steppDESIGN - Glasgow Stepps up design quality

Glasgow’s reputation as a city at the cutting edge of creativity has been boosted by the relocation of one of the UK’s fastest growing urban design firms.
steppDESIGN was set up in London last year by David Chapman and Scott Elliott Adams. The company has now chosen Glasgow as their new home and European headquarters.
Specialists in urban design and regeneration, the consultancy focuses on town centre regeneration, neighbourhood and residential development.
steppDESIGN aims to employ 30 highly skilled graduates in the city within three years and is being supported in their move by a substantial Regional Selective Assistance grant, Scottish Enterprise Glasgow and Scottish Development International.
The partners have worked extensively over the last year to secure a private sector led funding package that will allow the firm to establish Glasgow as a centre for urban excellence.
According to the co-founder David Chapman, Glasgow has a pool of some of the best urban design, planning and architecture skills in the UK.
“Hundreds of millions of pounds are being spent on regeneration in Scotland alone at the moment along the Clyde waterfront, Glasgow’s east end and the renewal and improvement of the city’s housing stock. So from an urban design point of view, it is a boom town and has the skill base to service this growth and wider European and worldwide markets.”
“The city’s universities are producing some of the most talented people working in this sector and combined with its great location for our target market and its vibrant creative atmosphere it was an easy decision to make to come to Glasgow.”
The company has already been appointed by private sector clients, the Commission of Architecture and the Built Environment, the Scottish Executive, Architecture + Design Scotland and the Improvement Service on a variety of projects. At present they are short listed for urban regeneration projects in Scotland, England, the US and China.
SE Glasgow’s director of growing business, Debbie Mackie said:
“Performing arts, design, music, television production and other creative industries is one of the city’s fastest growing employment sectors. With developments like Pacific Quay and the Merchant City coming on stream we have the capacity to offer these types of companies an unrivalled working environment.
“Urban design is becoming a discipline in its own right but has been low profile in Glasgow until now. This decision by steppDESIGN will ensure some of the city’s best graduates qualifying in this discipline don’t have to go elsewhere to pursue their chosen career.”

Email: craig.cowbrough@scotent.co.uk