AFA IS A LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE AND
ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING PRACTICE WITH
CLIENTS THROUGHOUT THE UK AND IRELAND.

OUR AREAS OF EXPERTISE ARE

  • landscape and visual impact assessment
  • landscape character assessment
  • townscape assessment and urban fringes
  • Public inquiries
  • historic and designed landscapes
  • protected landscapes
  • guidance and learning

We offer a personal approach bringing together customised and highly experienced teams for each project, providing comprehensive solutions as well as value for money to our clients.

Our projects are big and small. Our clients include; government bodies, local authorities, developers, charities, private companies, community groups and landowners/private individuals.

OUR VALUES

  1. We believe in development and change being win: win - achieving our client's objectives in a way which is good for society and which cares for the environment.
  2. We believe in working collaboratively and listening to clients and communities.
  3. We believe there are creative solutions to all inherent conflicts and competing demands.

Latest News

We are delighted that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) announced, on 7 July 2020, a 38 sq km expansion to the Suffolk Coast and Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. AFA worked closely with Natural England in assessing the landscape for designation and provided… READ MORE >

Neighbourhood Plan Landscape Training

15th October 2019

Alison presented at a recent Suffolk Preservation Society training event on Landscape Appraisals to inform Neighbourhood Plans. Information was provided on landscape character, views analysis, landscape value and sensitivity assessment of settlement fringes. Feedback included "Alison's content… READ MORE >
AFA was appointed in September 2018 by The Friends of the Lake District (FoLD) to evaluate the Southern Lakeland Peninsulas and to determine the weight of evidence to support statutory designation, as part of an extension to the Lake District National Park. The final FoLD report has now been… READ MORE >

Valued Landscapes

7th January 2019

AFA are currently undertaking a Valued Landscape Assessment for the Stour Valley Project Area associated with the Dedham Vale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). This landscapes is noted as sharing similar characteristics with the AONB but does not have any statutory planning status. The… READ MORE >
We are currently preparing a landscape strategy for the North York Moors National Park and Howardian Hill AONB as part of a funding application to the National Grid LEI. Work has included a review of the transmission line between Osmotherly and Crayke, an assessment of current landscape and visual… READ MORE >

Design and Defence on Our Coastline

5th January 2017

Recent news article in East Anglian Daily Times on our presentation to the Suffolk Coast & Heaths AONB Joint Advisory Committee and Special Partnership meeting. Click here to download news article READ MORE >

Wray and Botton Neighbourhood Plan

5th January 2017

AFA has been appointed by Wray and Botton Parish Council to undertake a landscape assessment of two peripheral village sites as part of the evidence base for the emerging neighbourhood plan. Wray village lies within the Forest of Bowland AONB and the assessment will consider the character of the… READ MORE >

Stowupland Neighbourhood Plan

2nd December 2016

AFA has been appointed to undertake a landscape character and sensitivity assessment of the Parish of Stowupland, Suffolk. The outputs from the study will be used as an evidence base to develop policy within the Neighbourhood Plan READ MORE >
Alison recently attended a conference in Cambridge titled 'Nature Matters - In Touch With the Wild'. Sir David Attenborough gave the closing address. He believes that today's conservationists will bring foresight and a determination to plan for the long term.… READ MORE >

IALE Conference

13th October 2016

Alison Farmer was a Key Note Speaker at the recent IALE Conference in Reading talking on the future of Landscape Character Assessment. READ MORE >

Report calls for care in defence design in a sensitive landscape

5th September 2016

Recent news article in East Anglian Daily Times on our work looking at the landscape and visual impacts of coastal sea defence in Suffolk.Click to download news article READ MORE >
We have recently been commissioned by The Blackdown Hills AONB to undertake a review of the proposed A30 improvements between Honiton and Devonshire Inn READ MORE >