Masterplanning & Urban Design

Masterplanning and Urban Design is a fundamental part of McBains Cooper’s design approach. Our objective is to deliver analytical design skills, professional management and robust development solutions that recognise the fundamental importance of strong architectural and urban design expertise. We strive to create a sustainable and attractive environment with a human scale and a strong sense of place.

We also recognise the commercial realities of the development process and ensure that our design solutions represent value for money to our client. McBains Cooper has developed a range of processes and techniques to monitor the economics of projects that, when combined with our design and master planning expertise, will create a project that will attract investment and encourage participation from all stakeholders.

Our awareness and understanding of market influences and the expectations of the local authority planning department, developers and occupiers, in both the public and private sectors, deliver an informed approach to the output of our organisation in terms of design and development. Critical to our approach is the understanding that a common agenda for collaborative partnership is important. Instrumental to this process is the engagement of local knowledge and the commitment of stakeholders such as planners, local authorities, development agencies, local organisations, social housing providers, other consultants and the client in every stage of the process. Collaborative partnerships between the parties listed above will set the agenda and produce a shared vision and programme of action for the development.

McBains Cooper Architecture is a committed practice of urban designers, master planners and architects with a long track record of producing successful architectural and urban design schemes that employ a consensus-led approach through the planning and development process. This approach inevitably leads to accelerated decision making and a sense of ownership for all involved, breaking down the traditional barriers between designers and other parties. This has been the basis of our design approach for a number of years and accounts for all of our successful and award winning projects.