Advice on landscape and countryside management
We provide advice and guidance on landscape design, trees and countryside management across the borough.
Our service covers three main areas:
- landscape
- the Great Western Community Forest
- arboriculture, which is the care and management of trees
Countryside initiatives
We support several countryside organisations and partnerships. We may provide grants and represent the council on their governing bodies.
These organisations include:
- Wilts and Berks Canal Partnership
- Wiltshire and Swindon Biological Records
- British Trust for Conservation Volunteers
- Great Western Community Forest
For more information, telephone 07769 281784.
Landscape advice on planning applications
Our landscape architects comment on planning applications that could have a significant effect on the landscape.
They:
- give technical advice to planning officers
- work with developers to achieve high standards of landscape design across the borough
- help negotiate payments under section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act as an application progresses
These arrangements are known as 'section 106 agreements'. They can secure developer funding for play areas and additional landscaping work.
Planning inquiries
Our landscape architects may represent the council as expert witnesses at planning inquiries.
This can happen when a developer appeals against a decision to refuse planning permission.
Great Western Community Forest
Find out about the project and its wider partners on the Great Western Community Forest webpage.
Great crested newt licensing
We are part of Natural England's district level licensing scheme.
The scheme makes it easier to apply for a mitigation licence if great crested newts affect your development site.
Find out more about the great crested newt mitigation licence.