What We Do
Long-term and sustainable solutions to making places and communities are crucial especially to ensure that we adapt and address climate change. As a practice we are skilled in the many different aspects of planning, development and the environment – we can provide you with all you need to take your vision further.
We offer expertise in a number of key areas of development activity: -
Spatial Planning
We prepare development frameworks for large complex sites or areas where certainty on infrastructure and quality are critical but land use flexibility important – our frameworks provide the basis for infrastructure design and individual master plans or building design to be prepared.
Masterplanning
Successful masterplanning is the key to creating great places. A clear, considered masterplan developed by professionals and local people together can lead to the physical, social and economic revival of places. We can help create successful masterplans together with our associate disciplines. We can also carry out design review programmes.
Rural Planning
We have a particular expertise in rural planning following extensive experience in this field, including rural affordable housing schemes and residential conversions; managed workspace either as new build or as conversion; live-work units. We have extensive experience in handling sites located in protected landscapes e.g. National Parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), and Green Belt.
Policy Development
We represent clients in promoting sites through Regional Spatial Strategies, Examinations in Public and Inquiries. We present and co-ordinate evidence and appear as expert witnesses. We also assist local authorities in the preparation of development plan documents.
Urban Design
We are committed to the art of making places, assisting clients in creating desirable, high quality and sustainable environments in which to live, work and play.
Regeneration
We co-ordinate and lead in the preparation of comprehensive strategies for regeneration of whole communities, town centres, declining housing estates, brownfields and waterfronts.
Place Making
We specialise in local distinctiveness Studies and have worked on many Town and Village Design Statements and Landscape Strategies. We co-ordinate and manage market positioning strategies and carry co-ordinate HLF and other funding bids.
Expert Witness
Where the Planning Authority has failed to make a decision or refused planning permission, we can provide advice on the most effective and appropriate method of pursuing an appeal and pursuit of that strategy. We are highly experienced in preparing and presenting evidence to appeal proceedings relating to the full spectrum of planning sectors.
Research
We carry out a wide range of planning, regeneration and design research for public and private sector clients.
Training
We are regular speakers at Conferences and Seminars, with a huge wealth of project and programme management experience. We work closely with Skills for Local Authorities who are highly regarded as a trainer as his style is knowledgeable, enthusiastic, participative, practical and entertaining.
Stakeholder engagement & Comunity involvement
In addition to bringing a full complement of planning, design and master planning skills to projects, we offer excellent skills in community co-ordination and stakeholder consultation, partnership building and workshop facilitation.