Urban Design & Development Consultants Kent
Ethos

Welcome to Designscape Consultancy Ltd.

At Designscape, we have a commitment to raising the quality of life through a dedication to quality in the built environment. This quality is evident in the many projects to which we have made an important contribution. The key is to direct economic strength and development opportunities in a manner which raises rather than compromises the quality of life for the general population. Growth results in extreme pressure on our natural environment and traditional settlements. Development needs to be set against the need to protect outstanding countryside from sprawl and to protect high quality townscape of our towns and cities from unacceptable town cramming. The answer is to approach development with optimism combined with sensitivity.

Designscape Consultancy Ltd is based in South-East England. This is one of the most dynamic regions in Europe. Based in the heart of Kent, Designscape is well placed for our London projects and is located between the Thames Gateway and Ashford growth areas, two of the key strategic growth areas of the United Kingdom.

 

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Contact Details

Designscape Consultancy
1A The Landway, Bearsted, Maidstone, Kent ME14 4BD
Tel 01622 735977
Fax 01622 736087

Company News
Projects
Update- Recent and Current Projects
Designscape has a reputation for design quality, evident in the many projects on which we are currently working. 2009 has proven to be an especially successful year. November has seen us secure planning approvals for a development of 26 apartments in Maidstone town centre, 5 houses in Ashford, and 4 houses at Wye. We also held a public consultation exercise in Hackney regards our proposal for 46 student units plus 8 apartments. November also has been our best trading month ever in the five years since the company was founded - in the depths of the worst recession of modern times - a clear and strong endorsement of our track record and the quality service we provide.
This is all on top of the planning approvals secured over the year, as mentioned in our previous updates. 2009 also has seen us secure Building Regulations approvals for a development of six apartments in Maidstone and developments in East Kent and at Kings Hill, and other developments reach building completion. Commissions we are taking forward into 2010 include the Hackney scheme noted above, a mixed use scheme of 100 apartments in Ashford town centre, 14 apartments and retail in Maidstone town centre, 13 further houses at the development in Wye, a substantial detached house near Bromley, and technical packages on projects for which we secured planning approval including apartments in Maidstone, four houses at Wye, and a substantial detached house at Boughton Monchelsea.
We undertake all architectural design and urban design work, planning liaison and planning applications, and undertake the technical working drawings packages for projects.
We wish all our clients and fellow consultants an enjoyable and relaxing Christmas and a very prosperous New Year.
Urban Design in London
We are the Urban Design Advisor to the London Borough of Greenwich, a post held for over 4 years. This primarily involves assessing the merits of planning applications in the Borough, with emphasis on large-scale Major schemes and on the Thames waterfront. Greenwich is perhaps the most exciting Borough in London, with many high-profile schemes and with the most extensive waterfront of any Borough. Together with the advice of CABE and the GLA's Design for London, we are helping to raise the bar regarding the level of design expectation.
Design and Access Statements
A Key Part of the Planning Process
Design and Access Statements are, since August 2006, a mandatory part of all planning applications except householder applications (domestic extensions), change of use, and engineering works. Unless relevant applications are accompanied by a Design and Access Statement they will be declared invalid. Design and Access Statements need to assess a development proposal against fundamental design parameters with reference to context. The necessary aspects to address are Use, Amount, Layout, Scale, Landscaping, Appearance, and Access. To be considered valid a Design and Access Statement must cover each of these topics. We have many years of experience of writing Design Statements, and are able to fulfil the requirements of this significant development.
Recent Commissions
We have recently undertaken or are currently working on the design of the following projects;
A large mixed-use development in Bethnal Green comprising a 200-bed hotel, 220 apartments, retail, business starter units, a street market, and a new square.
Maidstone High Street Competition - for the significant pedestrianisation and traffic calming streetscape improvement of the centre of Maidstone.
Two industrial developments in the Maidstone area.
A "Container City" development in Hackney Wick comprising 400 units in 200 containers.
A 26 unit contemporary residential development in Maidstone town centre.
A 54 unit student accommodation development in Canning Town.
A 45 unit residential/office scheme in Bow.
A 14 unit residential development at Buckland Road in Maidstone town centre.
A 14 unit mixed residential and retail scheme at Upper Stone Street in Maidstone Town Centre.
17 houses in Wye, near Ashford.
A new development of 85 dwellings in the Folkestone area.
A new development of 5 houses in the Sevenoaks area.