Geddes was jointly appointed by a consortium comprising Miller Homes; Wallace Land Investments; Avant Homes and the Council to prepare an indicative masterplan for a Strategic Development Opportunity (SDO). This allocated site can accommodate over 1,000 homes including a new railway station funded under City Deal.

This indicative masterplan was guided by a set of site wide surveys and assessments which identified development constraints and necessary mitigation measures. The process also clarified a consistent set of planning obligations for the entire SDO site.

This work was then drafted into supplementary guidance to assist in the delivery of an integrated proposal and approved by the Council.

The approach adopted received a Scottish Awards for Quality in Planning in 2015 in the Delivering in Partnership category.

We undertake Landscape and Visual Impact Assessments at different levels to support planning applications.

All work is produced in line with current and best practice guidance, including IEMMA’s Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment. We agree our  methodology and viewpoint locations with the relevant Planning Authority.

We produce all our graphics in-house, including Zone of Theoretical Visibility (ZTV) mapping, viewpoint photography and photomontages. This ensures a continuous thinking and a confidence in the materials being used to carry out the assessments.

Our photomontages are catered towards the proposal at its current stage. For instance, we generally prepare simple block models of homes for Planning Permission in Principle applications and more detailed models for a Planning Permission application.

We undertake environmental impact assessments from requesting a Screening Opinion to project managing the multi-disciplinary project team appointed to assess the impacts.

All work is produced to a standard template, allowing the completed Environmental Assessment to read as a single document.

We review all technical work produced to ensure that the mitigation required can be delivered post planning approval. This review process also ensures that the impact assessments accord with an evolving proposal and that the proposal also has incorporated all mitigation measures.

Projects assessed include large scale urban expansions, windfarms and smaller developments in sensitive locations.

Geddes has developed a model to assess impacts on primary and secondary schools for proposed residential developments. This modelling approach and its findings have been tested at appeal without challenge from any education authority.

Our model is used to assess the scale of the impact of new pupils on the existing catchment schools. It can be used to develop scenarios to reduce the scale of impact on a school and these measures can become planning obligations.

This approach is also used to clarify and verify a proposal’s education mitigation requirements including accommodation requirements and the cost of any financial contributions is in accord with the test in Circular 3/2012.

Our expertise is also used to challenge whether emerging supplementary guidance proposed education mitigation solutions are compliant with Circular 3/2012.

Since its formation in 2007, the Directors of Geddes Consulting have developed a particular approach to undertaking work for our clients. This has become known as the ‘Geddes Way’ and underpins our service to our clients.

The ‘Geddes Way’ describes an evidence led approach to demonstrating compliance with planning policies. It highlights our wish to explain the significance of the impacts arising to a planning authority and allow evidence to be properly interrogated.

It also describes our systematic and consistent approach to undertaking our commissioned work, ensuring that the full range of issues has been properly and thoroughly dealt with.

It also indicates that through our QA system, the advice provided is from the company and not just an individual in the company.