As the year comes to a close, we have taken some time to reflect on what has been a full and rewarding year for the practice.
Co Create began in 2021 with three people and a clear idea of the kind of work we wanted to do. This year, that steady growth continued and we now find ourselves as a team of twelve. The practice has evolved naturally, shaped by the complexity of the projects we take on and the people who join us along the way.
Throughout the year we have delivered a number of complex projects across the South West, working through challenging briefs, sensitive sites and demanding programmes. These projects have reinforced the value of careful thinking, collaboration and trust, both within the studio and with our clients and consultants.
Alongside project work, we have continued to support organisations and initiatives that matter to us. We were pleased to support Theatre Alibi with their reimagined arts and performance space in Exeter, helping to breathe new life into a much loved creative venue. We also gave up a day of our time to support the The Coast and Countryside Trust, working on site to help the organisation continue its important conservation and education work.
Our annual golf day at Dainton Park once again brought clients, collaborators and friends of the practice together, raising money for Children’s Hospice South West. It remains a highlight in the calendar and a reminder of how much good can come from shared effort.
This year also included a more personal moment for the practice. We held a crepe day in the studio to raise money for Rowcroft Hospice, in memory of our director Alistair’s father-in-law Jabez Petherick. It was a simple way to support a charity that provided Jabez with vital care as well as supporting thousands of families across the region.
Giving back continues to be an important part of who we are. Over the year we supported nine charities and raised more than £10,000 across Devon and Cornwall, alongside providing pro bono services for a youth focused community project in Newton Abbot.
One of the most significant milestones this year was the completion of Brantopn Court, the UK’s first completed hotel to homes project. Transforming an underused hotel into much needed homes required careful coordination, technical problem solving and close collaboration across the wider project team. Seeing the building brought back into use as a place for people to live, rather than sit empty, was a powerful reminder of how adaptive reuse can respond to real housing needs while making better use of existing buildings.
There have also been moments of recognition that meant a great deal to the team, including a 91% planning success rate, passing 140 five star reviews, and being shortlisted for awards alongside practices and businesses we respect. These milestones reflect the care and consistency that underpin our work.
Looking ahead, we are excited to be welcoming a new architect to the team in January 2026, continuing the steady growth of the practice and strengthening our ability to deliver thoughtful, well resolved projects across the region.
Most importantly, we are grateful. To our clients for trusting us with complex and meaningful work, to our collaborators for their commitment, and to our team for the care and energy they bring every day.
We are heading into the year ahead feeling focused, motivated and quietly confident about what is to come.
