Hall Needham Associates, Architects, was formed in 1974 by the principals, John Hall from Oldham and Roger Needham from Sheffield. John Hall had been principal of a practice named Heywood and Ogden long established in the Oldham area (approx. 1890) of which he had taken control in the late sixties. Roger Needham was then principal of Needham and Jones of Sheffield, Howard Bugg being his partner. The two practices collaborated on projects in the early seventies and a merger took place in 1974. At this point Ken Waddington was made a partner of the firm. It was considered that the newly re-structured practice of Hall Needham Associates would be strategically well placed in Lancashire and Yorkshire and that the balance of expertise of John Hall, Roger Needham, Howard Bugg and Ken Waddington would be to everyone's advantage. In 1978, Stuart Taylor was made a partner of Hall Needham Associates, followed by Trevor Sheldon, several years later. On-going projects in the south of England precipitated the setting up of the Thame office in 1982.