Our Story
Urban R+D is a property development consultancy that helps Landowners develop garden land and garage plots into quality sustainable family homes for market sale.
More than 4 billion people live in urban areas globally. It’s projected that close to 7 billion people will live in urban areas in 2050. The capacity of cities to accommodate the mass urbanisation is increasingly in focus with the fight against urban sprawl into the green belt. Mass urbanisation will continue despite Covid. What will change is the type of dwellings in demand in urban areas will trend towardsn quality homes that are robust and sustainably built, with generous amenity and space provision.
Urban R+D is a novel take on the ‘backyard development’ concept. In London these development opportunities are called ‘Small Sites’. Urban R+D gives the incentive to Landowners to initiate development of these small urban sites in a way that ensures the delivery of quality homes, as well as the greatest value to the Landowner.
Landowners generate at least 50% more for their land compared to the equivalent land-with-planning sale to a Property Developer. Moreover, the Urban R+D innovated devolved property development™ process is the only market access route for un-financed Landowners with no property development experience.
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Urban R+D as a Development Consultancy evolved from research work carried out by Seán Kehoe and Vincent Walsh for their practice KehoeWalsh Architects into the availability and viability of small sites in East London. Having completed a number of site identification projects for both the public and private sector, KehoeWalsh Architects / URBAN R+D have been at the forefront of the emerging drive to unlock the potential of small urban sites and provide well-designed additional housing to meet London’s needs.
Studies completed by KehoeWalsh / URBAN R+D have been published by Design Council and quoted in the Financial Times.
Our Service
Urban R+D's team of award-winning consultants manage the development process from start to finish on the Landowners behalf, including:
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appraising land for development potential;
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creation of a business case for the development;
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sourcing development finance for the works;
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managing the Design Team and development process, and;
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marketing the completed homes for sale.
Meet Our Founders
Each founder has over a decade experience working as Architects for leading studios in London and running their own practice KehoeWalsh Architects since 2016.
Vincent Walsh
Architect, Co-founder and CEO
BSc.Arch, B.Arch, Dip.Arch, MARB
Director and Co-Founder of KehoeWalsh Architects and CEO of URBAN R+D; Vincent studied Architecture at Waterford Institute of Technology before completing his postgraduate diploma at the University of Westminster in 2014. Vincent has worked with
B+R Architects and Orms Architects and Designers in London, completing numerous high-end retail, residential and commercial schemes. Since forming KehoeWalsh in 2015, Vincent has led the practices research into small sites, speaking at several events including for UDL and the GLA.
Seán Kehoe
Architect, Co-Founder and COO
BSc.Arch, B.Arch, Dip.Arch, MARB, RIBA, RIAI
Director and Co-Founder of KehoeWalsh Architects and
URBAN R+D; after completing his architectural education at Waterford Institute of Technology and the University of Westminster, Seán worked as an Architect for FBM Architects in London, delivering several large residential and regeneration schemes in London and across the UK. As Director of KehoeWalsh, Seán has led the delivery of a series of educational projects in North London and continues to head up the design and development of several complex residential schemes in East London.