Submission by Austin Design Works Ltd.
Being a good ancestor
Practice
1. Do you have a clearly stated purpose aligned with the planetary emergency? We’re looking for a bold ambition here, and a culture which recognises the need for long-term thinking.
Our mission is to have a positive impact on nature and the communities in which it works and its vision is a world in which collaborative, thoughtful design solutions can enable a better environment for all.
Low energy construction is of the highest importance to us. We use our expertise to create buildings that require minimal energy to construct and run whilst also creating healthy and comfortable internal environments.
Becoming a B Corporation in 2024 means that we are counted among businesses that are leading a global movement for an inclusive, equitable, and regenerative economy.
We intend to hit the climate 2030 targets set by RIBA with the projects that we undertake; we are also signatories of Architects Declare and the Better Business Act. By promoting building products, services and professional bodies that match our values with regards to Passivhaus, Biodiversity Net Gain and Net Carbon Zero, we are consistently reinforcing our commitment to addressing climate change.
2. Do you have a clearly stated purpose aligned with the planetary emergency? We’re looking for a bold ambition here, and a culture which recognises the need for long-term thinking.
No.
3. Do you share research and knowledge for the benefit of society and the wider world?
All of our projects are evaluated and we use this information to raise awareness of low energy construction as well as Biodiversity Net Gain, collaborating with Gloucestershire Nature + Climate Fund and also by delivering talks to developers, end users, planners and Universities across the South West of England. The practice delivers BNG CPD talks to architects, and provides visiting critics to University of the West of England and University of Gloucestershire.
Project
1. Do you advocate for long-term thinking at the outset of work? Do you initiate work with long-term thinking and challenge clients? Also, can the organisation demonstrate that this approach has worked?
We state within all of our fee proposals that as signatories of Architects Declare and RIBA’s 2030 Climate Challenge are are very much committed to strive for low-carbon buildings and ecologically positive landscapes in our work. We advise our clients that we use Passivhaus Planning Package to measure the inuse energy performance of the property as part of our design process. We also state that we would wish to use the plug-in PHribbon to measure embodied and sequestered carbon in the building’s construction
materials. We discuss the various building energy standards that could be targeted, and how these compare to the legal minimum set by Building Regulations. This has the benefit of allowing us to provide accurate information on the energy and thermal requirements to either Services Engineers or to potential suppliers of renewables so that they are able to provide suitable design solutions and specifications.
2. Does your work take account of the future climate and the need for resilience?
Where practical, these things are considered and incorporated however the client’s brief and budget are determining factors. Our private domestic clients will often future-proof for later life; we have designed two homes set on removable screw pile footings. Numerous buildings have been designed for phased expansion, such as a local sports clubhouse which has been expanded once since initial completion and further expansions are planned for 2026 as club’s membership grows and evolves; the same building is simply constructed and easily demountable, all constructed and clad in timber.
This philosophy is applied where possible, particularly to lower-budget projects.
3. Does the majority of your work go beyond mitigating negatives and towards optimising positives?
A project built in the 1930’s was transformed into a future proof family home, fully insulated on the outside to minimise heat loss. Triple-glazed windows were installed and all elements of the building were carefully detailed to optimise performance. The results of the airtightness test were outstanding, with air changes per hour (ACH) well below the typical retrofit benchmark at 1.71 ACH. This airtightness, combined with MVHR, ensured a steady supply of fresh, filtered air making the internal environment extremely healthy. To further enhance energy efficiency the home was upgraded with an Air Source Heat Pump, replacing the previous heating system with a low-carbon alternative. The project is ahead of the RIBA’s 2030 Climate Pledge targets, and gives us valuable experience which we can now share with others. 80% of projects in 2025 go beyond the RIBA 2030 Pledge target and we are on target to achieving 100% by 2026/2027.
Co-evolving with nature
Practice
1. Do you use biophilia within your premises and/or do you regularly gather in natural settings?
Our studio has a multitude of flowering plants both inside and out and is located in a beautiful garden with space for enjoying a calming break during the working day. We are also located in a rural location with walks out into countryside on our doorstep.
2. Can you share examples of where you have considered nature in decision making?
No.
3. Are you supporting nature locally and nationally?
During 2025 we secured tree canopy cover for the future with new tree planting in the centre of Nailsworth, providing the structural elements to the new Textile Heritage Planting Scheme, a design that includes many dye plants. The proposal re-connects people with the river in the centre of town and the industrial mills it powered. Helping to enable this community scheme bring the past to the present will become part of our legacy and a reminder of our connection to the town.
