Business Details
Your Trusted Landscape Architecture Partner in Cambridge
Alison Farmer (AFA) is a landscape architecture and environmental planning practice with over 25 years of expertise in landscape character assessment, impact evaluation, and strategic guidance. Our team delivers tailored solutions for clients across the UK and Ireland, including government bodies, local authorities, developers, and community groups. We specialise in resolving conflicts between environmental objectives and development needs while maintaining a commitment to sustainable design. Our work spans protected landscapes, urban fringes, and neighbourhood planning, supported by a collaborative approach that values stakeholder input. We provide expert witness services at public inquiries and contribute to national guidance on landscape assessment.Our projects range from large-scale national park extensions to local community initiatives, ensuring value-driven outcomes for diverse clients. Alison Farmer, our principal, combines archaeological expertise with landscape planning to address complex challenges creatively. We prioritise education through training programs on landscape appraisal and sensitivity assessments. Our track record includes statutory designation support for Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and coastal defence projects. With a focus on win-win solutions, we balance environmental stewardship with client objectives to enhance societal and ecological well-being.
Services
Landscape Character Assessment
Environmental Planning
Urban Fringes Consultation
Protected Landscapes Guidance
Public Inquiry Support
Highlights and features
- We offer over 25 years of expertise in landscape assessment and environmental planning
- Our collaborative approach ensures client and community needs are met
- Specialists in resolving conflicts between development and environmental objectives
- Proven track record in statutory designation support for protected landscapes
- Committed to advancing landscape education through training programs
Associations and certifications
- Landscape Institute
- Town and County Planning Association
Services
Landscape Character Assessment
We conduct detailed landscape character assessments to identify distinct environmental qualities and inform planning decisions. Our methodology combines field analysis with stakeholder consultation to produce evidence-based frameworks for protected areas and urban fringes. This service supports sustainable development while preserving ecological and cultural values.
Environmental Planning
Our environmental planning services integrate landscape sensitivity analysis with policy development for local and national authorities. We specialise in balancing competing demands through creative solutions that align with statutory requirements and community needs. Projects include neighbourhood plans and national park extensions.
Public Inquiry Support
We provide expert witness testimony and technical evidence for public inquiries related to protected landscapes and development proposals. Our team prepares detailed impact assessments and visualisations to support clients during statutory hearings and planning appeals.
People
Alison Farmer
Principal
With over 25 years of experience, Alison Farmer leads landscape character assessments and environmental planning projects. She previously headed Protected Landscapes at LDA Design and contributes to national guidance on neighbourhood planning. A qualified Landscape Institute member, she specialises in resolving complex environmental conflicts.
Questions
What areas do you serve?
We operate throughout the UK and Ireland, with particular expertise in protected landscapes and coastal regions.
What types of clients do you work with?
Our clients include government bodies, local authorities, developers, charities, and community groups seeking landscape expertise.
Do you provide expert testimony at public inquiries?
Yes, we regularly act as expert witnesses in landscape and environmental matters during statutory hearings.
How do you handle conflicting priorities in projects?
We employ collaborative methodologies to resolve conflicts between development needs and environmental protection through evidence-based design solutions.
