17 services · Sussex & Surrey
Residential
Extensions, conversions and whole-home projects for homeowners, with site visits across West Sussex, East Sussex and Surrey.
Extensions
Block of Flats Design Services
Purpose-Built Apartment Blocks Designed for Approval and Delivery. Nationwide.
Why Developers Choose Our Block of Flats Design Services
A block of flats succeeds or fails on its core, its fire strategy and how many good units fit around them. ArchEvolve is MCIAT-chartered and designs every block as a coordinated Revit model, so layouts, stairs and services are resolved together before planning.
- 15 years of experience
- 350 planning approvals secured
- 500 projects completed
- Revit 3D modelling as standard
- MCIAT-chartered accreditation
Our services
Flats Design and Related Services
Most blocks start with housing development feasibility to test capacity and unit mix. Where flats form part of a wider scheme with houses, see our new build housing schemes and residential development design. Once approved, our technical design for housing developments service prepares the Building Regulations package.
20 services · Nationwide
Developers & Commercial
Planning and technical design for developers and commercial clients across England.
Developer services
Site & feasibility
15 services · Homeowners and developers
Planning & Drawings
From the first feasibility check to construction drawings, in the order a project needs them.
01Feasibility & survey
02Planning
03Technical & construction
Block of Flats Design: Getting the Core and Mix Right
Our block of flats design services cover purpose-built apartment buildings, from small blocks of a handful of units to larger multi-storey schemes. Design starts with the core: stair, lift, risers and corridor, because these fix the efficiency of every floor and the fire strategy. Around the core we plan a unit mix that suits local policy and the market, then resolve parking, bin and cycle storage, amenity space and how the building sits in the street.
Common challenges
- Cores and corridors eating into the net saleable area
- Unit mix that does not match local need or market demand
- Fire strategy left until after the layout is fixed
- Bin and cycle stores added late and squeezed into the site
- Height and massing that trigger objections over overlooking
- Taller blocks caught by stricter building safety rules late on
How ArchEvolve solves them
- Core options tested early to maximise efficiency on every floor
- Unit mix shaped by local policy, housing need and agent feedback
- Escape, compartmentation and fire service access designed in from day one
- Refuse and cycle storage planned to council standards at layout stage
- Massing tested in 3D against neighbours, street and key views
- Height and storey count checked against safety thresholds from the outset
How an ArchEvolve Project Works
Every block of flats moves through a defined design sequence, from site capacity to a construction-ready package.
Site and Brief
We review the site, planning policy, surrounding building heights and your target unit numbers, and confirm what a block here is likely to support.
Core and Massing
Core positions, storey heights and footprint options are tested in Revit to find the most efficient form the council is likely to accept.
Unit Mix Layouts
We plan one, two and three bedroom flats against space standards, aspect and daylight, and report the net to gross efficiency of each option.
External Spaces
Access, parking, cycle storage, bin stores, amenity space and landscaping are laid out so the ground floor works for residents and collection crews.
Planning Application
We prepare plans, elevations, sections, street scenes and Enscape views, coordinate consultant reports and manage the application through to decision.
Fire and Compliance
Fire strategy, sound separation, accessibility and energy requirements are developed with specialist consultants and coordinated in the model.
Technical Package
We issue Building Regulations and construction drawings for each floor and flat type, coordinated with structural and services engineers.
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Blocks of Flats Designed for Sites Across the UK
The 3D Difference for Block of Flats Design
In 2D, a stair that clashes with a beam or a riser that misses a flat is often found on site. ArchEvolve models the whole block in Revit and renders it in Enscape, so cores, floors and elevations stay coordinated and you see the finished building before planning.
3D Visualisations Included
Every block is rendered in Enscape from street level and above, which helps with planning officers, funders and early sales conversations.
Efficient Core Planning
Core and corridor options are tested in the model early, so you know the net saleable area before planning drawings are produced.
UK-Wide Remote Delivery
Blocks of flats are designed for developers across the UK over Microsoft Teams, with site visits arranged when the site calls for one.
End-to-End Service
Alex Page designs your block personally from site capacity to construction drawings. No handoffs and no junior staff working on your scheme.
Block of Flats Design Across the UK
ArchEvolve designs blocks of flats for property developers anywhere in the UK, working remotely over Microsoft Teams and visiting the site when needed.
What do your block of flats design services include?
The service covers site and policy review, core and massing studies, unit mix layouts, external spaces, the planning application with Enscape visuals, fire and compliance coordination, and Building Regulations and construction drawings. Every stage is built from one Revit model, so the information stays consistent from first sketch to site.
How many flats can I fit on my site?
It depends on site size, the height the council will accept, parking policy, amenity space and the unit mix. We test several massing and core options in 3D and give you a unit count backed by space standards and daylight, rather than a figure from a rule of thumb.
Do flats have to meet minimum space standards?
Many councils in England apply the nationally described space standard through their local plan, which sets minimum floor areas by number of bedrooms and occupants. Even where it is not adopted, lenders and buyers expect sensible sizes, so we design to it by default.
What does the Building Safety Act mean for a new block of flats?
In England, residential buildings of at least 18 metres or seven storeys with two or more homes are classed as higher-risk. They need a fire statement at planning stage and approval from the Building Safety Regulator before work starts, so height is a design decision with programme consequences.
Do new blocks of flats need a second staircase?
Fire safety guidance in England has been updated so that new residential buildings at or above the same 18 metre threshold need a second staircase, with transitional arrangements for schemes already in the system. We confirm the current position for your scheme before the core is fixed.
How much space do bin and cycle stores need?
Councils set their own standards for refuse capacity, collection distances and cycle parking, and they differ widely. We read the local guidance at layout stage and plan stores that are secure, convenient for residents and reachable by collection vehicles, so they are not squeezed in later.
Can you design flats as part of a larger housing scheme?
Yes. Blocks often sit alongside houses, and our new build housing schemes service covers whole-site layouts. Our Sea Road, East Preston project, for example, combined five new-build homes and a block of flats on a coastal site.
Do you work with structural and fire engineers?
Yes. Blocks of flats need structural and services engineers and often a fire engineer. We coordinate their input in the Revit model so the design stays consistent, and our construction drawings service turns the coordinated design into information your contractor can build from.
Frequently Asked Questions
Start Your Block of Flats Design Today
Free initial consultation for developers UK-wide. Share your site and target unit numbers and we will tell you what is realistic.
