Our extensive geographical network means we offer a locally based service in accordance with national planning frameworks, while drawing on strong technical support from specialist disciplines within our national and international offices.
Major developments require the coordination of a wide range of expertise, including master planning, social impact assessment, health impact assessment, transport planning, environmental assessment, equality, and accessibility.
The benefit we bring to our customers is an unrivaled range and depth of expertise. Our planning staff work alongside and integrate experts in each area, together with the designers responsible for development projects. We’ve significantly reduced costs and accelerated schedules by minimizing overlap in responsibilities and inconsistent advice.
At the highest level we undertake planning policy and strategy development with statutory agencies, and help private sector clients provide responses to consultation on proposed changes.
We have wide experience in public consultation, including planning workshops, public presentations, awareness campaigns, and media relations. We prepare and present evidence as expert witnesses at public inquiries for major projects, where we’ve acted for both the public and private sectors.
Urban design and master plan development
As in the case of our Walsall Gigaport project, or the Green Square development in Sydney, these may include the layout and density of built form, development phasing, open space, infrastructure, public access, and landscape requirements, plus servicing, highway or environmental considerations.
Strategic transport planning
In transport planning our capability ranges from the high-level strategic planning of multimodal systems down to microlevel assessments. Our long-term work for Transport for London has involved accessibility planning, transport assessments, and the interaction between pedestrian and vehicular movements.
Environmental expertise
Our core environmental expertise encompasses specialist skills in undertaking an environmental impact assessment or environmental statement, and integrating these with statutory planning and permitting processes.
Services
- Environmental impact assessment
- Landscape planning and architecture
- Land-use planning and design
- Historic building and conservation area permissions
- Master planning
- Public consultation and conflict resolution
- Public inquiry and expert testimony
- Site planning and development potential review
- Statutory planning advice
- Strategic and urban development planning and policy analysis
- Strategic environmental assessment
- Sustainability assessment
- Town center strategy planning
- Transport planning
- Urban design