G4 THEGREEN 4GROUP
The Green 4 Group

About the group

An architecture practice, a patented building system, a development arm and a partner network, all built around one idea: homes that perform.

Hopwell Hall seen across its lake
How we got here

Green 4 Architects has designed homes, masterplans and commercial buildings from Hopwell Hall since [year]. In 2019 the team started on a question the industry had not answered: could a steel-frame home be made warm, airtight, fast to build and affordable, all at once?

The answer became duoKore®, a double-skin light gauge steel frame with the insulation built into the system, developed with the help of a Green Entrepreneurs grant from Derbyshire County Council. Because it worked from first principles, every approval had to be earned the hard way: fire and sound testing at the BRE passed first time; SCI/NHBC Stage 1 certification took eighteen months and came with a 250-year life expectancy; ISO 9001 and BS EN 1090 followed with clean audits.

Then came the Partner House, a full-scale prototype, and an independent testing programme with the University of Salford's Energy House Labs. In 2026 Homes England placed the system in MMC Category 2 and partnered with us to fund the first development built with it. The patent has been granted, and manufacturing begins with JCB's hydrogen and hybrid power technology.

Milestones
2019 The duoKore® concept Steel frame and insulated core designed at Hopwell Hall, backed by a Green Entrepreneurs grant.
BRE Fire and sound passed EN 1365 fire resistance and BS EN ISO 10140 sound insulation, first time.
SCI/NHBC Stage 1 certification Eighteen months of assessment from first principles; a 250-year life expectancy.
ISO 9001, BS EN 1090 Quality and structural steel Clean audits across the group, UKCA and CE marking for structural steel, including the flying factory.
The Partner House Tested by Salford Energy House Labs measures the whole house; the production system is re-engineered on the evidence.
2026 Category 2, patent, JCB Homes England funds Wilmot Arms, the patent is granted, and manufacturing starts with JCB.
The people
Steven Binch Steven Binch Chief Executive and Founder. Former chief executive of a VC-funded Fast Track 100 winner.
Adrian Cox Adrian Cox Managing Director. Chartered architect, award winner for a major public scheme, specialist in duoKore® technical design.
Dr Boris Ceranic Dr Boris Ceranic Research and Development. Formerly leading architecture at the University of Derby; a specialist in sustainable buildings and MMC.
David Evans David Evans Chief Financial Officer. Former chief executive of Mazars; experienced non-executive and chair.
Trevor Leggett Trevor Leggett Non-Executive Director. Board-level experience in B2B enterprises; chief executive of a national motor trade firm.
Alan Dornford Alan Dornford Non-Executive Director. Thirty-five years in UK and international real estate, including a FTSE 100 real estate division.
Working with
Homes England and the National Housing Bank, JCB, Dentons, University of Salford
And Derby College Group, on the research, development and training centre.