Watson Batty Architects is celebrating its 50^th anniversary after a strong year-end performance, finishing 19% ahead of target.

Despite ongoing economic challenges, the Leeds and Loughborough-based practice ended the financial year with turnover of £3.72 million — just over £350,000 higher than last year.

The practice, which began a leadership transition earlier this year, credits much of its success to four core sectors, each supported by specialist teams.

• The combined living sector generated a strong pipeline, including the practice’s first high-volume student residential development in Cambridge, and finished 13% ahead of target. Key contracts include Springfield Vale Care Home if Barnsley for Exemplar Health Care and Spa Gardens 72-home development in County Durham for Wharfedale Homes.

• Education represented more than a third of total turnover and 24% ahead of sector target.  Key projects included Willowfield SEN School in Hull, Oulton Secondary School in Leeds and a new SEN school in Market Harborough. Watson Batty is well positioned to secure future commissions through the framework, while also pursuing our first Technical Advisor (TA) roles under CF25.

• Leisure was Watson Batty’s fastest-growing sector this financial year, expanding by more than 50%.  The practice is highly regarded for delivering major public sector projects, with recent successes including a new £2.3 million sports hall for Leicester Grammar School Trust and the Uriah Rennie Leisure Centre for Sheffield City Council.

• The commercial/industrial sector met its target despite a slower market, supported mainly by ongoing instructions from long-standing clients including Royal Mail and Wm Morrison Supermarkets, alongside new work from the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Justice. Watson Batty is also appointed to deliver a new commercial and office development for Zuka at One Lakeside in Doncaster.

Robert Jagger, Managing Director at Watson Batty Architects, said,

“We are delighted to report a record performance for the practice over the last 12 months which is particularly poignant as we celebrate 50 years in practice.  Longevity, reputation, trust and adaptability are the cornerstones to our continued success, and we are proud to maintain long standing relationships with our clients and supply chain.

“A balanced portfolio across key industry sectors has been vital to sustaining growth, and we remain committed to investing in our team and technical capabilities to stay at the forefront of architectural design.

“We have also made a strong start to the new financial year, with a secured pipeline already reaching £2.8 million which is 88% of our annual target.”

With a team of nearly 40 the practice is credited for a number of major public and private sector projects including schools, universities, sport and leisure, distribution facilities, commercial, master planning, residential and care developments and transport hubs.

Clients include Algeco, AtkinsRealis, Vistry, Verity & Co, Exemplar Health Care, Royal Mail Group, Kier, BAM, Wm Morrison Supermarkets, Yorkshire Housing, Torsion, Morgan Sindall Construction, Speller Metcalfe, Alliance Leisure, Tilbury Douglas and Willmott Dixon Construction.

The practice also supports the next generation of architects through the RIBA Student Mentoring Programme in partnership with Loughborough University and Leeds Beckett University.