Contractor and housebuilder David McLean Group has gained accreditation as a chartered architect to offer clients a one-stop design-and-build service.
David McLean Design was set up in 1999 close to the head office of the privately owned group, which has a turnover of £120m.

Since then the design division has grown to 25 staff, bringing together the disciplines of architectural design, engineering and design-and-build co-ordination.

David McLean Design won RIBA accreditation last month.

Its director, architect John Caunce, claims that this will put the division "on a different professional plane".

He added: "The group is forging ahead with negotiated partnering agreements and prime contracting for big clients such as Barclays and Halifax banks and Shell service stations."