LUC

We recently harnessed our Corporate Social and Environmental Responsibility (CSER) time allowance to support residents of the St George’s Estate, near Waterloo, in transforming underused urban spaces into vibrant green community hubs. The initiative, just 200 metres from LUC’s London office, aims to reconnect fragmented green areas and boost local biodiversity through innovative landscape design. 🌿🏢 The project began when LUC’s Adrian Wikeley met St George’s Estate residents at a consultation event last summer. The group shared ambitious ideas to convert disused roads and hard surfaces into green spaces but lacked the design expertise to shape their vision into fundable proposals. Recognising an opportunity to give back, LUC’s design team joined forces with urban design group Create Streets to develop detailed sketches and visuals. These plans will now form the foundation of funding applications to Lambeth Council, Southwark Council, and the Greater London Authority (GLA). Key features of the proposal include: 🌧️ Rain gardens and tree planting to manage rainwater sustainably and link green spaces. 🌳 Community orchards and seating areas to create inviting social hubs. 🚶 Improved pedestrian routes by removing redundant buildings and rationalising fencing. 🚸 Traffic calming measures, including raised crossings, reduced road widths and adopting ‘Home Zone’ principles to prioritise pedestrian safety. Create Streets will soon publish the designs on its online engagement platform to rally community support and attract further funding. As an Employee-Owned Trust, LUC champions collective responsibility. This project embodies the LUC Charter’s ethos: empowering staff to “make a difference” while fostering spirited, socially driven workplaces. 🤝 By sharing skills with the St George’s Estate, LUC advances its CSER objectives, including strengthening local communities, supporting sustainable development, and aligning with UN Sustainable Development Goals. “Projects like this remind us that urban greening isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about creating resilient, connected communities,” said Jon Bannister, Associate Director of Landscape Architecture at LUC. “Our team relished the chance to translate their expertise into tangible benefits for neighbours right on our doorstep.” The St George’s Estate initiative demonstrates how collaboration between professionals and residents can turn ambitious ideas into actionable plans. For LUC, it underscores the value of embedding social and environmental responsibility into everyday work—proving that giving back enriches both communities and the team behind the designs. #UrbanGreening #CommunityEngagement #GreenInfrastructure #ResilientCommunities #CorporateResponsibility #CSER #Biodiversity #London

LUC is supporting the transformation of Dumbarton’s Artizan Centre as the project moves into its next phase. Following recent planning approval from West Dunbartonshire Council, the first phase of construction is set to begin in early 2025. 🏗 This phase will deliver a new public square and improved streetscapes, featuring high-quality paving, seating, planting and play areas. These enhancements will create a more inviting, accessible and vibrant town centre. 🌍 Funded through the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund, the project will also strengthen connections between Dumbarton Central Station and the High Street, encouraging greater footfall and economic regeneration. Key elements of the masterplan: ✅ Creation of a welcoming and flexible public space to support community events and activities. ✅ Improved pedestrian links, reinforcing connectivity across the town centre. ✅ Future potential for residential, healthcare, and commercial uses to bring long-term vitality to Dumbarton. LUC is proud to be working alongside West Dunbartonshire Council, providing expertise in urban design, landscape architecture and sustainability. Our vision is to create a people-focused environment that enhances both community life and ecological resilience. Stay tuned for further updates as the project progresses! 📄 Read full article here: https://lnkd.in/eYcKhK2d #UrbanRegeneration #SustainableDevelopment #Dumbarton #Placemaking #PublicSpaces #CommunityEngagement #LevellingUp #UrbanDesign #LandscapeArchitecture

LUC has partnered with Carmarthenshire County Council to help them integrate a #GreenAndBlueInfrastructure (GBI) approach into #LandUse #Planning. We delivered draft Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) to support the council’s revised Local Development Plan, ensuring #SustainableDevelopment through well-designed, integrated, and maintained GBI interventions. The draft SPG provides clear guidance for developers, including a compliance checklist, planning submission requirements, and best practices for incorporating GBI at various scales. A landscape-led approach to #placemaking is encouraged, with a developer toolkit outlining practical GBI design solutions tailored to Carmarthenshire’s diverse contexts. A step-by-step GBI statement guide helps developers embed multi-functional natural features into projects, while Greenspace Factor scoring supports increasing green cover across the county. Embedding GBI into our planning enriches our surroundings, creating sustainable, resilient spaces for people and nature to thrive. It has been a pleasure to work with Carmarthenshire County Council to help them with #GreeningCarmarthenshire 🌿

