Website Development
Website development studio, Hertfordshire and the West Midlands
The build behind the brand
Great design only gets you so far. What sits underneath your website, how it is coded, how it performs, how it handles traffic and how easy it is to manage, is just as important as how it looks. At Howl & Bray, we take the development side of every project as seriously as the design.
We build bespoke WordPress websites from the ground up. No bloated page builders, no off-the-shelf themes, no unnecessary plugins. Just clean, well-structured code that is fast, secure, accessible and built to be maintained and grown over time.
Whether you are coming to us with a design already in place, working with our design team from the start, or looking for a developer to take over an existing site, we bring the same level of care and precision to every build.
Our Website Capabilities
- Bespoke WordPress Development
- Custom Theme Development
- Custom Post Types and Taxonomies
- Plugin Development and Integration
- WooCommerce Development
- API and Third-Party Integrations
- WordPress Migrations and Rebuilds
- Performance and Speed Optimisation
- Accessibility and Technical SEO
- Hosting Setup and Configuration
- Ongoing Development Support
How a website development project works
A well-built website is the result of good planning as much as good coding. We follow a structured process that keeps things clear and predictable from the first conversation through to the day your site goes live.
Discovery and Scoping
Before a line of code is written, we need to understand exactly what we are building. We review your requirements, identify any technical considerations and define the full scope of the project. This stage surfaces any potential complications early, so there are no surprises further down the line and you have a clear picture of what is included from the start.
Architecture and Planning
With the scope agreed, we plan the technical architecture of the site. This covers how the site is structured, how content is managed, which integrations are needed and how the codebase will be organised. Good planning at this stage makes the build faster, the site more stable and future updates much simpler to implement.
Build
This is where the work happens. We develop your site in a staging environment, building each component carefully and methodically. Custom themes are coded to match designs precisely, functionality is built to specification and everything is structured with long-term maintainability in mind. You will have access to the staging site throughout so you can review progress as it develops.
CMS and Training
Once the build is complete, we configure the WordPress content management system so it is straightforward for your team to use. Editing pages, adding blog posts, managing products or updating images should all feel intuitive without any technical knowledge required. We provide a handover session and supporting documentation so you feel confident from day one.
Testing and QA
Before anything goes live, we put the site through a thorough quality assurance process. We test across browsers and devices, check every form, link and integration, review load speeds and run accessibility checks. If anything is not right, we fix it before launch rather than after. We do not sign off a site unless we are satisfied it is ready.
Launch and Handover
When testing is complete and you are happy with everything, we manage the launch. We handle the technical side of going live, including DNS configuration, SSL setup and any server-side requirements, so the transition from staging to live is smooth and risk-free. After launch, we remain available for support and can discuss ongoing development arrangements to suit your needs.
We build with a modern, proven tech stack,
so your site is fast, secure and built on solid foundations.
Built on WordPress.
Done properly.
WordPress is our platform of choice and has been for over twenty years. It gives us the flexibility to build exactly what a business needs without compromise, and it gives clients a platform they can genuinely manage themselves. We build bespoke themes rather than customising off-the-shelf products, which means your site is leaner, faster and not dependent on third-party developers keeping their products updated.
Every site we build is developed with performance in mind from the start. Core Web Vitals, page speed, image optimisation, clean markup and structured data are not afterthoughts — they are part of how we build. The result is a site that performs well in search as well as in the browser.
A selection of recent builds
Every site we build is different. Here is a selection of recent development projects.
Don't just take our word for it...
The site Howl & Bray built for us is fast, easy to manage and has made a real difference to how we come across online. The handover was thorough and we have had no issues since launch. Exactly what we needed.
Common questions about website development
If you’re considering a new website or redesign, you probably have a few questions. Below, we’ve answered some of the most common things we’re asked about our web design services, process, and how we work with businesses in Hertfordshire, the West Midlands, and beyond.
Yes. We offer web design and development as a combined service or separately. If you have an existing design or are working with another designer, we are happy to take on the development. If you need both, our design and development teams work closely together from the start.
WordPress gives us the flexibility to build exactly what a business needs without the restrictions of a closed platform. It has a large, well-maintained developer community, a strong ecosystem of integrations and gives clients genuine ownership and control over their content. We have been building on it for over twenty years and it remains the right choice for the vast majority of projects we work on.
No. We build bespoke themes with hand-written code. Page builders add unnecessary bulk, slow sites down and can create problems when they are updated or discontinued. Our approach results in a leaner, faster, more stable site that is not dependent on a third-party product continuing to be maintained.
Yes. We regularly take on existing WordPress sites, whether that is to redesign and rebuild them, improve performance, add functionality or simply provide ongoing development support. We will always start with a review to understand what is there and give you an honest assessment of the best way forward.
A typical WordPress build takes between six and ten weeks from sign off to launch, depending on the complexity of the project and how quickly content and feedback are provided. We agree a clear timeline at the start of every project and keep you updated throughout.
Yes. We build our sites so that day-to-day updates are straightforward for non-technical users. We provide a handover session and documentation before launch, and most clients are managing their own content confidently within a short time.
Yes. We offer flexible ongoing support arrangements, from ad hoc development work to regular maintenance covering security updates, plugin management and performance monitoring. We will recommend the right level of support based on your site and how it is used.
Cost depends on the complexity of the build, the number of templates required and any custom functionality or integrations involved. We do not publish a fixed price list, but we are always transparent about costs before any work begins. Development projects typically start from £3,000. Get in touch and we will give you a clear, no-obligation estimate.
It starts with a conversation. We’ll talk through your goals, challenges, and ideas before recommending the best approach. There’s no obligation, just clear advice and honest guidance.
You might also need…
A well-built site is only part of the picture. If you are also thinking about the design, your search visibility or your eCommerce setup, we can help with all of it.