Troy Kidsley Architecture Ltd - riba chartered practice

Troy Kidsley Architecture Limited is a RIBA Chartered Architects Practice based in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter and Bromsgrove Town Centre. With 20 years of experience in a diverse range of projects we offer the complete RIBA package.

The practice now manages a wide range of projects from large domestic extensions and new builds, housing, logistics and education.

We have eight professional staff over two sites offering a quality service to help our clients meet the expectations of their projects.

Currently on site: Completion by Christmas 2026

An affordable housing development at Winyates Way Redditch. The disused Catholic Churchwas demolished to make way for 25 two, three and four bedroom houses. Utilising Modern Methods of Construction, these houses were manufactured in a factory by LoCal Homes. Work to complete on site in Autumn 2026.

Chequers Lane is a part joint venture between Jonathan Sproule Developments and Walsall Housing Group. The site has planning for 33No. dwellings which will all be affordable and giving priority to those in the local community. There are a mix of one, two, three and four bedroom houses on the site with a mixture of affordable tenures. Currently on site, the work is expected to finish on phase one in late 2027.

The proposal will replace failing buildings with high-quality, affordable homes: 2B4P, 2B3P, 1B2P apartments. Private balconies and gardens will complement a communal courtyard designed to encourage community interaction, with parking overlooked by surrounding homes.

Drawing on existing building heights and local character, the scheme will optimise housing density and serve as a gateway to a proposed four-phase regeneration of the area.

The project was undertaken for Wilmott Dixon and Walsall Housing Group, for a proposed regeneration scheme to build up to 250 residential units including associated internal access roads, parking and landscaping to replace 150 units of old stock housing that was thermally inefficient and constructed from BSIF and no fines concrete panels.

It is envisaged that the proposal will provide a wide mix of residential units including the number of 1- and 2-bedroom apartments and a good mix of two to three-bedroom houses plus a small assortment of four-bedroom houses.

The proposal is designed to provide a good mix and distribution of unit types to cater for the widest variety of local housing need within Walsall and the local area of Bloxwich. All the properties will be affordable with the general mix of 60% 3-bedroom houses 30% two-bedroom houses and 10% of apartments.

The proposed development is landscape driven and therefore includes substantial amounts of landscape enhancements including a large area of public open space through the centre of the proposal. This area will provide useful and attractive communal space with walkways and landscape planting to provide focal points and desirable amenities for the new residents. In addition the open space provides an appropriate development buffer to the local nature reserve beyond the canal.

This is a building in Leamington Spa called Southfields. It was opened in 1982 by Princess Diana as retirement flats, but with each unit having a total living area of 28sq.m, they were tight on space to say the least. The building is not pretty, definitely of its time and is shaped like a hexagonal doughnut. It is well built, but structurally complicated and has level changes across the ground floor for no apparent reason, as the site is level! By utilising all the communal areas and the massive roof space, we have maintained the same number of units, but all now meet or exceed the NDSS. With the help of Frampton Town Planning Ltd we have secured planning approval with no objections. Our early feasibility studies with ARK Consultancy Ltd, looked at knocking it down as one option, but with careful thought we can re purpose the building and hopefully make it look just a little prettier! Sometimes it is better to work with what you have rather than replace.

FROM CONCEPT TO A SELF-SUFFICIENT AI DATA CENTRE

We recently explored an ambitious question as part of a feasibility for a client:

Could a 40,000 m² data centre operate predominantly from its own renewable and low-carbon infrastructure, without placing a significant additional burden on local electricity and water services?

The initial masterplan brought together:

• A 40,000 m² data centre
• A 27.7 MWe biomass combined heat and power plant
• Approximately 300,000 m² of solar panels across 205 acres
• 64 battery-storage containers
• On-site cooling-water and stormwater storage

At first glance, this appears to be a highly self-sufficient energy campus. However, the feasibility depends less on the building’s floor area and more on what happens inside it.

THE CONCLUSION

Self-sufficiency must be designed from the required IT load backwards.

A large building does not automatically require a large electrical load, and a large solar farm does not automatically make a facility continuously self-sufficient.

The successful design is the one that aligns:

• Computing capacity
• Firm power
• Renewable energy
• Energy storage
• Cooling technology
• Water availability
• Stormwater management
• Phased occupation

The final concept is therefore not a fully fitted 200 MW AI facility pretending to be self-sufficient.

It is a scalable 40,000 m² AI campus beginning with a genuinely supportable 25–30 MW phase, using closed-loop cooling, harvested rainwater, on-site generation and carefully planned expansion.

That is a more credible route to resilient, low-impact digital infrastructure—and a far stronger foundation for the planning, engineering and investment process.

Working within the conservation zone and the green belt in Barnt Green we were asked to find a way to incorporate a home office within the existing space available. Our solution was to utitilise existing roof space and connect it to the first floor circulation area. The existing structure was partly demolished so we could provide the best result.

Mix of two, three and four bed family homes in Gloucester designed to meet Code Level 3. 

The new development at Musket Close and Culverin Close in Gloucester has received a Commendation in Best Housing Scheme category at Gloucester Civic Awards 2012.

The judging panel described the scheme as “A very attractive and thoughtfully designed small housing development.  It is well intentioned and a good investment of new affordable homes for the community.”

