ability to blend heritage preservation with modern development needs across various project scales.
Andrew Ransome
Planning Director
Andrew Ransome, a chartered member of the Royal Town Planning Institute with over 20 years' experience, leads A D P's planning consultancy. He specialises in strategic planning solutions for complex projects in rural and urban settings, including Green Belt developments and planning appeals.
Questions
What architectural services do you offer?
We provide full architectural services including new homes, residential extensions, commercial developments, barn conversions, and listed building works across Essex and surrounding areas.
Can you help with planning permission applications?
Yes, we manage the entire planning application process, from strategy development to submission and negotiation with local authorities, specialising in complex cases like Green Belt developments.
Do you work outside Essex?
While based in Colchester, we operate across the South-East including Suffolk, Kent, London, and Sussex, with experience in multiple local planning authority areas.
What happens if planning permission is refused?
We can prepare and submit planning appeals to the Planning Inspectorate, using our expertise in case law and policy interpretation to challenge refusals effectively.
How do you approach urban design projects?
Our urban design approach integrates land use, transportation, and public spaces to create sustainable communities, with experience in village extensions, regeneration schemes, and mixed-use developments.
