What is a Design Guardian?

We spoke with Associate Paul Stephens about his new role as a Design Guardian/Technical Adviser. Paul walks us through the details of this work, and why local authorities are bringing in and trusting design guardians more often.

Victoria Falzon promoted to Associate Director

Victoria has been promoted to Associate Director after joining our Civils & Structures department in April 2026. Victoria is diligent, a great collaborator and is incredibly deserving of this promotion.

More Affordable Housing in Fulham

Hunters’ Employer’s agent project Chelsea Riverview recently completed midway through 2026, as Hunters brought affordable living tenures to the riverside on behalf of The London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham.

Banstead Place Revived

Hunters has successfully completed Banstead Place. An extra-care later living development and conservation project for Birchgrove, located in Surrey and set within the historic grounds of Grade II listed Banstead House.

Hasan Receives a First With Honours

Hunters apprentice Hasan Ahmed, in our Civils & Structures Team has graduated with a first class BEng (hons) degree in Civil Engineering from London South Bank University.

Refurbishing Willowmere Care Centre

Hunters has completed the extensive refurbishment of Willowmere Care Centre in Barnet, transforming what was a vacant and severely deteriorated building into a modern, specialist care facility for adults living with neurological conditions, dementia and complex mental health needs. Originally known as Apthorp Care Centre, it closed in 2021 to allow essential fire safety and maintenance works to be undertaken, it remained vacant leaving much of the building in a considerable state of disrepair. Hunters were commissioned to bring life and practicalities back into the building. What has been created is a welcoming, homely and care-focused experience.

Rita Pena Promoted to Associate Director

Hunters Architect Rita Pena has been promoted to Associate Director.

Rita has been with Hunters for over four years, working within our Healthcare Architecture Team. With over twenty years of experience and expertise, Rita has successfully led and coordinated multiple complex and challenging multi-phase schemes.

A huge congratulations from all of us here at Hunters!

Hunters Continues To Support Future Talent

From school work experience, paid university placements and social value opportunities Hunters is giving  young people first-hand insight into life at a multidisciplinary consultancy. With nine placements taking place across the practice in 2026 and consistently positive feedback from students, schools and parents, our growing programme is helping to build confidence, inspire future careers and open doors into the industry.

Placing the Community at the Centre of Church Street

We are leading the architectural design for Church Street Sites B and C in Westminster, where an exceptionally early approach to community involvement is reshaping the design brief and the future outcome of the project. Church Street is one of Westminster’s most diverse and densely populated neighbourhoods, with a strong identity, a long-established market and a community that has lived with the prospect of regeneration for many years. For Hunters, this meant that the design process could not begin with propositions. It had to begin with trust, openness and a willingness to test assumptions before they became fixed.

Collaboration at the Heart of Daleham Gardens Crisis House

Hunters collaborated with North London NHS Foundation Trust to transform the crisis House at Daleham Gardens, sensitively refurbishing part of a three-storey building to better support both residents and staff. Working closely with service users, carers and staff, who all brought valuable lived experience, Hunters ensured that the House’s refurbishment was designed around the needs of the people who would use and work in it every day.