Total project value approx £1,500,000.

Status: Completed Autumn 2011

In order to maximize on their investment, our clients had to find the best solution for the site. Our design incorporates a flexible retail area of either 1 or 4 units. Above this we have designed 12 number one and two bedroom apartments that have terraces accessed via large sliding screens for the main living spaces.

Current Status: Planning Approved

This project was designed to retain the historical structure of Hereford Butter Market, yet update it for the 21st century retail experience. The project value was £8.5m, and TKA succeeded in being on the shortlist of four in this national design competition

Set in two acres of beautiful gardens, our client wanted to take advantage of the views. The proposal is a long and low glazed extension that 'floats' along the lawn. We engaged with the conservation officer early on and agreed that a modern design would be appropriate in this cluster of listed buildings set within the green belt.

After much deliberation, our client decided that replacing the existing tired bungalow was the best option for the site.  Our task was to work within the Green Belt rules and design a home worthy of the location. Photographs courtesy of Walton and Hipkiss estate agents.

After a number of years of planning, Eco Pod Homes can now deliver to the Industry a product that will solve the housing shortage. Our product should be adopted as the Industry standard.  Our solution can deliver new homes that are fully fitted and complete to move into, when delivered to the site.  Each home is constructed in a factory designed environment and when required is delivered to site ready for occupation.  The product is a self stacking building system, with integrated mechanical and electrical services that can be delivered as standard or as a bespoke unit.
Every size of home can be selected from 1 bed apartment to a 5 bed home.
Each home can have specific markers built in to allow for customisation and individuality for buyers.
Our construction methodology is up to 70% faster than standard construction methods, with delivery to site within 14 days.
Due to Eco Pod Homes standardised manufacturing methods, waste materials, vehicle movements and energy use are reduced to a minimum.
Each home utilises fabric first principle, with 25% improvement on emissions, air tightness as low as 1m³, MVHR, lowest embodied CO² and all materials are naturally sustainable.
All Eco Pod Homes come fully fitted with the kitchen, bathrooms, plumbing and heating, doors, windows, electricals and fully decorated.
Our manufacturing method allows our product to be built and stored in large numbers at our storage facilities throughout the UK.
Our unique housing design and pad system, allows us to upscale to any requirement for the UK market. This product is very flexible and fits with in most developments from sites as little as 1 unit to a whole town plan. Our manufacturing base allows EcoPod Homes to potentially deliver up to 100,000 units. This is a solution that no one else can offer in helping with the national housing shortage in the UK.

If you would like to know more about Ecopod, please email troy@ecopodhomes.com

A series of executive lodges in the grounds of an exclusive golf course. The lodges have been designed to comply with the Caravan Act, but offer high standards of build quality and insulation

Troy Kidsley Architecture has undertaken a number of large housing schemes during the past few years.  With major house builders and land owners we have provided architect services from master planning to fully detailed specification and contract administration.

Emulating a barn type structure, the study centre incorporates exhibition and learning facilities for schools and educational groups. The facilities also include residential accommodation for students.

Current Status: On Site

Our practice was asked to look at remodelling a tired 1960's detached house in the Lickey Hills in Bromsgrove.  The brief asked for additional living space to include a master en-suite bedroom and additional family space.  The position and footprint of the property allowed us to add an extension at the front.  As you can see from the before and after, it was quite a transformation.

The Original Farm House had become tired and required a substantial amount of work plus extensions to bring it up to the requirements of our client.  The most feasible solution was to demolish and rebuild a house that met all the current standards.

The House is constructed from Green Oak with high efficiency insulated panels between.

Unfasionable homes can be improved with a little thought and changes to style and materials. Here we were able to extend the house forwards and create additional rooms and at the same time completely change the look of the property.

The refurbishment and extension of a 1920's house that is situated at the top of the hill and overlooks Bromsgrove Town Centre with views of the Church beyond.  The design is purposefully modern so as not to be a pastiche of the existing house.  Planning Approved - On Site early 2027.

After much deliberation the client decided that it was more cost effective to replace the existing dwelling. The design takes cues from the Arts & Crafts movement with the added benefit of modern technology & renewable energy. The layout has been designed to make the most of the south westerly aspect with all the primary living space leading onto a raised Terrance overlooking the garden.

Status: Completed 2012 

The site lies within the greenbelt where there is an existing livery yard which has a Certificate of Lawful Use for eleven livery stables. Our brief was to design a carbon zero live-work unit that would have minimum impact on the site and surrounding countryside, and form a replacement to the livery yard.  Photographs courtesy of Walton and Hipkiss estate agents.

The proposed live/work unit will give its owner the ability to live & work in one location, avoiding energy consumption, pollution and related costs of commuting thereby introducing environmental benefits over and above those which could physically be achieved by the removal of the current uses on the site.

Key Features:
Ground Source Heating | PV Solar Panels
Sun Tracking Glazing | Rainwater Harvesting
Reduced Traffic | Earth Covered
Sustainable Materials

Status: Design Exercise

The house was designed to take in beautiful views across the countryside. The tall windows and high ceiling help create a sense of the outside being part of the inside 

Total project value: £250,000

Completed 2014