Architect Rupert Scott has spent over a decade quietly carving out a practical, low-risk model for architects who want to transition into development without abandoning their core practice.

 Rupert focuses on smaller, challenging sites—a model he believes is more accessible for many. His strategy is about creating value through design and securing planning, then passing the construction risk on to others.

 Here are Rupert’s top takeaways for architects dipping their toes into development:

Keep finances separate

For architects still running a practice, it pays to be financially prudent and not rely on potential development profit for your personal income or cash flow. The practice should continue to pay your salary and running costs.

This avoids "nervous making" financial pressure when development sales or planning approvals are inevitably delayed.

 Find value in "challenging" sites

Rupert’s success in sourcing sites has been through auction, often finding properties that commercial agents couldn't sell due to planning difficulties. This provides an opportunity to purchase at a better price. He looks for sites that have a residual value even without planning, ensuring a safety net against the calculated risk.

 Never skimp on due diligence

Before bidding on a site, Rupert conducts a rigorous assessment process:

• Quick Sketch Scheme: Immediately determine the maximum development potential for the site.
• Detailed Financial Assessment: Plug the numbers into a spreadsheet to verify margins and financial viability.
• Planning and Legal Expertise: Always consult with a trusted planning consultant and solicitor. Be sure to check for any easements or covenants. While lawyers are paid to point out risks, you must take a commercial view to decide which risks are acceptable (like an informal tenant agreement) to gain a competitive advantage and lower the purchase price.

 Be ready to lose control 

As an architect, it’s difficult to hand over the reins, but when you sell a site with planning, you must accept that the final build "isn't going to be the polished version that we designed." You must relinquish that control, he said.

However, architects are well-positioned to be smart developers because their priority is often the "building diagram, light, [and] flow" over luxurious materials, which aids in cost management.

 Be patient

The worst thing an emerging developer can do is get frustrated by the slow search for land and then "buy something that you know against your better judgment has issues." Rupert suggests treating the search like clothes shopping—you must be in the right frame of mind, focused, and ready when an opportunity arises. If you buy well, you're already ahead of the game.

Our next talk is on January 15th 2026. Book your ticket here