PORTFOLIO ARCHITECTS logo

The Architect for Property Investors & Landowners in Nottingham

What We Do.

We help design-led property investors in Nottingham turn tired properties and challenging sites into high-performing HMOs, flat conversions, and new-build assets.

We hold a 96% planning approval rate across all projects over the last 8+ years.

Nottingham Projects.

C3 Flats to 14 bed HMO | Read More

Grade II Listed 12 bed HMO | Read More

C3 Single Family Dwelling to 6 bed HMO

Commercial to 36 bed HMO | Read More

Grade II Listed 9 bed HMO | Read More

C3 Single Family Dwelling to 6 bed HMO

Planning permission for HMOs in Nottingham: what you need to know

Nottingham has been subject to a city-wide Article 4 Direction since March 2012, removing permitted development rights for the conversion of a family home (Use Class C3) into a small HMO (Use Class C4) for 3–6 unrelated occupants. As a result, planning permission is required for these conversions. Larger HMOs (7+ occupants) have always required planning permission.

This means there is no permitted development route for creating a new HMO in Nottingham in the HMO Article 4 Direction area. Every proposed HMO conversion must be supported by a robust planning application and assessed against the Council's local planning policies.

With Nottingham operating one of the UK's most restrictive planning regimes for HMOs, choosing the right property is crucial. Identifying opportunities with the best planning prospects before purchase can make the difference between a viable investment and a costly mistake.

Equally important is working with an experienced planning team that understands the local policy framework and can prepare a strong, evidence-based application to maximise your chances of success.

Our Services

Whether you are new to property or a seasoned investor, we’re here to help.

 
 

Please note: All our services are offered on a fixed fee basis, priced according to project scope & complexity. Get in touch for a tailored quote — we'll always be upfront about fees from the start.

 

Featured Projects

596+

HMO bedrooms & counting since 2017

Stats Last updated September 2025

107+

New dwellings or flats created through new build or conversion

46+

Councils submitted planning applications in

96%

Planning Application Success Rate

Accreditation & Awards

Architects Registration Board logo
Logo of the Royal Institute of British Architects featuring the acronym RIBA and a heraldic lion emblem.
Logo for the 2025 National Property Awards

National Property Awards 2025: Architect’s Practice of the Year Finalist. Link

Design of a circular logo with the words 'RISING STARS' i

RIBA Journal's 'Rising Stars 2019' long list for entrepreneurial development and architecture. Link

New to HMO Investing?

Download our Ultimate Step by Step Cheat Sheet for HMO Conversions completely free for a limited time

Testimonials

  • "When people ask for a recommendation for a good architect, I never hesitate to recommend Emma, but not without a small amount of fear that I’m letting my secret weapon out the bag!..."

    Jessica Leader, Next Level Living

  • A woman with short brown hair smiling, wearing a blue patterned shirt, standing indoors with shelves of bottles in the background.

    " Portfolio Architects are extremely good....Emma was professional, responsive, creative and flexible. We are so happy we finally found a good architect for our business. We definitely recommend them and we will work with them again for sure!"

    Berengere Guery, BeeVee

  • A woman with curly hair smiling, wearing a black jacket and standing with her arms crossed against a white background.

    " Emma and her team are fantastic and went over and above for our tricky project. I wouldn't hesitate to use their services again!"

    Kim Opszala, Komo Properties

  • Blurred image of a young man with brown hair, wearing a dark blazer and white t-shirt, against a plain white background.

    "We used Emma recently on a large commercial to multiple HMO's and we are very happy with the plans she created. Emma maximised the space to fit has many bedrooms in as possible without comprising on space. We will certainly be using Emma again on future projects."

    Wayne, Nottingham

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Our Clients

We proudly work with some of the UK’s leading SME property developers committed to creating high quality rental accommodation and homes in their respective areas whilst building profitable and long-lasting property portfolios.

Collection of black and white logo designs for various real estate and property investment companies, including Red Interests, Inside Property Investing, Bee Space, Brozier Property Group, Skauus, Next Level Living, Parktown Property, Jakhomes, Create Property Investments, Clearstream Property, Beevee Property, Haus, Johnson Homes, Kindon Property, Elm Property Investments, Silverleaf Group, Urban Chic Properties, One The Brayford Lincoln, and Hercules Holdings.