Progressive by Design
About Whittam Cox
Purpose
Enhancing the experience of everyday urban life
We are a commercially responsive architecture practice with an integrated team of creative designers and technical experts. For over five decades, we’ve worked closely with our clients and partners to enhance the experience of everyday urban life.
‘Progressive by design’ is our unifying purpose—a continuous pursuit of progress in how we work and the architecture we deliver. It’s our promise to our clients, collaborators, and the communities we serve: to continually find better ways to design and deliver spaces and places that are more human-centric, connected, and sustainable.
A continuous pursuit of progress
Better processes
Better Spaces & Places
More Sustainable
Better processes
The way we work is as important as the outcomes we deliver. We value collaboration, integrity, consistency, and a one-team culture.
We engage and listen to gain a detailed understanding of every project and brief. And we passionately challenge and inspire our clients to enhance the design, user experience, and long-term value of every project, consistently exceeding expectations without compromising cost or programme.
Better Spaces & Places
Our aim is to enhance the built environment at every opportunity. Our approach is grounded in understanding—understanding how people live, work, and connect, and how thoughtful design can enhance daily lives. Every project begins with engagement: listening to context, community, and client to ensure what we create is designed with people, not just for them.
Our work transforms existing spaces into places that invite connection, grow from context, and endure for generations. From shaping new neighbourhoods to redefining retail destinations, we prioritise human experience and interaction. We look beyond our buildings to consider our wider impact—how it feels to move through a place, to be a neighbour, and to experience it every day.
By focusing on character, connection, and quality, we create places that are authentic, inclusive, and resilient. Delivering what people and places value most: more green space, inclusive communities, richer experiences, safer environments, and a lighter footprint on the planet.
More Sustainable
We are committed to creating a more sustainable world by reducing both embodied and operational carbon, while maximising the use of renewable materials and resources. Our goal is simple: to design and deliver built environments that are more sustainable and resilient.
Guided by the RIBA Climate Challenge and the UK Green Building Council Net Zero Framework, we use these frameworks to shape our roadmap to net zero—recording operational data, assessing design impact, and carrying out post-occupancy analysis to measure real progress.
Origins
Founding partner Derek Cox with former long standing partner Tim Cocker
Whittam Cox celebrating their 50th anniversary celebrations in Sheffield in 2022
Clients
Relationships matter to us
- Alternative Real Estate Advisors
- Alumno Group
- Aquila Developments
- Asda
- Audas Project Management Ltd
- Balfour Beatty Investments
- Ballymore
- Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council
- Beyond the Box
- BlackRock
- Boots
- Bouygues UK
- Bowmer + Kirkland
- Caddick Group
- Carta Real Estate
- CBES Ltd
- Chesterfield Borough Council
- Cheyne Capital Management
- City Heart Partnerships
- City of Lincoln Council
- CityBlock
- Comer Group
- Day Aggregates
- DB Cargo
- Equans
- Euro Fund Group
- Fraser Group PLC
- Galliford Try
- Generation Estates & Ares Management
- Global Student Accommodation Group (GSA)
- GMI Construction
- Heeton Holdings
- Henry Boot Construction
- Hilton Hotels
- ID Construction
- InterContinental Hotels Group
- John Lewis Partnership
- Keady Construction
- Key Electrical
- Kier Group Plc
- Leaf Property Group
- Lidl
- Mace
- Midgard
- Moda Living
- Monte Blacburn Ltd
- Moto Hospitality Limited
- MPB Structures
- Northumberland Estates
- Now Student Living
- Packaged Living
- Peel Logistics
- Peveril Securities
- Places for People
- PMI Developments
- Poundstretcher Limited
- Premier Inn
- Primark
- Princebuild
- Reef + Partners
- Reef Origin
- Related Argent
- Rider Levett Bucknall
- Ridgeback Group
- Roadchef House
- Robertson Construction
- Rochda Group
- Rokeby Developments
- Royal Holloway, University of London
- Savills
- Scarborough Group International
- Schroders
- Select Group
- Sheffield City Council
- Sheffield United Football Club
- Simpson (York) Ltd
- St James Securities
- St Modwen Homes
- Sunray Interiors (UK) Construction ltd
- UC Build
- Uniqlo
- University of Derby
- University of Warwick
- University of York
- Uplands Retail Limited
- Urban Splash
- Wates Group Ltd
- Welcome Break
- West Lindsey District Council
- WM Morrisons Supermarkets Plc
- World of Hearing
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Recognition of our impact
Our achievements in projects, people, and business performance are celebrated and validated through industry awards and league tables.
2025
Forecourt Trader Awards Welcome Break, Rotherham (shortlist)
Forecourt Trader Awards Moto Sawtry
2024
Property Week Student Accommodation Awards Interior Design - Oxford Point (shortlist)
Ranked in Building Magazine's Top 50 Architects
Building Magazine 'Good Employer of the Year' (shortlist)
Ranked in Architect's Journal AJ100
Insider Yorkshire Property Awards Design Excellence - Kangaroo Works (shortlist)
Insider Yorkshire Property Awards Architectural Practice of the Year (shortlist)
Insider Yorkshire Property Awards Residential Development over 100 units - Kangaroo Works (shortlist)
Yorkshire Placemaking Awards Streetscapes & Public Realm Award - Pounds Park
Insider South Yorkshire Property Awards Design Excellence - Kangaroo Works (shortlist)
Insider South Yorkshire Property Awards Outstanding Development - Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park (shortlist)
2023
Insider Midlands Apartment Development (over 100 units) Hairpin House (shortlist)
The Yorkshire's Residential Real Estate Awards Best in BtR - Kangaroo Works (shortlist)
Ranked in Building Magazine's Top 50 Architects
Insider South Yorkshire Outstanding Development - The Community Stadium, Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park
RIBA Regional Awards Yorkshire Béton House (shortlist)
Ranked in Architect's Journal AJ100
2022
Ranked in Architect's Journal AJ100
Ranked in Building Magazine's Top 50 Architects
AJ Retrofit Listed Building £5m over - Winner - Béton House
2021
Civic Trust AABC Conservation Award - Regional Finalist - Béton House
Ranked in Building Magazine's Top 50 UK Architects
Insider Yorkshire Architects Practice of the Year (shortlist)
Insider Yorkshire Fit Out/Refurbishment of the Year - Béton House - Winner
Insider Yorkshire Outstanding Development - Béton House (shortlist)
Ranked in Architect's Journal AJ100
Insider Sheffield City Region Outstanding Development - Béton House (shortlist)
2019
Insider North West Large Apartment Development of the Year - Middlewood Locks
2018
Awarded Investors in People GOLD Award
Crown Estates/AJ finalist Crown Estates/AJ finalist
Insider Property Awards Yorkshire Architect of the Year (shortlist)
Insider Property Awards Yorkshire Design Excellence - St James Retail Park (shortlist)
Ranked in Building Magazine's Top 50 Architects
London Stock Exchange Group Top 1000 Companies to 'Inspire Britain'
2017
Norwich Design Society Winner of Best Design in the Commercial Category for Norwich Mixed Use District Centre
2017 Ranked in the Architect's Journal AJ100
2017 Ranked in Building Magazine's Top 50 UK Architects
2016
2016 Ranked in the Architect's Journal AJ100
2015
2015 Winner RESI Awards Development of the Year - Royal Wharf
Ranked in the Architect's Journal AJ120
RICS Pro Yorkshire Property Awards Regeneration Award Winner
Awarded Investors in People GOLD Award
First Time Buyer Reader's Award Most Innovative Redevelopment of an Existing Building - Green Dragon House