Enzygo's principle service is the provision of a range of landscape planning services including the preparation of landscape and visual assessments, environmental impact assessments, landscape character assessments, historic landscape assessments and Public Inquiry expert witness appearances. Landscape design and capacity statements for inclusion in design and access statements are regularly provided to accompany planning applications. Where a project is landscape driven, Enzygo will carry out full planning applications on behalf of clients.

Our landscape team provide environmental planning advice on a variety of developments including: 

• Highways Schemes (Highways Agency, GOYTH, Mott MacDonald, Gifford, Morgan Est, Alfred McAlpine, Amec, Grontmij, Mouchel, Mace, Carillion, WSP and RMS); 
• Retail developments (Tesco, Sainsbury, Morrisons, Marks & Spencer and Asda); 
• Commercial developments (URSA, Wellcome Foundation, ICI, Across Chemicals and Albion Chemicals) 
• Residential developments (Jones Homes, Persimmon, Barratts, Wimpey, Taylor Wimpey, and Morris Homes); 
• Leisure developments (Park Holidays UK and American Adventure); 
• Windfarms (Peel Energy, Haworth Power, Your Energy, E-ON, RES and WEG) 
• Energy from Waste facilities (Veolia, WRG, AmeyCespa, Biossence and Infinis); and 
• Minerals and Quarry developments; (Darlington Quarries, UK Coal and Scottish Coal).   

Landscape Character Assessments
Landscape Character Assessment (LCA) is important for the UK's implementation of the European Landscape Convention (ELC) - the first international convention on landscape, dedicated exclusively to the protection, management and planning of all landscapes. It provides a method to identify and assess landscapes and understand landscape change, providing a framework for developing landscape quality objectives.  "LCA is the tool that is used to help us to understand, and articulate, the character of the landscape." (Landscape Character Assessment: Guidance for England and Scotland, 2002).

Landscape Capacity and Sensitivity Studies
The purpose of Landscape Capacity and Sensitivity Studies is to ensure that any new development is directed towards those sites that can best accommodate it. Studies evaluate the ability of an area and its immediate surroundings to accommodate a development and identifies the amount of change an area could reasonably accommodate without causing a detrimental impact on either the regional landscape character or the local distinctiveness.

Historic Landscape Characterisation/Assessments (HLC/A)
HLC is English Heritage’s contribution to holistic landscape character assessment, designed to create an appreciation of the time-depth of landscape to align alongside scenic or ecological perspectives. HLC/A seeks to identify and as far as possible understand the historic development of today's landscape. It places emphasis on the contribution that past historic processes make to the character of the landscape as a whole, not just selected 'special sites' and can contribute to a wider landscape assessment.

Landscape and Visual Impact Assessments (LVIA)
LVIAs have become a statutory requirement of Environment Impact Assessment (EIA). Large scale developments such as windfarms, landfill sites and industrial proposals require an EIA, and an LVIA will form part of this. The Planning Authority may also consider the use of LVIA’s for significant applications in designated areas (National Parks, SPA, SSSI, ANOB) or for proposals that may impact upon important views, landscapes and settlements.

Townscape Assessments Townscape
Assessments, which are similar in approach to Landscape Assessments, enable developers and stakeholders alike to methodically identify townscape elements (character) and values (capital) affected by developments, and the role played by urban design and mitigation. Given that 'townscape' is a complex mix of physical features and patterns, and cultural understandings, the level of detail to which townscape assessment and appraisal undertaken depends very much on the purpose of the exercise and the type of townscape.

Expert Witness
Enzygo have a wide range of experience in the preparation of proofs of evidence and appearing as expert witnesses relating to landscape, urban design and community matters at public inquiries, planning appeals, and representing clients at arbitration cases.  Working with leading Solicitors QCs, we have appeared on behalf of both developers and local authorities.  

For a quotation or if you need some advise relating to landscape planning services, feel free to call 0114 290 3677 or email your information to paul.beswick@enzygo.com and we will respond to you within 24 hours.