About the practice

IWA is an award-winning, design-led architectural studio specialising in securing planning permission for residential developments on constrained and challenging sites. Our ethos is rooted in the belief that a creative and thoughtful approach to design can be the key to unlocking development potential—particularly on sites where physical limitations, policy restrictions or ambitious briefs might otherwise stand in the way. Over the years, we’ve built a strong track record of success in gaining planning permission for projects that others might see as too difficult—whether due to tight urban plots, sensitive planning contexts, or complex site conditions. While our core focus is on delivering new homes—through both new builds and the re-use or conversion of existing buildings—we thrive on variety and relish any project that presents a design challenge. Sustainability is integral to everything we do. We take an environment-first approach, embedding sustainable thinking into the design process from the very beginning—not as an afterthought. If you have a project in mind, we’d love to hear from you. We can offer an initial conversation and free project appraisal to explore any ideas you might be working on ...