The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Firm looks to a bright future after celebrating fourth year
Ayoung firm of architects based in Perth is anticipating a bright future despite challenges brought on by Covid-19 and Brexit.
Trail Architects will celebrate its fourth birthday next month and has been involved in projects all over Britain.
Future growth plans for the company, which has its headquarters in Carpenter Street, could include an office south of the border.
The firm’s architectural project administrator, Lauren McIntyre, said Trail was started by talented architects and architectural technicians who had good working relationships together over many years.
She added: “The combination of approach and experience of those involved – ranging from managing multiple offices around the UK and abroad, to delivering multi-millionpound buildings nationally – was considered a great asset to a growing practice.
“This wealth of experience was balanced well with talented and enthusiastic young staff, who were willing to learn the craft of architecture – creating a beneficial dynamic for a new young business with a refreshing approach.”
Trail began with a team of nine, and there are currently around 10 fulltime equivalent people.
Lauren said they were very keen to work holistically in rural locations to provide jobs, housing and commercial opportunities.
“This is something very important to us and we have a unique skillset across our team to suit those demands,” she said.
“The team’s cross-section of experience has allowed us to approach each project with a knowledge base that spans across several sectors – including social and mainstream housing and leisure tourism – where we often work to create holistic masterplans unique to each site and context to provide pragmatic, larger-scale solutions.
“We have been very lucky as an organisation to be given these opportunities and work on an ethos that excludes no projects or sectors.”
Lauren said Trail has been employed by a number of established organisations across the UK over the last few years.
She added: “The organisations and clients we work for vary massively – from mature organisations with lots of development experience to early-stage developers and young organisations.
“We have close relationships with housing associations nationally, local councils and contractors, plus we also currently have work with individuals, one-off clients and charities.”
Lauren said Trail’s two most-recognised projects to date were the Raining’s Stairs in Inverness and the Linton Hotel scheme in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
She added: “Raining’s Stairs was a particularlyrewarding project developed with a private developer on behalf of the Highland Housing Alliance and Highland Council.
“The delivery of this project, on a very challenging site, was particularly rewarding, and the reaction of tenants, plus numerous awards won, general press reaction and attention received were exceptional.”
The Raining’s Stairs development, which features 16 residential flats, is located in a part of Inverness with a long history.
The stairs were named after John Raining, a wealthy merchant from who, in 1726, bequeathed £1,200 to establish a fund to support charitable schools in the Highlands.
As regards Linton Hotel, Lauren explained it was a multi-million pound sustainable project developed entirely through lockdown.
The hotel and leisure complex is being built at a former Second World War evacuees’ camp and special school in the Yorkshire Dales.
But Covid-19 has impacted Trail’s growth.
Lauren explained: “We have gone back to a cautious but optimistic approach working toward the business growing and progressing.
“We have been able to catch our breath during the pandemic, and now seek to focus on quality and type of project rather than being constrained by financial matters.
“The combination of Brexit and Covid-19 led to a number of challenges across the whole construction industry, including material supply which affects the industry as a whole.”
Lauren said Trail is continuing to explore opportunities in the UK.
She added: “It would be very rewarding to have the opportunity to deliver more high-quality developments closer to home.
“As a team, we continually discuss the possibilities of expanding into England should this become imperative following potential political changes.”