LUC has completed the update of Cardiff’s Landscape Evidence Base on behalf of Cardiff Council. This comprehensive study reviews local landscape designations and provides robust evidence to inform Cardiff’s emerging Local Development Plan (LDP). 🌳 The study identifies landscapes of the highest quality and value across the local authority area. It assesses existing Special Landscape Areas (SLAs), recommends updates to their boundaries, and proposes new designations where appropriate. The report ensures that local landscapes receive appropriate protection while balancing the need for climate-resilient development. 🔍 Using a systematic and transparent methodology, LUC’s approach aligns with national and local policy guidance. The study draws upon the Welsh Government’s LANDMAP system and on-the-ground field assessments to evaluate Cardiff’s landscapes against a set of practical and landscape criteria. Key findings: ✅ Refinement of SLA boundaries to enhance clarity and ensure protection for Cardiff’s most valued landscapes. ✅ Recognition of the importance of urban green corridors, such as the River Taff, River Rhymney, and Nant Fawr, which link the city to the surrounding countryside. ✅ Assessment of landscape character and quality, considering factors such as scenic value, historical significance, biodiversity, and cultural heritage. ✅ Recommendations for long-term landscape management to preserve Cardiff’s unique natural and cultural assets. The Cardiff Landscape Evidence Base Update supports Cardiff Council’s commitment to maintaining a high-quality natural environment as part of its planning strategy. By ensuring that development respects and enhances Cardiff’s landscapes, the study contributes to a more resilient and attractive city for residents and visitors alike. 📅 Cardiff Council’s Replacement Local Development Plan is in public consultation until 15 April 2025. 📄 For more details, the full report is available in the Supporting Documents section under Evidence Base Studies on the consultation website: https://lnkd.in/eHmR4hBA #LandscapePlanning #SustainableDevelopment #Cardiff #UrbanPlanning #ClimateResilience #GreenSpaces #LocalDevelopmentPlan #EnvironmentalProtection #LANDMAP #CulturalHeritage #Biodiversity

We've successfully completed the Cardiff Green Wedge Review, a comprehensive assessment commissioned by Cardiff Council to inform the city’s upcoming Local Development Plan (LDP). The review evaluates the boundaries of the existing green wedges within the Cardiff region. 🌳 Green wedges play a vital role in: ✅ Managing urban form ✅ Safeguarding the countryside ✅ Protecting the setting of Cardiff’s urban areas The review focused on the western green wedge, west of the River Taff, assessing its performance against five key purposes outlined in Planning Policy Wales (PPW): 1️⃣ Preventing the coalescence of towns and cities. 2️⃣ Managing urban form through controlled expansion. 3️⃣ Safeguarding the countryside from encroachment. 4️⃣ Protecting the setting of urban areas. 5️⃣ Encouraging urban regeneration by recycling derelict land. The assessment, carried out on a settlement-by-settlement basis, identified variations in the contribution of land to green wedge purposes. 🔍 Key findings: 📍 Creigiau: The elevated land to the east of Creigiau plays a significant role in protecting the urban setting, with many parcels rated as having moderate to high potential for green wedge designation. However, certain developments within the CR2 parcel were found to make no contribution to green wedge purposes and are recommended for exclusion from the boundary. 📍 Gwaelod-y-garth and Taff’s Well: Most land in this area effectively separates settlements, with no proposed changes to the existing green wedge boundary. 📍 Morganstown: Land to the north and west of Morganstown makes a strong contribution to managing urban form and safeguarding the countryside. A small parcel in the northern boundary, however, was found to make a weak contribution and is recommended for exclusion. 📍 Pentyrch: The land around Pentyrch, particularly to the east and west, plays a strong role in protecting the urban setting. No changes to the green wedge boundary are proposed. The review provides detailed recommendations for each settlement, highlighting areas where green wedge boundaries should be retained, adjusted, or excluded. These findings will help Cardiff Council ensure that green wedges continue to play a vital role in shaping the city’s development while preserving its natural landscape. 📅 Cardiff Council will use the Cardiff Green Wedge Review findings to inform the evidence base for the Cardiff Replacement Development Plan (2021–2036). The Replacement Local Development Plan is open for public consultation until 15 April 2025. 📄 For more information, the full report, including maps and detailed assessments, is available in the Supporting Documents section under Evidence Base Studies on the consultation website: https://lnkd.in/eHmR4hBA #UrbanPlanning #GreenSpaces #Cardiff #LocalDevelopmentPlan #LandscapePlanning #PublicConsultation #GreenWedges #PlanningPolicy #CommunityEngagement

