LUC

LUC is proud to announce that The Lab at ARU Peterborough University Quarter has been shortlisted for the 2025 Pineapple Awards in the Building category. 🙌 As landscape architects on this transformative project, LUC collaborated with a talented team including MCW Architects, Morgan Sindall Group plc, Mace, Smith and Wallwork, and CPW. The Lab represents the third phase of the ARU Peterborough University Quarter, transforming the urban landscape of Peterborough. 🤝 The project exemplifies exceptional teamwork, with each partner bringing their expertise to create a place where people want to learn, work, and engage with the community. 🍍 The Pineapple Awards celebrate projects that positively impact people and places, and The Lab embodies this spirit perfectly. Its innovative design prioritises community engagement and accessibility, creating a welcoming environment that serves both students and local residents. As landscape architects, LUC focused on integrating The Lab seamlessly with its surroundings. 🏗️ The design creates pedestrian-friendly connections that invite the community into the campus space, helping to transform what was previously underutilised car parks into a vibrant, accessible environment. The landscape design complements the building's transparent approach, extending the "no barriers" philosophy into the outdoor spaces and strengthening the relationship between the university and the city. We're incredibly proud of The Lab and its positive impact on Peterborough. Being shortlisted for this award is a testament to the vision of ARU Peterborough, Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority, Peterborough City Council, and the hard work and dedication of the entire project team. The Pineapple Awards ceremony will take place on 2 April at Trinity Riverside, Trinity Buoy Wharf, London. 🏆🤞 The project team wishes the best of luck to all shortlisted entries celebrating exceptional placemaking achievements across the UK. All images © Darren Carter #PineappleAwards #Placemaking #LandscapeArchitecture #UrbanDesign #ARUPeterborough #Architecture #BuildingDesign #Peterborough

🏡 LUC is heading to UKREiiF 2025! We’re excited to be part of this year’s UKREiiF – the UK’s Real Estate and Infrastructure Forum in Leeds, 20–22 May – a key event bringing together industry leaders to shape a more #Sustainable and #Inclusive future for our #BuiltEnvironment. LUC has always been packed full of people who work hard to create better places for nature, people, and places. From tackling #Biodiversity loss and improving #Wellbeing to furthering #NetZero, we’re passionate about supporting #Communities and making a real, tangible difference. If you're attending, come and say hello to our team: Hywel Roberts, Tina Muldowney, Karen O'Shea, Kate Salter, Owen Barton, and Mark Fisk will be there to chat, connect, and explore how we can shape the future of #Placemaking together. Let’s talk over coffee! ☕ Drop us a message to arrange a meetup, or if you spot us at the Royal Armouries Museum, just say hello. We’d love to connect! #ukreiif #ukreiif2025

🌱 Driving innovation in environmental compliance 🌱 Last week, Steve Jackson-Matthews, our Board Director for Ecology, participated in the Association of Environmental Clerks of Works (AEnvCoW)’s annual conference. After being involved in the management of the Association for 14 years, this was Steve’s last conference as a Director. Steve was invited to join a panel of guest speakers from across the UK, to share his knowledge and perspective, drawing on years of experience in the construction industry. The event was a key moment to reflect on the evolution of environmental compliance in construction projects, and the growing role of the EnvCoW in shaping best practice. Discussions covered how EnvCoW is helping to de-risk development, provide efficient compliance monitoring, and enable cost-effective solutions – proving the market is ready for a shift in approach. Steve enjoyed meeting old clients and friends, including long-term collaborator Rosie Scurr of Arven Offshore Wind Farm. Exciting times ahead for AenvCoW and the future of environmental compliance! 🚀 #EnvironmentalCompliance #Sustainability #EnvCow #Innovation #Planning #Development

