星空传媒

The UK鈥檚 largest architect.

in the healthcare sector has announced its intention to move into social housing and 鈥渉ealth-based鈥� regeneration.

Nightingale Associates, which has 300 staff and a 拢12m turnover, is the third largest architectural firm in England. It previously confined itself to health and education sectors.

The firm is part of public sector consultant Tribal, which bought housing鈥檚 biggest consultant Hacas Chapman Hendy in July 2003.

As a result of the buy-out Hacas, now Tribal HCH, also expanded into regeneration. Nightingale may buy another social housing architect, but declined to name names.

Alistair Cory, development director at Nightingale, said: 鈥淚 think the approach we want to bring, which is our unique selling point, is we want to do it in the context of health regeneration.

鈥淚t may be that we acquire a specific housing practice. Certainly it鈥檚 something we鈥檙e considering.鈥�

He said the company was experienced in residential projects such as hospital accommodation.

It would now seek out projects that combined a larger housing and regeneration component with a health element.

Cory said: 鈥淲e will be looking for projects that come under a regeneration umbrella but where there is, say, a major health private finance initiative.鈥