Corstorphine & Wright increases south coast presence with acquisition of local practice | News

Corstorphine & Wright has acquired Hampshire-based architecture practice Brightspace Architects as it seeks to expand its operations in the south of England.

Brightspace was founded in 2010 and now employs over 20 people at its office in Fordingbridge, on the edge of the New Forest.

The deal is the latest in a series of acquisitions by Corstorphine & Wright, which last year acquired London architecture practice Lipton Plants, expanding its UK practice base to 11.

Brightspace works across a wide range of sectors including residential regeneration, education, retail, leisure and bespoke housing.

The company is currently working with Bournemouth Development Company on the £100m Winter Gardens regeneration project in Bournemouth, which is to deliver 352 homes and 4,000 sq m of leisure space in buildings of up to 15 storeys.

Corstorphine & Wright, which currently employs more than 300 staff, said the merger would combine the resources of both companies to “drive innovation and growth” in the region.

Michael Walters, group director of Corstorphine & Wright, said the deal “represents a significant milestone in our journey as a business, expanding into a region of the UK with huge growth potential”.

“Together we will continue to push the boundaries of design and sustainability by designing places that inspire and enhance the lives of the people who use them,” he said.

Brightspace director Martin Dobbs added: “Joining forces with Corstorphine & Wright is an exciting opportunity for us.

“Our shared values ​​and commitment to excellence make this merger a natural fit for us.”

Recent Corstorphine & Wright developments in the south of England include a 384-home development in Southampton on the site of the former Hawkstone Properties gasworks.