Landscape
An innovative, context and nature-led design approach
Southern Ecological Solutions’ (SES) wide-ranging landscape consultancy services assist in all stages of the development process, from landscape planning and design to aftercare. If considered from the outset, landscape and green infrastructure can deliver significant environmental, social and economic benefits. Our experienced team of landscape architects can manage projects from small-scale developments to strategic masterplans and have experience delivering large contracts alongside our ecology, arboriculture and habitat management teams.
Our work combines an innovative context- and nature-led design approach. Working collaboratively with the client and design team, through careful analysis and understanding of the existing site assets, landscape opportunities and constraints, we ensure each scheme is sensitively designed to optimise the built and natural environment with placemaking, biodiversity, access to nature, community and health and wellbeing at its heart. We are proud of the work we undertake and the projects we help to deliver.
Site selection and feasibility
If you are planning to purchase or develop a site, we will advise regarding its suitability and capacity for developing from a landscape perspective, reducing risk and giving your project the best chance of success. Our expertise includes
- due diligence reports
- desk studies and initial landscape appraisals/feasibility studies
- identification of opportunities, sensitivities and constraints and their implications.
Strategic land promotion
SES specialises in promoting strategic land. A landscape-led approach, particularly for sensitive or constrained sites (green belt or protected landscapes) and preparing suitable evidence can positively assist in the planning process by addressing landscape and visual issues at an early stage. If you are intending to promote a site in a local or neighbourhood plan, our associated services include
- landscape and visual appraisals
- green belt assessments
- comparative landscape and visual assessments
- early consideration of site-specific landscape and green infrastructure strategies
- biodiversity net gain
- masterplanning
- attendance at local plan hearings.
Planning applications
SES provides a range of landscape information to accompany outline, reserved matters and full planning applications and to discharge associated planning conditions, including
- concepts, sketches and visualisations to support design development e.g., sustainable drainage system (SuDS) strategies and pre-application discussions
- landscape masterplans, landscape strategy documents and statements
- input into design and access statements and design codes and guides
- landscape and visual impact assessments (LVIA) to accompany environmental impact assessment (EIA) and non-EIA planning applications
- planning stage hard and soft landscape schemes, including biodiversity net gain
- planning specifications
- management plans.
If your planning application is unsuccessful, our expert witnesses will help at appeals, including planning inquiries.
Get in touchDetailed design and implementation
SES enjoys working with clients to turn ideas into successful completed projects, including
- technical stage detailed and hard and soft landscape drawings, fully coordinated with ecological requirements, highways, drainage and National House Building Council (NHBC)
- construction details
- specifications/bills of quantity
- monitoring of implementation and landscape audits.
Aftercare and long-term management
Aftercare and long-term management are essential for ensuring a scheme reaches its full potential. SES advises on appropriate management options and strategies and provides practical management advice on a site-by-site basis. Alongside our ecology team, we prepare a range of management documents, including
- landscape management plans
- landscape and ecological management plans.
Sustainable, pragmatic, and client-focused solutions
Discover how we can help you with your landscape development from planning and design through to aftercare.
Get in touch