Grontmij, formerly known as Whitelaw Turkington, is providing seminars to local authorities in response to their expanding briefs and responsibilities in the face of severely reduced funding.

The half-day workshops focus on the increasing need for more efficient and effective use of limited resources, whilst still meeting the requirements of a sustainable agenda.

Guy Denton, director of landscape architecture at Grontmij, comments: “Increased urban growth is putting pressure on the environment and, as a result, local authorities need to be aware of integrated approaches to design and management of the environment.

“With funding at a minimum, Grontmij is working with local authorities to show how they can still deliver innovative and integrated placemaking designs despite budget restrictions.”

Cheltenham County Council is the latest local authority to consider the demand for future sustainable agendas. On 19 January 2011 the council invited a range of employees including: engineers, planners, landscape architects, urban designers and heritage and regeneration professionals to listen to the landscape architect team from Grontmij.

Wilf Tomaney, urban design officer from Cheltenham County Council, comments: “ I found the integrated placemaking seminar both informative and enjoyable.  The ability to tailor the content to local issues was hugely beneficial. It was also a great team-building exercise that established a strong basis for further work on street design and layout."

Grontmij is offering complimentary seminars to local authorities looking to explore innovative ways of tackling issues such as water management, accessibility, integrated transport planning and urban design.

Claire Haslam, urban design officer from Gloucestshire County Council, also attended the seminar, comments: “I found the seminar to be extremely interesting. It was great to see so many county highway engineers in one place talking about shared surface and street trees! I never thought I’d see the day.”

Guy Denton concludes: “After the huge success of the Cheltenham workshop, the next seminar will be held in Dartford for the local authorities in the surrounding area. Each seminar is tailored to meet the particular planning and design needs of the attendees to ensure we address the most pertinent issues for the region.”

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Notes to Editors:

Grontmij’s landscape architects, formerly known as Whitelaw Turkington, are one of the UK’s leading firms of landscape architects and urban designers creating public realm environments which are a synthesis of art, environment and engineering and attracting the most talented people who are passionate about place making and care about people. 

Established in 1991, Whitelaw Turkington is now part of the Grontmij group – One of Europe’s largest sustainable design and environmental consultancy.  The company began to trade under the Grontmij name from early 2011.

The practice employs more than 40 people in offices across the United Kingdom.  The landscape architect team within Grontmij specialises in award-winning landscape master planning, environmental impact assessment and scheme design for major projects in commercial and residential development, education, healthcare and leisure. Community consultation and multi-disciplinary collaboration are at the heart of the practice.