Fieldwork with a view! 🏔️ Our ecology team has been conducting habitat surveys in Dunoon, capturing the beauty of nature while studying local wildlife. Always a privilege to work in such an incredible landscape! #EcologySurveys #Dunoon #NatureAtWork #WildlifeConservation #ScottishLandscapes

Our ECoW team has been lucky to work on the Sloy OHL project in Arrochar, with views like these! 🌿⚡ Capturing the beauty of the Scottish Highlands while working on an essential infrastructure project. A reminder of how nature and innovation go hand in hand. #SloyOHL #Arrochar #ScottishLandscapes #Infrastructure #Sustainability

Two leading experts from LUC will take centre stage at the Urban Greening Symposium: From Pavement to Plants in March. 🌿 Tom Jonson, Director of Landscape Architecture at LUC, will speak at the event, while Senior Landscape Architect Dilip Lakhani will chair discussions. 🏙️ Hosted in partnership with the Landscape Institute London, the symposium will explore how cities can retrofit existing urban spaces to boost biodiversity, sustainability, and community wellbeing. 📅 The half-day conference, held at the Garden Museum on 3 March 2025, will unite professionals and students in landscape architecture, urban planning, and garden design. Against the backdrop of Lambeth Green – a five-acre urban greening project transforming streets around the museum into lush gardens – attendees will examine real-world strategies to turn grey spaces green. 🎤 Tom Jonson will join speakers from Amsterdam Municipality, Peabody, and the City of London to present case studies on successful green retrofitting. His talk will highlight innovative approaches to integrating nature into urban design, drawing on LUC’s decades of experience in creating climate-resilient landscapes, and in particular, town centre public realm enhancement projects that we are currently working on in Ireland. 💬 Dilip Lakhani will steer panel debates and breakout sessions, encouraging collaboration between designers, policymakers, and communities. “Green retrofitting isn’t just about plants; it’s about rethinking how cities function,” says Lakhani. “This event will tackle barriers to progress and spark actionable solutions.” What to expect: The day begins with a site visit to Lambeth Junction, where a live retrofit project demonstrates practical challenges and benefits. Back at the Garden Museum, rapid-fire presentations and workshops will address topics such as: 🟢 Making green infrastructure accessible to all communities 🟢 Securing stakeholder buy-in for urban greening projects 🟢 Balancing aesthetics, ecology, and functionality in design Event details: 🕘 Date: 3 March 2025 | Time: 9:30 AM – 1:45 PM 📍 Location: Garden Museum, Lambeth 🔗 Book here: https://ow.ly/ozaG50UUIXQ With 75% of the UK population living in cities, green retrofitting offers a lifeline for improving air quality, reducing flood risk, and fostering community connections. LUC’s participation underscores its commitment to shaping inclusive, nature-led urban spaces – proving that even the most built-up areas can bloom. Spaces are limited. Book your ticket today and help redefine the future of urban landscapes. #UrbanGreening #Sustainability #Biodiversity #LandscapeArchitecture #UrbanPlanning #ClimateResilience #GreenCities #LUC #GardenMuseum #LondonEvents

We are thrilled to announce that the Farringdon Row project has secured approval, advancing the next phase of Sunderland's Riverside Masterplan. This initiative will deliver 143 build-to-rent homes, comprising townhouses and apartments, aimed at revitalising the area. LUC has played a pivotal role in shaping the landscape design, working alongside Placefirst and IDP ARCHITECTS LLP to create shared community gardens that harmoniously integrate the urban environment with the adjacent river valley's natural beauty. These communal green spaces are envisioned as vibrant hubs for residents, enhancing social interaction and quality of life. Construction is slated to begin by June 2025. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/e4XWtD7J Image 1 © Placefirst #UrbanRegeneration #LandscapeArchitecture #CommunityDevelopment #Sunderland #FarringdonRow

A surprise find during a routine survey! 🦇 Last week, our Director for Ecology, Steve Jackson-Matthews, and Senior Ecologist, Ellen M., were carrying out a Preliminary Ecological Appraisal in South Ayrshire when they made an unexpected discovery—a bat in need of a helping hand! The little adventurer had flown in through an open window and landed in a cardboard box. Not exactly a typical roosting spot! Though not too keen on being rescued, he was carefully checked over and found to be unharmed. He was then relocated to a perfect hibernation tree, where he’ll (hopefully) enjoy a much cozier stay. Meet our grumpy but fascinating friend: a Leisler’s bat—also known as the 'hairy-armed bat' due to its long, thick fur, which gives it a lion’s mane appearance. A memorable day in the field and a happy ending for this little bat! #Ecology #WildlifeConservation #Bats #LeislersBat #EcologicalSurvey