2025 has been a year of adjustment and renewed momentum for the built environment, set against a backdrop of global uncertainty and change. In the UK, a shift in government has brought greater clarity around housing, planning and infrastructure delivery for the year ahead.
At Gillespies, we remain firmly committed to landscape-led thinking, working across a wide range of sectors, geographies and scales, addressing complex challenges through thoughtful design that responds to both people and place. Over the course of the year, we have secured 115 new projects, achieved a range of planning milestones and opened a new studio in Riyadh, strengthening our presence in the Middle East. Our Manchester and London studios moved to new collaborative studios, and the practice welcomed seven new colleagues, with further growth planned in the year ahead.
A key moment in 2025 was the publication of the government’s 10 Year Infrastructure Plan, setting out a new approach to investment in transport, water, green infrastructure and energy. In response to the UK’s transition to net zero, we continue to support major utility firms in nationally significant infrastructure projects across the UK. Our landscape planning work includes the Great Grid Upgrade for National Grid, encompassing the routeing and assessment of over 230 kilometres of overhead transmission lines across northern and eastern England, alongside 14 projects for Scottish Power across Scotland, northwest England and north Wales.
Changes to the National Planning Policy Framework are helping to unlock new homes and communities, and this year four major schemes for us at East Hemel, Chalgrove, Earls Court and West of Ifield secured planning approval. Collectively these projects will deliver thousands of new homes supported by generous green and blue infrastructure, with all four set to progress in 2026. Across the North of England, we continue to support housing-led growth at sites including West Gibfield, East Boothstown, Central Salford, Elton Reservoir and Mastin Moor.
Public realm and placemaking remain central to our work. The completion of the Broadfield Park Slopes project in Rochdale marked a key milestone in the Heritage Lottery-funded transformation of Rochdale Town Hall, creating valuable new greenspace for the town. Elsewhere in the North, we are reimagining market squares in towns including Ashton, Cleethorpes and Darwen, helping to attract people and investment back into town centres.
In Belfast, following the completion of the acclaimed City Quays Gardens, we are supporting the next phase of the historic docks’ transformation into new commercial and residential neighbourhoods. Alongside this, Belfast Stories, a major new cultural centre, continues to progress and reinforces our growing role in the city.
In Oxford, we are working closely with the University and Colleges on a diverse portfolio of academic and civic projects, including the completion of Oxford Humanities, planning approvals at Green Templeton College, Oxpens and Oxford Science Park Plot 27, and ongoing progress on the Oxford Flood Alleviation Strategy.
In London, we continue to play a leading role in major regeneration masterplans including Elephant Park, Bankside Yards, Brent Cross Town, King’s Road Park and Television Centre. Activity has increased across central office developments, where nature and external space are taking centre stage, driven by the Urban Greening Factor policy. This year saw key milestones at One Exchange Square and Broadgate Plaza.
Internationally, we continue to deliver resilient, culturally rich places across Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Milestones this year include projects in Hong Kong, Beijing, Latvia and Prague, alongside new opportunities in Singapore. The Middle East remains a key growth region, with continued work in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Egypt. Our vision for Jabal Thabeer in Makkah was recognised as runner-up at the 2025 Landscape Middle East Awards, while at Qiddiya we completed the Delta B masterplan and concept design for its first residential parcel, continuing our four-year involvement on this landmark project.
We end the year grateful to our clients, collaborators and partners, and to our teams for their creativity, skill and commitment. We look forward to building on this momentum in the year ahead.
