News
Most Significant Sentence for a Bat Crime Ever Recorded
Despite some recent about-turns in UK environmental policy, a sentencing hearing at the Derby Crown Court held earlier this year has reaffirmed that making profit from wildlife crime will not be tolerated by the courts. After the presence of bat roosts was discovered...
Environmental DNA (EDNA) – Revolutionising Surveying for Great Crested Newts
Environmental DNA (eDNA) testing is a relatively new survey technique that can help determine the presence or absence of great crested newts (GCN) in water bodies. Great crested newt DNA is released into aquatic environments through shed skin cells, urine, faeces...
Planning Permission Secured for Somerset Solar Park
The Landmark Practice is pleased to have secured a planning permission at appeal for a solar park at Aller Court, Somerset. On behalf of clients British Solar Renewables Limited and the developer (Aller Court Solar Park and Andrew Maltby), Landmark appealed against...
Phased Development EIA
A Case study of ‘subsequent applications’ and interface with the Habitats Regulations There is great satisfaction to be gained from working on a project from inception through to delivery. For some projects this timeline is relatively short, but for...
Design Code agreed at Millbrook Proving Ground
The critical first planning condition for development of four individual sites edging Millbrook Proving Ground in Central Bedfordshire has been discharged by Central Bedfordshire Council. The Design Code, prepared with be1 Architects, is accompanied by a set...
Tackling mental health issues with the help of Green Care
There is ample evidence that economic stability and growth in cities, along with social security, are directly linked with the amount of green space available. Urban green space is, however, under threat from development pressure and massively reduced council maintenance …
The Landmark Practice – Architectural Graphics Services
Landmark has provided specialist in-house graphics services alongside our other technical teams since when we set up the Practice in 1985. Now, with hugely increased workflow and ever increasing demands for our graphic design and visualisations services, we have …
EIA Screening – can local effects be ‘significant’?
If there is any aspect of EIA that keeps lawyers busy, it is EIA Screening. Although making an application for a Screening Opinion is a straightforward process, there are potential ‘elephant traps’ along the route. They are commonly simple procedural matters,...
Green Belt development – Can we afford the luxury of the Green Belt?
The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) has added its voice to the national debate about the future of England’s countryside with fresh research that challenges the Government’s commitment to the Green Belt (Green Belt under siege: 2016). CPRE...
Shared Space – reducing the dominance of motor vehicles
Does shared space still have a place in urban design? A movement away from car dominance in our urban areas is a progressive and positive step, but shared space needs to be delivered thoughtfully to achieve the intended benefits to society.
Putting a Price on Ecosystem Services
There has been a lot of recent media coverage of the wide range of environmental factors that affect human health, including the urgent need to bring air pollution down to within legal limits and the effect of exposure to urban environments on mental...
Short-sighted Government housing policy will not meet objectives
The National Policy for the Built Environment Committee was appointed on 11 June 2015 to consider the development and implementation of national policy for the built environment. The function of Lords Select Committees is not to shadow the work of...
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