17 services · Sussex & Surrey
Residential
Extensions, conversions and whole-home projects for homeowners, with site visits across West Sussex, East Sussex and Surrey.
Extensions
Mixed Use Development Design Services
Commercial Ground Floors and Homes Above, Designed to Work Together. Nationwide.
Why Developers Trust Our Mixed Use Development Design Services
Mixed use schemes fail on the details: a shared entrance, a noisy extract fan or bins with nowhere to go. ArchEvolve is MCIAT-chartered and coordinates commercial and residential floors in one Revit model, so separation, servicing and access are resolved before planning.
- 15 years of experience
- 350 planning approvals secured
- 500 projects completed
- Revit 3D modelling as standard
- MCIAT-chartered accreditation
Our services
Mixed Use Development and Related Services
Commercial ground floors draw on our commercial conversion services, while the homes above follow the same principles as our block of flats design. Where flats are being added to an existing building, see office to residential conversion and rooftop development design.
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
Mixed Use Development: Two Uses, One Building
Our mixed use development design services cover buildings that combine commercial space, usually on the ground floor, with homes above, whether new build or created from an existing high street property. Each use has its own use class, Building Regulations requirements and day-to-day needs. We design the separation, entrances, servicing and structure so shops, offices or cafes can trade without disturbing residents, and residents can live there without compromising the commercial unit.
Common challenges
- Noise and cooking smells from commercial units reaching flats above
- Residential entrances lost or hidden behind shopfronts
- Commercial and residential waste competing for the same space
- Flat layouts above clashing with open retail floor structure
- Fire separation between different uses and occupiers
- Uncertainty over which use classes the council will allow
How ArchEvolve solves them
- Acoustic separation and extract routes designed into the section
- Separate, visible residential entrances planned on the main frontage
- Separate refuse stores for commercial and residential occupiers
- Structural grid and transfer zones set out in Revit to suit both uses
- Compartmentation and independent escape routes designed for each use
- Use class strategy agreed early, with flexibility where policy allows
How an ArchEvolve Project Works
Every mixed use scheme follows a process that resolves both uses together rather than one after the other.
Site and Frontage
We review the site, town centre policy, active frontage requirements and the uses the council is likely to support at ground floor level.
Use Class Strategy
We agree the commercial use class, unit sizes and residential mix with you and your agents, including any flexibility for future occupiers.
Stacking and Structure
Commercial and residential floors are stacked in Revit with a structural grid, plant zones and risers that work for both uses.
Access and Servicing
Residential entrances, commercial deliveries, refuse stores, cycle parking and plant are planned so each use works independently.
Planning Application
We prepare drawings, street scenes and Enscape views, coordinate noise and other reports, and manage the application through to decision.
Separation Design
Fire compartmentation, acoustic separation and ventilation routes between uses are developed into the Building Regulations package.
Construction Information
We issue coordinated construction drawings for shell commercial units and finished flats, ready for your contractor and fit-out tenants.
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Mixed Use Schemes Designed for Sites Across the UK
The 3D Difference for Mixed Use Development Design
Where two uses share a building, the section matters as much as the plan. ArchEvolve models every floor in Revit and renders the scheme in Enscape, so structure, plant routes and entrances are coordinated and the street frontage can be judged before submission.
3D Visualisations Included
Every mixed use scheme is rendered in Enscape at street level, showing shopfronts, residential entrances and upper floors as officers and tenants will see them.
Coordinated From Day One
Structure, services and separation for both uses are resolved in one model early, which cuts redesign after planning and on site.
UK-Wide Remote Delivery
Mixed use developments are designed for developers across the UK over Microsoft Teams, with site visits arranged where the frontage needs one.
End-to-End Service
Alex Page runs your mixed use scheme personally from first review to construction drawings. No handoffs and no junior staff on your project.
Mixed Use Development Design Across the UK
ArchEvolve designs mixed use developments for property developers anywhere in the UK, from single high street buildings to larger schemes, working remotely over Microsoft Teams.
What do your mixed use development design services include?
The service covers site and frontage review, use class strategy, stacking and structural layout, access and servicing, the planning application with Enscape visuals, separation design for the Building Regulations and coordinated construction drawings for both the commercial units and the flats.
Which use classes apply to a mixed use building?
In England, most shops, offices, cafes and similar uses fall within Class E, homes are Class C3, and uses such as pubs and hot food takeaways are sui generis. The class you secure affects future flexibility, so we agree the strategy with you before the application is drafted.
How do you stop noise from shops reaching the flats?
Through layout and construction together: placing less sensitive rooms above commercial space, specifying separating floors to meet Part E sound requirements, isolating plant and routing extract ducts away from windows. Many councils also ask for a noise assessment, which we coordinate with an acoustic consultant.
Do the flats need a separate entrance?
Almost always. Residents need a secure entrance and escape route that does not pass through the commercial unit, and councils expect it to be visible and well lit. We plan entrances, stairs and post areas so the commercial frontage is not compromised.
Can I convert the upper floors of a shop into flats?
Often, yes, through a planning application or, in England, permitted development where eligible. Our 90 High Street project explored residential conversion of the upper floors while upgrading the ground floor for flexible retail or office use. Our office to residential conversion service covers this route.
How are waste and deliveries handled?
Commercial and residential waste are collected under different arrangements, so they normally need separate stores. We also plan delivery access, loading, cycle parking and plant space against the council’s standards, so the ground floor does not become a compromise between the two uses.
What is the agent of change principle?
National planning policy in England expects new development to integrate with existing businesses nearby, so if you put homes next to a pub, venue or workshop, the new scheme must mitigate the impact. We design for this from the start rather than leaving neighbours to absorb complaints.
Do you design commercial units to shell or full fit-out?
Usually commercial units are designed to shell with capped services for the tenant, while flats are designed to completion. We also design fit-outs: our Zappies project turned an industrial warehouse into a commercial unit with offices and a retail showroom. See our commercial portfolio.
Frequently Asked Questions
Start Your Mixed Use Development Today
Free initial consultation for developers UK-wide. Tell us about the site and the uses you have in mind to get started.
