Healthcare architect strikes out into social housing sector

The UK’s largest architect.

in the healthcare sector has announced its intention to move into social housing and “health-based” regeneration.

Nightingale Associates, which has 300 staff and a £12m turnover, is the third largest architectural firm in England. It previously confined itself to health and education sectors.

The firm is part of public sector consultant Tribal, which bought housing’s biggest consultant Hacas Chapman Hendy in July 2003.

As a result of the buy-out Hacas, now Tribal HCH, also expanded into regeneration. Nightingale may buy another social housing architect, but declined to name names.

Alistair Cory, development director at Nightingale, said: “I think the approach we want to bring, which is our unique selling point, is we want to do it in the context of health regeneration.

“It may be that we acquire a specific housing practice. Certainly it’s something we’re considering.”

He said the company was experienced in residential projects such as hospital accommodation.

It would now seek out projects that combined a larger housing and regeneration component with a health element.

Cory said: “We will be looking for projects that come under a regeneration umbrella but where there is, say, a major health private finance initiative.”