Project
1. Can you demonstrate work that strives to match the performance of a mature ecosystem?
The natural environment is incredibly important to us and when planning a project we always seek to protect and enrich the natural landscape. Our outdoor spaces are designed to become rich habitats for bees, butterflies and birds and we collaborate with ecologists to create ideal habitats for wildlife to thrive. When providing a master-planning application for the development of 28 homes in 2024 we were able to achieve a massive +17.37% increase in biodiversity net gain. The brief for the project was providing space for nature and people; providing clean air and mitigating flood events, allowing people to engage with nature through play, exercise and community activities, and in turn benefitting people through better physical and mental health. The ambition of the proposal provided young people with skills in land management, as well as getting the community engaged in their neighbourhood via the creation of a heritage orchard and providing space for village events.
2. Are you working on material stewardship?
We calculate energy use on all of our building projects, whether they are extensions, renovations or new build. We use Passivhaus PHribbon to assess whole life carbon and embodied carbon emissions in buildings.
By making informed environmental design decisions, it enables more and more of our projects to align with evolving sustainability regulations such as the RIBA 2030 Climate Challenge and UKGBC net-zero targets.
When designing homes, PHribbon is particularly useful as it provides us, with clear and quantifiable insights into the carbon footprint of our projects, ensuring that early-stage decisions contribute to long-term sustainability goals. By integrating carbon analysis with Passivhaus energy modelling, it enables a holistic approach where energy efficiency and carbon reduction go hand in hand. This means that when specifying materials, insulation, or construction techniques, we can evaluate not just their impact on thermal performance but also their contribution to overall emissions, creating healthy buildings for the future.
3. Does the majority of your work demonstrate the use of biologically-inspired approaches such as Bioregionalism, Biophilia or Biomimicry?
No.
Creating a just space for people
Practice
1. Do you have a progressive EDI policy and can you evidence many forms of diversity, which are welcomed and acknowledged, within your company/organisation?
We have a written EDI policy which is shared with our team.
2. Do you operate a no overtime culture, meet the living wage consistently, and stipulate a fair salary ratio between staff of all levels?
Our colleagues are encouraged to fulfil their specified tasks within normal working hours, however, due to deadlines this is not always possible and if work is completed outside of normal hours then time off in lieu is always recognised and insisted upon by senior management.
3. Do you support charities, community groups, social enterprises, action groups and others through pro-bono work, charitable giving or in-kind donations?
Since 2024 we have been partnering with two non-profit organisations that resonate with us; A City Farm in Gloucester and our local Nailsworth Town Council. Both organisations have been able to make use of our skills and expertise in both landscape design, architecture and planning to move their projects forward. We also support the local climate change initiative in Nailsworth.
4. Do you use an ethical framework to assess opportunities and/or supply chain partners and is them team consulted on these decisions?
We are committed to working with those companies whose values align with our own. We screen our collaborators by issuing a questionaire covering environmental and humanitarian issues.
Project
1. Does your work demonstrate deep engagement with local stakeholders and end users?
An example, we co-designed a local playground with parents and children through on-site workshops and social-media consultation; similarly, developing a masterplan for green space in our local town for the Town
Council. When working on community projects this typically involves community consultation. Much of our work is for private homeowners, which is inherently co-designed and very collaborative as these are personal, bespoke projects for our clients.
2. Does your work create connected and resilient communities which positively contribute to neighbourhoods and allow equality of access?
Working closely with communities and delivering good design, the economic benefits of many projects have extended beyond our clients’ original scope. For example, Horsley Playground has supported the village shop, and the Museum in the Park’s walled garden has become a multi-use space, generating many income streams for the organisation. Our long standing relationship with Ruskin Mill College has enabled us to create space for adults with special needs, providing them with facilities that offer them independence, and a safe environment for learning and creativity in beautiful surroundings.
3. Does the majority of your work promote equity in society, and consider all people, not only building inhabitants
Austin Design Works Ltd has a zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery, and we are committed to acting ethically and with integrity in all our business dealings and relationships and to implementing and enforcing
effective systems and controls to ensure modern slavery is not taking place anywhere in our own business or in any of our supply chains. We are also committed to ensuring there is transparency in our own business and in our approach to tackling modern slavery throughout our supply chains, consistent with our disclosure obligations under the Modern Slavery Act 2015. This policy applies to all persons working for us or on our behalf in any capacity, including employees at all levels, directors, officers, agency workers, seconded workers, volunteers, interns, agents, contractors, external consultants, third-party representatives, and business partners.