LUC's leading Green Belt expert Sarah Young will join a distinguished panel of industry experts to discuss the potential of Grey Belt policy to deliver 1.5 million new homes. A crucial debate on the future of housing delivery in the UK is taking place this month, with LUC's own Sarah Young bringing her extensive Green Belt expertise to the discussion. The Land, Planning and Development Federation (LPDF) is hosting the breakfast event titled "Rushed and Incoherent, or Revolutionary and Imperative: Will Grey Belt help deliver 1.5 million homes?" on Monday 31 March 2025. The timely discussion follows a House of Lords committee assessment that deemed Grey Belt policy "[un]likely to have any significant or lasting impact on planning decision-making or on achieving [the] target of 1.5 million new homes by the end of this Parliament." Sarah Young, a chartered town planner with 25 years' experience, will share insights alongside Harry Quartermain from LandTech, Michael Knott from Stantec, and Simon Ricketts from Town Legal LLP. The panel will explore what Grey Belt means in practice and its implications for development sites. They will address critical questions about its role in the collective effort to deliver the ambitious 1.5 million homes target. As a leading authority on Green Belts who has led studies for over 45 local authorities, Sarah brings valuable perspective to this important conversation about housing policy and planning reform. 🗓️ Monday 31 March 2025 🕗 8am-10:30am 📍 Stantec, 4th Floor, 7 Soho Square, London W1D 3QB The event is open to LPDF members and affiliates. To reserve your space email Lucy at info@lpdf.co.uk. #GreenBelt #GreyBelt #HousingPolicy #PlanningReform #UKHousing #UrbanPlanning #LandDevelopment #PropertyDevelopment

We're proud to share our latest film exploring the historic Harnham Water Meadows in Salisbury. 📽 Join our Principal Agri-environment Consultant Jamie Neaves as he explores how centuries-old drowning techniques still offer brilliant solutions for today's environmental challenges. 🌾 This collaboration with the Harnham Water Meadows Trust and Natural England exemplifies LUC's commitment to preserving heritage landscapes while enhancing biodiversity and climate resilience. 👀 Watch to discover how our multidisciplinary approach brings together ecology, heritage conservation and agricultural expertise to support landowners and farmers in maintaining these invaluable ecosystems. Interested in how our integrated approach could support your land management projects? Contact us today. #Farming #Heritage #Conservation #Biodiversity #WaterManagement #AgriEnvironment

The Hagshaw Energy Cluster Development Framework, led by LUC in collaboration with NatureScot, South Lanarkshire Council and East Ayrshire Council, has been shortlisted for Regen's ‘Local and Public Sector Net Zero Transformation’ award at the 2025 Green Energy Awards! 🙌 We crafted a strategic approach to optimising onshore wind farms and deploying other complementary renewable energy technologies across South Lanarkshire and East Ayrshire, whilst maximising benefits for people, nature and place. “We hope the Development Framework will help support the efficient delivery of renewable energy projects whilst optimising environmental, economic and social benefits to local communities and stakeholders. Tackling climate change will require us all to come together, and the Development Framework is a great example of this joined-up approach.” - The Hagshaw Energy Cluster Renewable Energy Developers & Operators ⚡ Once fully operational, the cluster will deliver almost 600MW of clean energy capacity, with potential for up to 1GW to be realised through the co-location of other technologies – making a critical contribution to Scotland’s target of 20GW of onshore wind by 2030. Winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on 27 March 2025 at the Bristol Harbour Hotel. 🤞 LUC looks forward to joining peers at the Regen Green Energy Awards ceremony, celebrating the collective ambition powering the UK’s clean energy future. #NetZero #GreenEnergy #JustTransition #CleanEnergy

We’re thrilled to announce that Rob West, Associate Ecologist, has been appointed to our Board of Trustees following a formal recruitment process. His appointment strengthens our employee-owned leadership and deepens our commitment to sustainable land use and nature recovery. 💬 Rob Booth, LUC’s Managing Director, shared: “I’m delighted Robert West is joining the Board of Trustees. His expertise and diversity of perspective will help guide LUC’s future as an employee-owned business. Robert’s passion for sustainability and nature recovery also aligns really well with our mission.” A dedicated ecologist with over a decade of experience, Robert has led large-scale nature recovery projects, advised on habitat restoration, and shaped biodiversity strategies (including Biodiversity Net Gain at a Local Council). He holds a Master’s in Conservation Ecology and is a Chartered Member of CIEEM. 💚 Robert says: “I’m honoured to join the Board of Trustees and represent my colleagues in shaping LUC’s future. As an ecologist, I’m deeply committed to advancing sustainable land use and nature recovery. I look forward to contributing to LUC’s mission and ensuring our employee-owned structure continues to thrive.” Robert joins fellow Trustees: 👉 Yaver Abidi (Independent Chair) 👉 Jessica Pearce (Environmental Planner) 👉 Jonathan Pearson (Environmental Planning Director) 👉 Rob Booth (Managing Director) 👉 Andrew Clarke (Finance & Operations Director) Together, they’ll safeguard LUC’s values, strategy, and employee-owner interests – keeping our environmental purpose at the heart of every decision. 🔗 Read the full article to learn more about Robert’s journey and our employee-owned ethos: https://lnkd.in/e3SGJ66V #EmployeeOwned #Sustainability #NatureRecovery #Leadership

🤸♀️ In our latest thought piece ‘The Power of Play’, our Director of Landscape Management, Matthew Parkhill writes about: 🟢 the profound impact of thoughtfully designed #PlaySpaces on community health and well-being 🟢 Play England’s calls for play sufficiency legalisation 🟢 recent changes to the National Planning Policy Framework 🟢 and how LUC’s #PlayStrategy work feeds into policies that tackle health inequalities. 📖 Read the full piece https://lnkd.in/eYNA2AeX

Last week, our Ecology team gathered virtually to review our 2024 performance and set out our plans for the year ahead. After a productive session, our Bristol and Cardiff teams took the opportunity to meet in person before the busy season kicks off. Instead of a typical office day, they headed to Slimbridge Wetland Centre in Gloucestershire—an ideal spot for ecologists and wildlife enthusiasts alike! The team spent the day spotting rare birds, practising ID skills, and even catching sight of some unexpected guests—wild harvest mice sneaking into the exhibits! Despite the chilly weather, the visit was a fantastic way to connect and appreciate the incredible biodiversity wetlands have to offer. If you haven’t been to Slimbridge, it’s well worth a visit! With an extensive collection of native and non-native birds, well-placed hides, family-friendly activities, and scenic walks, there’s something for everyone. You might even spot one of our favourite protected species—water voles! 🐾 📸 Swipe through to see the team in action. #Ecology #WildlifeConservation #Slimbridge #TeamDayOut

We recently harnessed our Corporate Social and Environmental Responsibility (CSER) time allowance to support residents of the St George’s Estate, near Waterloo, in transforming underused urban spaces into vibrant green community hubs. The initiative, just 200 metres from LUC’s London office, aims to reconnect fragmented green areas and boost local biodiversity through innovative landscape design. 🌿🏢 The project began when LUC’s Adrian Wikeley met St George’s Estate residents at a consultation event last summer. The group shared ambitious ideas to convert disused roads and hard surfaces into green spaces but lacked the design expertise to shape their vision into fundable proposals. Recognising an opportunity to give back, LUC’s design team joined forces with urban design group CREATE STREETS to develop detailed sketches and visuals. These plans will now form the foundation of funding applications to Lambeth Council, Southwark Council, and the Greater London Authority (GLA). Key features of the proposal include: 🌧️ Rain gardens and tree planting to manage rainwater sustainably and link green spaces. 🌳 Community orchards and seating areas to create inviting social hubs. 🚶 Improved pedestrian routes by removing redundant buildings and rationalising fencing. 🚸 Traffic calming measures, including raised crossings, reduced road widths and adopting ‘Home Zone’ principles to prioritise pedestrian safety. Create Streets will soon publish the designs on its online engagement platform to rally community support and attract further funding. As an Employee-Owned Trust, LUC champions collective responsibility. This project embodies the LUC Charter’s ethos: empowering staff to “make a difference” while fostering spirited, socially driven workplaces. 🤝 By sharing skills with the St George’s Estate, LUC advances its CSER objectives, including strengthening local communities, supporting sustainable development, and aligning with UN Sustainable Development Goals. “Projects like this remind us that urban greening isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about creating resilient, connected communities,” said Jon Bannister, Associate Director of Landscape Architecture at LUC. “Our team relished the chance to translate their expertise into tangible benefits for neighbours right on our doorstep.” The St George’s Estate initiative demonstrates how collaboration between professionals and residents can turn ambitious ideas into actionable plans. For LUC, it underscores the value of embedding social and environmental responsibility into everyday work—proving that giving back enriches both communities and the team behind the designs. #UrbanGreening #CommunityEngagement #GreenInfrastructure #ResilientCommunities #CorporateResponsibility #CSER #Biodiversity #London