LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS
We support architects, planners, developers, and project teams with landscape-led planning services, statutory submission support, and early strategic advice to inform sound decision-making and secure successful planning outcomes. Our approach integrates landscape appraisal, analysis, and feasibility, ensuring your project responds positively to its context, mitigates planning risk, and aligns with UK planning policy and guidance.
Better landscape design → better places → better quality of life → stronger market appeal → smooth planning approval process
A LANDSCAPE-LED APPROACH
Across all stages of the project lifecycle, our work is grounded in three key processes:
Landscape Appraisal
Understanding landscape character, sensitivities and context.
Landscape Analysis
Identifying opportunities, constraints and functional relationships.
Landscape Feasibility
Testing the viability of development proposals and guiding strategic design decisions.
Together these processes ensure that development proposals are well informed, environmentally responsive and capable of securing planning approval.
STRATEGIC LANDSCAPE APPRAISAL
Purpose:
Establish a robust understanding of the site and its surrounding landscape to inform early-stage planning and design decisions.
Landscape appraisal forms an important early stage in the planning and design process. It provides an initial understanding of the landscape context, identifying key characteristics, sensitivities and opportunities that may influence the development potential of a site.
The examples presented here illustrate a high-level appraisal undertaken for a residential development proposal. The work involved reviewing the landscape setting, surrounding land uses, visual relationships and existing environmental features to identify potential constraints and opportunities.
Process:
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Desk Study
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Review local planning policy, landscape character assessments, aerial imagery, topography, heritage, and ecological data.
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Identify statutory designations, conservation areas, and sensitive landscapes.
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Field Survey
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On-site assessment of vegetation, landform, water features, public views, heritage assets, and ecological features.
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Photographic documentation and GPS mapping of key features.
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Landscape Character & Sensitivity Assessment
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Identify defining elements, visual and ecological sensitivities, and areas of high planning risk.
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Evaluate landscape quality and potential impacts of proposed development.
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The example below demonstrates the structured approach used to assess landscape character, site context and potential landscape responses at an early stage of the planning process.
LANDSCAPE ANALYSIS & OPPORTUNITY MAPPING
Purpose:
Understand how the landscape functions and how it interacts with development proposals. This informs design strategies, mitigation measures, and strategic decision-making.
A landscape assessment provides a more detailed evaluation of the landscape characteristics and sensitivities of a site and its wider context. It supports the planning process by identifying how development proposals may interact with existing landscape features, visual receptors and environmental conditions.
The material presented here illustrates elements of a landscape assessment undertaken to support a proposed development scheme. The work included analysing landscape character, key views, vegetation structure and the relationship between the site and its surrounding landscape.
To respect client confidentiality, the exact location of the project is not disclosed. However, the examples demonstrate the analytical methods used to inform landscape design strategies and guide sensitive integration of development within the landscape.
Process:
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Data Mapping
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Topography, hydrology, soils, vegetation, biodiversity, sun/shade, wind, and circulation patterns.
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Identify existing ecological corridors, heritage features, and public access routes.
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Opportunity & Constraint Analysis
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Highlight development opportunities such as views, access routes, and natural screening.
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Identify constraints including flood risk areas, protected habitats, and visual sensitivities.
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Synthesis & Concept Diagrams
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Produce clear overlays and diagrams showing areas for development, mitigation zones, and strategic design opportunities.
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Support planning applications with robust evidence.
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Outputs & Services:
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Opportunity & Constraint Plans
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Concept Diagrams & Masterplanning Inputs
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Landscape Design Strategies
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Planning Application Support (RIBA Stage 1–2 integration)
Benefit for Clients:
Ensures development proposals respond intelligently to their context while remaining compliant with planning policy.
The examples demonstrate the analytical methods used to inform landscape design strategies and guide sensitive integration of development within the landscape.
LANDSCAPE FEASIBILITY & RISK ASSESSMENT
Purpose:
Evaluate the practicality, cost-effectiveness, and regulatory viability of proposed developments.
Landscape feasibility studies are often undertaken at the earliest stage of a project to determine whether a site has the capacity to accommodate development in a way that responds appropriately to its landscape setting.
The examples presented illustrate elements of a landscape feasibility review prepared to inform early development discussions. The work involved identifying key environmental constraints, landscape opportunities and potential strategies that could support a viable and context-sensitive design approach.
