Client Focused Services

How mbo architects York can Help You

At McNeil Beechey O'Neill Architects York LLP, we are able to provide our clients with a complete architectural service from initial appraisals through to completion of works and beyond. During our 30+ years in practice as chartered architects in York we have built a wealth of experience working with homeowners, builders, developers, businesses and institutions.

As a Chartered Practice of Architects York, you will have the comfort of knowing that we provide our broad range of architectural design services in accordance with the RIBA's Plan of Work, which you can see below. For most clients we provide a full service from stages 1 to 6. Although we are happy to discuss tailored services for a development, as we accept the individuality of each client and their project, is a special requirement that deserves our best attention.

Mbo Architects York also understand that building project can often seem to be a complex undertaking, however, we do pride ourselves in understanding our clients’ needs, guiding them through each stage of the design, planning and construction processes.

We have a proven track record of delivering thoughtfully designed commercially viable projects that satisfy the needs of the users and our clients alike.

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In a nutshell

Whatever your project type, we offer a free initial consultation. Whereby we establish the client requirements (the brief), explore constraints and opportunities before providing a fee quote that responds to the services required by you the client. Of course we will then guide you through the next steps, whether that be conceptual drawings, planning drawings/consents, Building Regulations or getting your project on site.

McNeil Beechey Architects York cover most parts of the UK, from our architects studio in York. If you are a Home Owner, Builder, Developer, Design & Build Contractor, whether your project is Domestic, residential, commercial, conservation and listed building, or retirement living to name a few. You can find a broad range of our works in our portfolio.

It doesn't matter if you are just after a bit of advice, feel free to contact us, and we will be happy to guide you through the next steps.

First Steps - RIBA Stages 1+2

All relationships start with a conversation, likewise, the first step in the Client Architect relationship is to meet to discuss your project. This will allow us to develop a project brief outlining the scope of the project along with the specific requirements you may have. From the agreed brief we will develop feasibility sketches for discussion. Your preferred sketch option will then be developed through ongoing consultation with you, to produce a series of images exploring the agreed proposals in plan form and 3D model/sketch.

Quite often these sketch proposals will also form part of the pre application discussions with the local planning authority to confirm feasibility and consultation requirements in preparation for a full planning application.

Negotiating Planning - RIBA Stages 3+4

Mbo Architects will then develop the sketch proposals into a detailed set of drawings in preparation for submitting and obtaining planning approval. During this stage we will conduct further discussions with the planning authority and other statutory bodies, as required in order to gain feedback on the proposals.

Once complete we will prepare and submit all the relevant forms with the required drawings and documents, continue to manage the application process to obtain the required result.

Detail Design and Construction

RIBA Stages 5+6

Once the coveted planning approval has been obtained we will further develop the drawings to a technical level, ready to submit for Building Regulations approval. For some domestic projects the Approved drawing at building regulation approval stage, may be enough for a competent builder to carry out the required works. However, on more complex projects and part of a full service we will further develop the proposals to form a full set of construction drawings with a specification. This information can be sent out to a number of contractors to tender for the works.

During construction we can administer the building contract on your behalf, conducting regular site visits in order to check and ensure progress of the building works, as per the contract.

McNeil Beechey O'Neill Architects have been a firm of Chartered Architects in York for over 30 years. You will appreciate therefore that we hold the relevant knowledge and expertise to carry out works in accordance with the whole RIBA Plan of work. The content of each stage of the RIBA Plan of Work varies to suit specific projects. We will guide you through the whole design, planning and construction processes, and tailor the plan of work to suit your individual agreed brief.

More About Our Services

MBO have always shown a willingness to listen

MBO Architects and there predecessor practices have carried out numerous housing and supported housing projects for York Housing Association, over a period of more than 40 years. The practice’s understanding of the needs of our tenants, particularly those with learning disabilities requiring supported housing, has enabled us to provide consistently high quality accommodation, both by new construction and the conversion of existing properties. Close to attention to our brief and close consultation with our staff has been a feature of the relationship between the two organisations. MBO have always shown a willingness to listen and to learn, the latter particularly in relation to the ever-changing requirements of our regulators.

John Gilham Development & Property Director

MBO Architects did a first class job for us

MBO Architects did a first class job for us. The design of our extension is excellent and they supervised the whole projects from start to finish with skill, and eye to detail and friendly efficiency.

Professor Sir John and Lady Dorothy Lawton Heslington

A testament to the skill of the Architects, McNeil Beechey O’Neill

Cropton Reading Room is a testament to the skill of the Architects, McNeil Beechey O’Neill and I have no hesitation in recommending them in the future. Our refurbished reading rooms and village hall were officially re-opened by The Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, Lord Crathorne. It is a building to be very proud of and compares with any in North Yorkshire.

