Three of the UK’s top architectural practices have announced they are to form a unique alliance that they believe will help them win significant new business.

Stride Treglown, Keppie Design and Todd Architects will join forces to create 431 Architecture which will offer clients access to 18 studios and a team of over 500 staff covering the length and breadth of the UK and Ireland.

The new venture does not constitute a merger, instead each practice will continue to operate independently, but will combine forces when there is an opportunity to offer an enhanced service to new or existing clients. This could include large scale UK-wide projects or frameworks which the practices would not have undertaken on their own.

The alliance will cover 4 countries (England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales), combining 3 established practices, with 1 ethos – to deliver an excellent, responsive, approachable and people-focused architectural design service.

With 18 studios, from Inverness to Truro, London to Dublin, and Belfast to Cardiff, employing over 500 people, 431 Architecture would place as an entity in the top five of the Architects’ Journal’s top 120.

With a broad portfolio of award winning projects covering all the key markets, including healthcare, education, residential and commercial property, the alliance will now be able to offer skills and services to clients across a much wider geographical area.

David Hunter, chairman of Stride Treglown, said: “We are really excited about the prospects for this venture. Each of us has a strong and established reputation in our own right, but our approach and values are very similar, so together this Alliance has the potential to become a really significant presence in UK architecture.”

Martin English, director at Keppie Design, said: “We believe that 431 Architecture will open up a new range of business opportunities for us, allowing us to share knowledge and expertise and pool our resources. The Alliance will give Clients, consultants and contractors a new and exciting option to consider when looking at UK-wide projects or frameworks – particularly in the healthcare and education sectors where each of the three practices has a fantastic track record.”

Paul Crowe, director at Todd Architects, added: “The potential for 431 Architecture is to build on the collective expertise and knowledge of our respective practices. Anyone working with 431 can expect design excellence and a responsive local service from a team of very experienced, approachable and talented people who share the same vision and cultural approach. I am really looking forward to developing this Alliance, which I strongly believe will help all three practices to grow and diversify.”

Representatives from all three companies involved in 431 Architecture will be attending MIPIM 2016 – the international real estate show - in Cannes, France this week from 15th -18th March.