Designed for independence, dignity and life in full.
A home is more than walls and a roof. For people with disabilities, it can mean the difference between dependence and independence, frustration and freedom. Adaptive design has the power to restore dignity, improve wellbeing, and unlock opportunities for living life to the fullest.
Every person deserves a home that supports their independence, routines, and future. At BCAE Architects, we specialise in creating environments that remove barriers, turning properties into places of empowerment for people with disabilities, including those living with life-changing or catastrophic injuries.
Whether adapting an existing home or designing a new one, our focus is the same: to make independence feel effortless, safe, and sustainable - without compromising comfort, quality or architectural integrity.
A specialist service
for complex needs
Designing accommodation for people with disabilities - particularly following catastrophic injury - requires far more than compliance with accessibility standards. It demands a deep understanding of rehabilitation, care, assistive technology, mobility, cognition and long-term wellbeing.
Our specialist service supports individuals with complex and evolving needs, including spinal and brain injuries, neurological conditions, progressive disabilities and high-level care requirements. We work at the intersection of architecture, healthcare and the legal process, providing solutions that are aspirational, practical and robust under professional and legal scrutiny.
David Alcock
Associate Director
Expertise and experience combined
Our work in this area has been strengthened through our merger with DMA Associates, led by David Alcock. David is a Chartered Building Surveyor (MRICS) and Associate Director at BCAE Architects, with more than 30 years of expertise in accessible housing and inclusive environments.
Throughout his career, David has focused on reducing the barriers to independent living for disabled people, placing lived experience at the centre of the design process - an ethos that aligns closely with our own. His work has spanned bespoke home adaptations for individuals, through to projects with local authorities, housing associations, and private clients.
By bringing DMA Associates into BCAE, we now offer a complete service that combines expert witness and advisory knowledge with the ability to design and deliver homes from start to finish. This merger allows us to provide a unique blend of technical insight, empathy, and architectural skill — ensuring that every adaptive home is both practical and life-enhancing.
David Alcock
Associate Director
Expertise and experience combined
Our work in this area has been strengthened through our merger with DMA Associates, led by David Alcock. David is a Chartered Building Surveyor (MRICS) and Associate Director at BCAE Architects, with more than 30 years of expertise in accessible housing and inclusive environments.
Throughout his career, David has focused on reducing the barriers to independent living for disabled people, placing lived experience at the centre of the design process - an ethos that aligns closely with our own. His work has spanned bespoke home adaptations for individuals, through to projects with local authorities, housing associations, and private clients.
By bringing DMA Associates into BCAE, we now offer a complete service that combines expert witness and advisory knowledge with the ability to design and deliver homes from start to finish. This merger allows us to provide a unique blend of technical insight, empathy, and architectural skill — ensuring that every adaptive home is both practical and life-enhancing.
What our specialist housing delivers
Professional services & outputs
Alongside architectural design, BCAE Architects provides the professional assessment, reporting and expert advice required to support funding, settlement and long-term planning.
Our services include:
Architectural design for adaptations and specialist new-build accommodation
Feasibility studies and property option appraisals
Accommodation needs assessments
Reasonableness of cost evaluations
Technical and advisory reports for legal and insurance purposes
Expert witness services and court-compliant evidence
Services may be provided individually or as part of a fully integrated commission.
Who we work with
We work collaboratively with individuals and professional teams, including:
Case managers, occupational therapists and multidisciplinary care teams
Solicitors, legal deputies and insurers
Individuals and families seeking accessible, future-proofed homes
People living with disabilities or catastrophic injuries whose needs may change over time
Our role is often to bring clarity and confidence to complex decisions around suitability, feasibility and long-term accommodation.
Outcomes for clients
Independence & dignity
Homes that support autonomy, confidence and privacy.
Safety & accessibility
Environments designed to minimise risk and support mobility, care and daily routines.
Future-proofed design
Accommodation that can adapt as needs, technology and care arrangements evolve.
Comfort & quality
Accessible homes that remain warm, welcoming and thoughtfully designed places to live.
Feasibility, reporting & expert witness service
BCAE Architects provides independent specialist reporting and expert witness services in accommodation and adaptive design for personal injury and clinical negligence claims.
We are instructed for our practical understanding of accessible and specialist housing, our clarity of analysis, and our ability to translate complex functional needs into robust, defensible professional opinion.
Acting independently and in accordance with Part 35 of the Civil Procedure Rules, we support solicitors, case managers, insurers and the Court with clear, evidence-based advice.