Richard Feaster Secretary - Cropton Reading Room & Village Hall.

The school was delighted to work through the design process with MBO Architects.

McNeil Beechey O’Neill were appointed architects for our schools Lottery funded new build sports and arts centre.

The development itself was part of a regeneration project that demanded close liaison with the local community and school to ensure that facility accurately reflected the needs of both. An additional dimension was the need to ensure the religious and cultural beliefs of the community were taken into consideration throughout the design process.

The school was delighted to work through the design process with MBO Architects. Solutions proposed throughout, balanced creativity, pragmatism and keen desire to ensure the finished product met users’ long term needs.

Following completion of the project the school has a building that has stood up well to community use, clearly delivered fitness for purpose and retains a freshness that uses and visitors appreciate.

Michael Latham Headteacher – Newby Primary School

Thanks in no small measure to the support of MBO Architects

Our vision of a building that would set new standards for education and care has now been translated into reality. Thanks in no small measure to the support of MBO Architects. We have been guided through planning procedures, phasing details, organisational, management and financial issues with understanding and empathy. We have found the firm to be persistent, responsive and dependable. Perhaps more importantly however, is that this is a firm that understands schools and how they work. We would be more than happy for anyone seeking further information to visit our school.

Carole Farrar Headteacher

I would have no hesitation in recommending MBO to anyone

Although my care home site is in the Green belt and slopes steeply, MBO produced a creative design that provides a large 3 storey extension to the existing care home. By creating terraces cut into the hillside to the rear of the home, they achieved 29 extra care cottages served by a central lift. Their knowledge and experience of this type of project has been invaluable in helping secure a scheme that maximises the potential of the site.

Mr L Tilley Director - Northern Care Homes Ltd

The result is a modern and efficient facility

During the entire process of planning and implementation, McNeil Beechey O’Neill Architects worked very closely with operational staff from The Wilf Ward Family Trust. In the early planning process, plans were frequently discussed and changed in order to get the best outcomes possible for the facilities. During the build, McNeil Beechey O’Neill Architects were constantly in discussion with operational staff, listening carefully to how staff would use the building on completion and working The Wilf Ward Family Trust and builders to incorporate these ideas.

The result is a modern and efficient facility that can more flexibly enable The Wilf Ward Family Trust to meet the increasing demands and higher expectations over a wider range of service user needs that is proving popular with service users, commissioners and staff.

Dave Beevers The Wilf Ward Family Trust

working with McNeil Beechey O’Neill Architects on this project has again left us with a building that is fit for purpose

The outcome of working with McNeil Beechey O’Neill Architects on this project has again left us with a building that is fit for purpose, finished to a very high standard and much admired by the people who use the service and their relatives as well as people within the local community.

Jayne Cooper The Wilf Ward Family Trust

I would have no hesitation in recommending MBO to anyone

MBO’s knowledge of the care home sector and their attention to detail was invaluable throughout the planning and detailed design stages. They have designed in flexibility for the future and have worked closely with my Head of Home to make sure that the building will be easy to manage and run. MBO Architects also worked closely with the Design & Build Contractor to ensure that we maintain the quality of the design whilst achieving best value for money.

I would have no hesitation in recommending MBO to anyone who is involved in developing Care or Extra Care accommodation.

Mr L Tilley Director – Northern Care Homes Ltd

they always remain professional and courteous yet friendly and responsive

The general quality of service we received from McNeil Beechey O’Neill Architects throughout the course of this project and indeed, in terms of aftercare services, has been of a very high standard – they always remain professional and courteous yet friendly and responsive.

Jayne Cooper The Wilf Ward Family Trust

I found them to be very professional as well as being responsive to the needs of the Trust

I contacted McNeil Beechey O’Neill Architects to assist me in putting together a portfolio of services that they had provided over more than 30 years to The Wilf Ward Family Trust.

I found them to be very professional as well as being responsive to the needs of the Trust. In including information which we required. The result was a professional document which clearly showed how through partnership working and good design, it is possible to make significant changes to service user’s lives through adaptations to environments.

Paul Holbrook The Wilf Ward Family Trust

We were very pleased with the service we had from McNeil, Beechey, O’Neill.

We were very pleased with the service we had from McNeil, Beechey, O’Neill. The particular strength was in the management of the projects, which all went very smoothly. Inevitably there were some problems and these were handled most efficiently by mbo in consultation with the headteacher and governors subcommittee. Two of our governors were included in regular site meetings and there was an easy relationship between company and school. Considering our budget at the time the extension has been an asset to the school community and we have been able to adapt the space to the constantly changing needs of each new intake of children.

Ann Thomas Community Governor, Thornton Dale School

McNeil Beechey O’Neill Architects provide comprehensive services in the followings fields of Architecture Design: