Leaving landscape till last

Of course, you don’t want site machinery rolling over newly laid lawns, it’s not that part of the process I’m talking about. I’m talking about creating landscape plans which detail the hard (paving, fences, walls) and soft (plants) materials. 

 

After the euphoria of getting planning permission for your project, comes the down to earth part of looking at the conditions which accompany your success. The number of conditions generally relates to information that the planning authority weren’t supplied with before the application was considered. These conditions are important, as is the timing of getting them discharged. Check them carefully. Some of them will have to be discharged before your project goes beyond the groundworks stage and many of them will have to be discharged before your building is occupied. I have seen landscape conditions which need to be discharged before both. 

 

The landscape conditions are often left until last to be discharged, because that follows the order of the build. Unfortunately, this does mean that time can be lost between the project being ready for occupancy and discharge of the conditions allowing it to be occupied. 

 

 

Time is money in this scenario. First of all, you have to find enough landscape architects to ask for quotes. Then you have to compare the quotes, making sure that their quotes cover everything you need doing. Whilst it may seem reasonable to choose the lowest quote, do make sure that you are dealing with a fully qualified chartered landscape architect. Unlike the protected RIBA term, “architect”, anyone can call themselves a landscape architect. Of course, you’ll also do due diligence to check that they have public liability and professional indemnity insurance. 

 

When you have instructed your landscape architect, you can’t assume that they will start work on your project straight away – another question to ask, while you are comparing quotes! When they do start, you may be waiting several more weeks, while the design is being created, depending on the size and complexity of the project. 

 

Once you have your plan, and you are happy that it reflects your requirements, you will need to submit it to the local authority to discharge the condition. Another reason to get all the documents to discharge planning conditions completed early is so that they can all be submitted together meaning that you only pay one fee. If you have discharged other conditions separately, there will be an additional fee to pay to discharge the landscape condition. Once submitted, the local authority is supposed to give you a decision within eight weeks, although this timescale can be shorter, or longer. Landscape conditions will often be sent to the local authority’s landscape architect, as well as their tree officer, for comments. 

 

Assuming that the landscape condition was the last to be discharged, you can then go ahead with either the build or the occupancy, depending on the terms of the condition. Next steps are finding the right contractor and choosing the time of year you will install the landscape. 

 

For further information, please contact Hilary Newhall CMLI hilary.at@llchange.co.uk | 07955728562 

www.allchange.consulting