Our expert services
include:
Assessing the suitability of existing accommodation in relation to present and future needs
Advising on the feasibility of adaptation or the requirement for alternative accommodation
Preparing clear, impartial accommodation needs and feasibility reports for litigation
Inspecting properties and meeting claimants and professional teams to understand lived experience
Advising on appropriate solutions, including scope of works and reasonableness of costs
Attending conferences, preparing joint statements and giving evidence when required
Where appropriate, expert reporting can be combined with architectural design services to ensure continuity from assessment through to delivery. Alternatively, expert witness services can be provided on a standalone basis.
How we work
Our approach is collaborative, proportionate and carefully structured to respond to both human needs and professional requirements.
Understanding needs
Listening carefully to understand challenges, aspirations and long-term requirements.Property feasibility
Exploring options for adapting existing homes or developing new-build solutions.Tailored design
Bespoke architectural responses that integrate accessibility, safety, care and high-quality design.Collaboration with specialists
Close coordination with occupational therapists, case managers, care teams and legal advisors.Project delivery
Oversight of the build or conversion process to ensure design intent is realised.Long-term support
Creating accommodation that continues to support independence as needs evolve.
Supporting life in full, now and in the future
Whether advising at an early feasibility stage, providing expert evidence, or delivering a completed home, our role is to bring clarity and confidence to complex situations. The result is accommodation that supports independence, dignity and life in full - not just at the point of completion, but for the long term.
Why BCAE Architects
BCAE Architects combines the design expertise of a high-end residential practice with specialist knowledge in disability accommodation, feasibility assessment and expert evidence.
Our team includes dedicated expertise in accommodation for catastrophic injury and complex needs, enabling us to deliver both aspirational architecture and the rigorous professional reporting required within legal, care and funding frameworks.
The result is an integrated service that ensures accommodation is not only beautifully designed, but demonstrably suitable, reasonable and sustainable - supporting independence, dignity and life in full.
Clarity for people and professionals
From early advice to expert evidence and delivery, we help individuals and professional teams make confident, well-informed decisions about specialist accommodation.
Kind words,
from our clients
"Ben understood our vision from the first design appointment, and his drawings took our lifestyle into full consideration. Arron and Ben have stayed in contact throughout the build, ensuring any amendments are in line with the aesthetic we want for our finished home. It would have been a lot more stressful without their help!"
Oliver
The Barn
Kind words,
from our clients
"Arron has been an fantastic support since we embarked upon our renovation. He was on hand to answer all our questions and made the design process really enjoyable. We were looking for an architect who would make suggestions and challenge us and Arron certainly did that. Our final design is incredible and we are so excited to see it come to life. We couldn’t recommend BCAE more."
Naomi & Jack Campbell
Glen Avenue
Kind words,
from our clients
"We were truly blown away by the concepts and can’t wait to proceed to the next steps!"
Jemma & Lee
Wigan Road
Kind words,
from our clients
"Thank you, Ben, for all the work you have done on the design – Its down to you it's got through 😊 and nice to hear about the comments, Just shows your talent!"
Kim Ray
Astley Street
Kind words,
from our clients
"We have worked with both Ben and Arron at BCAE for some time now on projects throughout the North West. From concept through to technical delivery, the BCAE team always go above and beyond. Their professional yet personal touch makes them a pleasure to work with and we look forward to working together in the future. Thanks again guys, on to the next project!"
Arron Dewhurst
A.R.N Projects
Kind words,
from our clients
"We have been working with BCAE Architects on a couple of our commercial projects, including the conversion of a care home into residential apartments with an innovative focus on intergenerational living. Throughout the process, Arron, Ben and their team have consistently delivered. The attention to detail in their designs and presentation is particularly commendable—they’ve managed to bring our vision to life in a way that is both practical and inspiring.
We’ve been thoroughly impressed with their ability to meet deadlines without compromising on quality, and their proactive approach has ensured that any challenges are swiftly addressed. We look forward to continuing our partnership on future projects.”
Omair Haider
Millennium Care Group - Managing Director
Kind words,
from our clients
"CitySide Work with BCAE across multiple projects, each with unique challenges and complexities. Their expertise has been evident in the development of a 72 bed care home within an £9.5m construction budget, a sensitive 110 home development in open countryside, a 36-bed HMO split into townhouses, and a comprehensive 108-acre mixed-use masterplan, as well as completing multiple other feasibility study’s for our sites. From concept to detailed design at Stage 4, BCAE Architects consistently deliver innovative solutions, attention to detail, and a collaborative approach that ensures our projects are not only functional but also exceed expectations. Their commitment to quality and design flair makes them a valuable partner."
Benjamin Carr
Cityside - Co-founder