Although the specific project location is confidential, these examples demonstrate how landscape feasibility analysis can help guide site planning, highlight environmental considerations and support informed decision-making during the early stages of project development.
Process
Preliminary Concept Testing
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Develop schematic design options aligned with landscape constraints and opportunities.
Technical & Regulatory Review
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Assess planning policy compliance, environmental impact, biodiversity net gain (BNG) requirements, and drainage solutions.
Economic & Practical Assessment
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Estimate implementation costs and identify construction constraints.
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Evaluate long-term management needs and stewardship approaches.
Feasibility Report & Recommendations
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Provide clear guidance on decisions or design adjustments to reduce planning risk.
Benefit for Clients:
Provides confidence in decision-making, demonstrating that proposals are deliverable, sustainable, and sensitive to landscape context.
Outputs & Services:
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Feasibility Reports
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Concept Design Options
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BNG Assessment & Integration Support
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SuDS Integration Support
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Risk Mitigation Strategies
Benefit for Clients:
Provides confidence in decision-making, demonstrating that proposals are deliverable, sustainable, and sensitive to landscape context.
FROM LANDSCAPE ASSESSMENT TO LANDSCAPE FRAMEWORK & MASTERPLANNING
Early landscape appraisal, assessment & feasibility work plays a critical role in shaping a coherent landscape framework for development proposals. Landscape analysis can inform strategic design decisions, providing a foundation for development that respects landscape character while delivering functional, attractive and resilient environments.The design process moves from analysis towards the development of a coherent landscape strategy that responds to the environmental, spatial & cultural context of the site. Early design strategies place the landscape structure at the forefront of spatial planning, ensuring that environmental conditions & landscape character inform the overall masterplanning approach.
At this stage, the findings from an initial landscape appraisal & detailed site assessment are translated into a strategic landscape framework to guide the spatial organisation of an estate level development. The landscape framework helps ensure that development proposals respond positively to their surroundings while creating a coherent and legible spatial structure. In many cases, this framework then forms the basis for the preparation of a landscape-led masterplan, where built form, movement networks and public spaces are organised around the landscape structure rather than imposed upon it. This approach supports the creation of places that are both environmentally responsive & visually integrated with the wider landscape.
The resulting landscape framework illustrates how these considerations informed the emerging spatial strategy.
Key elements of the framework typically include:
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retention and enhancement of existing vegetation & landscape features
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creation of new structural planting to define development parcels
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integration of open space networks & green infrastructure
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protection of important views & landscape edges
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provision of ecological corridors & habitat connectivity
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integration of sustainable drainage & landscape-led water management
LANDSCAPE DESIGN PROCESS
Creating Quality Spaces
Once a landscape structure has been established, the design process focuses on the creation of quality spaces that support both everyday use & long-term landscape character. Public spaces, streetscapes and open areas are shaped through the careful organisation of landform, planting, materials & movement.
At this stage, landscape design considers how people use & experience a place — how spaces are entered, how views are framed, where gathering areas occur & how landscape elements contribute to comfort, shade & visual identity. Well-designed landscapes can contribute significantly to the quality of life experienced by those who have lived experience of being in these spaces.
Supporting Development and Planning Outcomes
A landscape-led design process supports development proposals from a planning perspective. Landscape strategies help demonstrate how development proposals align with planning policy objectives by responding to landscape character, strengthening green infrastructure & contributing to the creation of healthy places, .
For developers & planners alike, integrating landscape considerations early in the design process can reduce planning risk while contributing to the creation of attractive & distinctive places.
From Concept to Delivery
As a project progresses, the landscape framework & concept design may be developed into more detailed proposals. These stages may include public realm design, material selection, planting design, & long-term landscape management strategies.
Through the development of the concept into a scheme, the original landscape vision is translated into practical & deliverable design solutions that support both environmental performance & place quality. By moving from landscape analysis to landscape strategy & detailed design, development proposals can create environments that are environmentally responsive, visually integrated & capable of supporting resilient, liveable places.
Landscape-Led Development
When landscape is placed at the centre of the design process, it becomes more than an aesthetic layer. Instead, it forms the spatial & environmental structure that shapes how a place functions & how it is experienced.
EXAMPLES
