Landscape planning

Our chartered landscape planners and environmental consultants provide the insight and skills needed to guide complex projects from concept through to consent. We understand the planning process and the expectations of decision-makers, helping clients secure approvals while ensuring projects are environmentally responsible, visually coherent and future-ready.

Our expertise spans Landscape and Visual Impact Assessments (LVIA), Townscape and Visual Impact Assessment (TVIA), Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) and Development Consent Orders (DCOs) for small and medium-scale developments and Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIP). We also advise on strategic landscape planning, green infrastructure and climate resilience, ensuring that environmental considerations are fully embedded into the planning and design process. For projects requiring additional scrutiny, we provide expert witness support at planning inquiries, strengthening the case for development.

Working across all sectors, we support national infrastructure and renewable energy projects, housing and regeneration schemes, commercial developments, transport and utilities, and heritage-led development. Our clients include developers, local authorities, government agencies, infrastructure providers and multidisciplinary design teams.

By combining policy knowledge, technical expertise and design vision, we ensure that landscape planning requirements are met, risks are managed, and opportunities for placemaking, biodiversity and sustainable growth are maximised.

We offer a comprehensive suite of landscape and environmental planning services, including:

• Landscape, townscape, and seascape character assessment

• Landscape and visual impact assessment (LVIA)

• Townscape and visual impact assessment (TVIA)

• Sensitivity and capacity studies

• Landscape mitigation and enhancement strategies

• Planning for future landscapes and climate adaptation

• Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) coordination

• Development planning and masterplanning

• Expert witness services

• GIS, mapping, and spatial analysis

• Visualisation and presentation of landscape effects

As members of the Landscape Institute and the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA), our advice is grounded in best practice and up to date with evolving planning policy, climate targets, and regulatory frameworks.

Understanding place to shape better futures

Character assessment explores how the unique combination of natural, cultural, and socio-economic factors contributes to the identity of a landscape, townscape or seascape — how it is perceived, experienced, and valued by people.

At Gillespies, we have decades of experience delivering robust and insightful character assessments at both strategic and local scales. Our work supports local authorities, landowners, developers, and infrastructure providers in making informed decisions about how places are planned, designed, and managed.

We prepare Landscape, Townscape and Seascape Character Assessments (LCA/ TCA/ SCA) to guide a wide range of policy and project objectives, including:

• Local and regional planning policy

• Land management and stewardship

• Green infrastructure strategies

• Placemaking and regeneration frameworks

• Waterways, AONBs, and regional parks

• Renewable energy and infrastructure planning

By providing a clear, evidence-based understanding of what makes a place distinctive, our assessments help guide sustainable landscape change, support sensitive development, and contribute to the long-term stewardship of valued places.

Clarifying complex change with credible, visual evidence

Landscape and townscape change can be a source of significant planning contention. Our landscape planners provide robust, independent assessment of visual and landscape effects, ensuring that proposals are well understood by local authorities, consultees, and communities.

We deliver both formal assessments as part of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA), and standalone reports to support planning submissions. Our team works across sectors covering housing, infrastructure, education, energy, water, commercial, and leisure development, and understands the nuances of policy and perception in both urban and rural contexts.

Supporting successful applications from strategy to submission

We guide clients through every stage of the development process, from early feasibility and environmental studies, through EIA coordination, to submission of planning applications and post-consent support.

For nationally significant infrastructure projects, we provide end-to-end expertise on Development Consent Orders (DCOs), including consultation strategy, stakeholder engagement, Statements of Common Ground, Examination support, and discharge of planning conditions.

Balancing development needs with environmental responsibility

We work collaboratively with clients, consultants, and stakeholders to understand the likely environmental effects of development and ensure compliance with policy and regulatory frameworks. Where adverse effects are identified, we focus on finding meaningful mitigation and uncovering opportunities to improve environmental outcomes.

Our environmental planning services include:

• Screening and scoping advice
• EIA coordination and project management
• Environmental Statement (ES) / EIA Report production
• Independent peer review and technical assurance

All of our EIA coordinators meet the competency requirements set out in the EIA Regulations, ensuring confidence and credibility in the process and its outputs.

Helping secure sustainable outcomes at inquiry

We provide authoritative, evidence-based expertise on landscape and planning matters at public inquiries and Development Consent Order (DCO) examinations. Our insights support balanced, well-informed outcomes that respect environmental quality, community needs, and long-term place value.