The GLA, via Transport for London, has published a prior information notice signalling its intention to start looking for architects for its new four-year framework. The proposed roster of practices – effectively the fourth generation of the pre-approved pool of talent – will supersede the existing Architecture and Urbanism (A+U) framework and will run from 2027 to 2031.
The upcoming process will select a raft of teams for a new ‘comprehensive compliant design framework’ intended for ‘use by the GLA Group and other public sector commissioning authorities for architectural, place-making and urban planning services’.
Full procurement documents will be issued through the formal procurement portal when the opportunity goes live in late summer 2026. Further updates will be available through Find a Tender and the GLA website.
It is understood the next framework will continue to support high-quality architecture, urbanism and design led services for the GLA Group and public authorities, with a continued focus on Good Growth, design quality, sustainability, social value and inclusive procurement.
Among the 65 firms selected for the last framework three years ago were: Stirling Prize-winning Mikhail Riches; AJ 40 under 40 stars JA Projects, IF_DO, OMMX, Freehaus and Jas Bhalla Architects with AR Urbanism; RCKa; Peter Barber Architects; Nimtim Architects; Gbolade Design Studio; Al Jawad Pike; and emerging practice Sanchez Benton Architects.
Data obtained from the Greater London Authority (GLA) by The Architects’ Journal showed 83 contracts worth £11.27 million were let via the 10-lot framework between its launch in February 2023 and 10 March 2025.
The first pool – then known as ADUP (the Architecture Design and Urbanism Panel) – was announced in 2012 to promote ‘quality architecture, public realm, urban regeneration and sustainable development in the capital’ and officially launched two years later.
Among the 60 architects appointed to the inaugural panel were established firms including Studio Egret West and Stirling Prize-winner Witherford Watson Mann, alongside emerging studios such as Assemble, winner of the 2015 Turner Prize. Feilden Fowles, 6a architects, Duggan Morris, DK-CM, We Made That and Foster + Partners were among practices chosen for the second mayoral architecture framework, ADUP 2, in 2018.
Key schemes awarded through the framework have included Meridian Four in Enfield – won by Karakusevic Carson Architects with Maccreanor Lavington, Mary Duggan Architects, Architecture Doing Place, Wallace Liu, Al-Jawad Pike, Office Sian and Sahra Hersi.
The ‘ADUP’ branding was superseded by A+U with the most recent edition of the framework in 2023. Like its predecessors, the latest A+U framework will also be available to be used by London boroughs, housing associations, mayoral development corporations and other bodies.
The last A+U Framework was divided into 10 lots: spatial policy and research; sustainable cities; high street and town centre recovery; landscape and public realm; cultural and social infrastructure; workspace; small housing sites; residential and mixed-use development; transport infrastructure; and transport design.
Teams selected for the previous A+U Framework
Lot 1 – Spatial Policy, Urban Strategies and Research
Dark Matter Laboratories
DK-CM
HAT Projects
Jas Bhalla Architects & AR Urbanism
Metropolitan Workshop
muf architecture/art
Publica Associates
We Made That
Lot 2 – Sustainable Cities
Gbolade Design Studio
Mikhail Riches
Ove Arup and Partners
Public Works Group
Useful Projects
Lot 3 – High Street and Town Centre Recovery and Transformation
Architecture00
Hayatsu Architects in collaboration with Madeleine Kessler Architecture
Jas Bhalla Architects and AR Urbanism
Public Works Group
Publica Associates
RCKa
Sanchez Benton Architects
JA Projects
Urban Movement
We Made That
what if: projects
Lot 4 – Landscape, Green Infrastructure and Public Realm
East Architecture, Landscape, Urban Design
Hayatsu Architects
LDA Design
muf architecture/art
Nimtim Architects
Collective Cultures (OMMX, Atelier ANF, Studio NYALI)
Periscope Landscape and Architects
Publica Associates
Sanchez Benton Architects
Studio Weave
Lot 5 – Civic, Cultural and Social Infrastructure
Architecture00
Asif Khan
DK-CM
Freehaus
Haworth Tompkins
IF_DO
Public Works Group
RCKa
JA Projects
Wright & Wright Architects
Lot 6 – Commercial, Workspace and Industrial
Architecture00
Elli Farrant Architects
Feix&Merlin
Freehaus
Haworth Tompkins
Henley Halebrown
IF_DO
Pup Architects
Studio Egret West with Bell Phillips, HNNA & McCloy + Muchemwa
Lot 7 – Small Sites Housing
Archio
Architecture Doing Place
Balaam Murphy
Brisco Loran
Fourth Street Place Consultants (Fourth Street and Grounded)
Jas Bhalla Architects and AR Urbanism
Nimtim Architects
Collective Cultures (OMMX, Atelier ANF, Studio NYALI)
RCKa
Studio Gil and Matthew Lloyd Architects
JA Projects
Lot 8 – Housing and Mixed Use
Adam Khan Architects
Al Jawad Pike
dRMM
Farshid Moussavi Architecture
Gibson Thornley Architects
Haworth Tompkins
Henley Halebrown
Karakusevic Carson Architects with K Bava Architects, Office Sian, Pedder & Scampton, Sahra Hersi & Saya Hakamata
Mae Architects
Mikhail Riches
Morris+Company with Gort Scott
Peter Barber Architects
Stephen Taylor Architects
Lot 9 – Transport Infrastructure Interface: Over Station/Station Development
Allies and Morrison
Archio
Fletcher Priest Architects
Grimshaw Architects
HawkinsBrown
Jestico + Whiles + Associates
Karakusevic Carson Architects with K Bava Architects, Office Sian, Pedder & Scampton, Sahra Hersi & Saya Hakamata
Landolt and Brown
Mangera Yvers Architects
MICA Architects
Weston Williamson + Partners
WilkinsonEyre
Lot 10 – Transport Design Specialist Infrastructure
5th Studio
Grimshaw Architects
Haptic Architects
John Puttick Associates
Landolt and Brown
Ove Arup and Partners
Weston Williamson + Partners