Shaping Towns and
Cities since 1945

Leslie Jones Architecture was founded in 1945 by Leslie Jones as Leslie Jones & Partners, in response to the extensive rebuilding programme required after the devastation of the Second World War.

Following the New Towns Act of 1946, Leslie Jones played a central role in regenerating the UK’s towns and cities. While the practice’s work spanned housing, commercial, civic, and administrative buildings, it was the development of some of the first new town centres such as the Arndale Centres in Poole and Eastbourne that cemented its reputation as a key shaper of regional urban environments. These projects, revolutionary and controversial at the time, became the blueprint for the modern shopping centre.

Over the decades, Leslie Jones Architecture has embraced a wide range of sectors within the built environment, including office development, leisure, housing schemes, and industrial projects. However, it is through its expertise in retail design that the practice became best known. From the 1980s onwards, this specialism empowered the positive transformation of towns and cities across the UK.

In recent years, the practice has rediscovered its passion for regeneration and community-focused design, contributing to vibrant new developments and key transportation projects, including aviation and rail. Today, Leslie Jones Architecture is at the forefront of urban renewal, delivering large-scale mixed-use schemes across the UK from 2.5 million sq.ft. diversified developments to residential-led projects with innovative cultural offerings, such as those for local authorities in Gravesend , Fareham & Royal Tunbridge well.

Much of the firm’s current work revolves around retail assets, delivering comprehensive redevelopment and sensitive asset management strategies. In response to the changing pace of the retail sector. The practice is actively involved in reinvigorating redundant department stores, targeted refurbishments, and focused re-purposing.

Since its early days, Leslie Jones Architecture has evolved through various partnerships and collaborations. Today, it is part of RSBG UK, which is owned by the RAG Stiftung, a foundation established by the German government to manage the long-term obligations of coal mining in the Ruhr and Saar regions. Importantly, 100% of Leslie Jones Architecture’s profits go toward social, environmental, and community renewal in these areas.