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Introduction

The Practice was established in 2000. It was formed from the practice known as Peter Leach Associates, on the retirement of one of the partners. The practice was renamed to reflect its new future outlook.
We are a Chartered Architects practice covering all aspects involved with building projects from the inception through to completion. Our practice is or has been previously retained on the panel of Architects for The Royal Bank of Scotland, Barclays Bank, High Commission of India and a Large Church organization. We have equally worked with and are happy to work with private clients on any type of project.

Our key skill areas are:

• Buildings:
Extensive building knowledge including building construction, services (electrical, plumbing etc.) and general renovation. Knowledge of design and detailing of complete projects including measured surveys, drawings and support documentation.
• Financial:
On smaller projects we can provide a cost control aspect for the project including the valuation and issuing the certificates. On larger projects will co-ordinate with the quantity surveyor to ensure that the project is completed within the agreed budget.
• Management:
Coordinating consultants, contractors and any other specialists required to complete projects on time and to the standards required. Dealing directly with the client to determine their needs and design the project accordingly.
• Computer:
The practice has computer aided drafting facilities. The principles have worked for many years with hands on experience with projects of many sizes on the computer.

Practice Profile

The practice was formed from the practice Peter Leach associates on the retirement of one of the two partners, Mr Saxena. Mr Saxena was one of the original partner who formed Peter Leach Associates in 1977. Whilst working at Peter Leach Associates in 1989 Mr. Fish was offered the position of Associate, with a view to him becoming a Partner in the practice at a later date. On retirement of one of the existing Partners in 1991, Mr. Fish became a Partner of Peter Leach Associates and was a Partner until 2000, when on the retirement of his Partner he continued the practice on his own. The practice was renamed to reflect the new management of the practice. Mr. Baines who Mr. Fish had known since college, joined him as an Associate in the new practice. Mr. Baines has worked at various practices from small to large since his qualification in 1987 both in this country and in Germany. Both of the principles have been involved with many projects, both large and small scale.
The principles in the firm provide a wide base of knowledge from the management through to detailed construction of projects. On any of the projects the practice undertakes it ensures it has a partner who is in direct control. Our aim as a practice is to provide a high level of professional service to our clients concluding with a project finished to a high standard. The principles have worked on a wide spectrum of projects giving the practice a confidence to deal with most types of buildings and we are always keen to enter new areas where the same principles of quality can be applied.

Practice Experience

Housing:

The principles of the practice have experience in a very wide range of domestic work from small to large-scale projects. The smaller end of the range of projects carried out include extensions of various sizes to incorporate items such as cellars, offices, children's play rooms and granny flats. The larger projects include new houses, from a small two-bedroom house to a block of 18 luxury flats and maisonettes on the Thames. One of the partners whilst with previous practices has worked on projects including sheltered housing, housing association work and boarding accommodation for a school project. Refurbishment work to existing buildings has also been feature of our workload including projects such as the conversion of a Grade II listed Victorian stable into six luxury houses, conversion of an equestrian centre Grade II listed into four large houses, barn conversions, dividing existing houses into flats, providing a block of flats in conjunction with a new school and providing further flats in a privately owned mixed use building.

Commercial accommodation:

The principles have a varied range of experience in this field for both private, commercial and institutional clients. Examples of work types covered are conversion of a warehouse into office accommodation on five floors in central London for an individual client for their own office use as well as letting. A four-storey office block in Purley for a speculative developer. A speculative development for multi unit letting. A corporate headquarters for a multinational corporation. Several projects for office conversion and refurbishment for various corporate clients including Barclays Bank Plc and the Royal Bank of Scotland for whom we have previously been retained as Architects. We have also worked on space planning schemes in existing office spaces. We have also carried out work for the office areas of the High Commission of India. We have prepared a scheme for five shop units in Park Lane Mayfair for an investment corporation. We between us have worked on restaurant schemes of various sizes. These range from the alteration of an existing building with extension into a Indian restaurant to experience working on large-scale outlets such as Planet Hollywood..

Banking:

The practice has been involved with banking work since its inception in 1977 for the Leeds Permanent Building Society, Barclays Bank and the Royal Bank of Scotland. The refurbishment and extension of branches has been over a very wide area, in the centre of London to and to a great many types of buildings including ones that are listed or in conservation areas.

Churches:

We have been involved with two new build churches for one client and proposals for three others, which due to funding available are on hold for the moment. The practice was awarded a civic trust award for the church that was built in Purley.

General:

Our practice will undertake projects from any area if we feel we can provide a service to the standard we expect. Some examples of work not covered in the areas shown above include extensions to a nursing home in Wimbledon, a doctor's surgery in Greenwich and hostels for the Missionaries of Charity in Kilburn. We have also through our involvement with the High Commission of India designed a statue base in Montreal Place off the Aldwych in the centre of London for a bronze bust cast in India.