Austin Design Works, a family-run architecture and landscape architecture practice, is celebrating its first anniversary as a Certified B Corporation.
This milestone aligns with the international celebrations of the B Corp movement and underscores the company’s deep commitment to environmentally conscious design—a philosophy it has championed for over 20 years.
Passionate about sustainable and human-centred design, Austin Design Works collaborates with local suppliers, craftspeople, and industry partners to create thoughtfully integrated buildings and landscapes in beautiful rural settings.
The company is one of 50 certified B Corps in Gloucestershire, a region leading the way in the UK’s sustainability movement. As part of this milestone, Austin Design Works has prepared its first Impact Report, showcasing the tangible ways in which the business has met the rigorous social and environmental standards set by B Lab UK, the body that certifies B Corps.
“We’re thrilled to be part of this growing movement, especially as Gloucestershire is one of the fastest-growing B Corp regions in the country,” says Matthew Austin, Director of Austin Design Works.
“Certification isn’t just about recognition—it’s about accountability, transparency, and a commitment to continuous improvement.”
As part of its B Corp journey, Austin Design Works has actively contributed to projects that enhance community spaces and promote ecological well-being. Over the past year, the team has dedicated its time pro bono to the renovation of the City Farm project in Gloucester, helping to revitalise this much-loved inner-city resource for local people.
Closer to home, Director Rachael Austin has been working alongside the local council to reimagine Mortimer Gardens in the heart of Nailsworth, advising on planting schemes and taking part in tree and plant installations.
A key factor in the practice’s B Corp certification was its dedication to designing energy-efficient homes using Passivhaus technology. As signatories of the RIBA 2030 Climate Challenge, Austin Design Works integrates sustainability into every phase of the design process, from in-use energy calculations to analysing the embodied carbon of building materials.
This first year as a B Corp is just the beginning for Austin Design Works, as the practice continues to push the boundaries of responsible, innovative design.
View our Year 1 Impact Report on the Austin Design Works website: austindw.co.uk/our-mission
Austin Design Works Ltd
Call: 01453 836 393
