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INTEGRATED LVIA FOR WALES
ERYRI LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE - ABOUT OUR PRACTICE
Meet the Founder
Welcome to Eryri Landscape Architecture, where our team is dedicated to creating sustainable and visually impactful landscapes. We are passionate about integrating nature, heritage, and biodiversity to facilitate sensitive development in protected landscapes across North Wales.
IAN D. ROBINSON
Founder & Chartered Landscape Architect (CMLI)
With over 25 years of experience in protected landscape practice across England, Ian is committed to providing expert guidance in navigating the intricacies of AONB, Conservation Area, and Listed Building contexts. His expertise lies in coordinating integrated landscape and heritage assessments to achieve successful planning consents.
PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIAL
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Chartered Member, Landscape Institute (CMLI)
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25+ Years Professional Practice
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North Wales Based
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Formerly Robinson Chartered Landscape Architecture (Peak District Since 2011)
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Specialist: Protected Landscapes & Heritage Contexts
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Professional Indemnity Insurance
"The intersection of natural grandeur and cultural depth...
that's where the work matters most."
WHERE IT BEGAN
Long before I understood what landscape architecture was, I understood what landscape meant. Childhood in North Wales—the Llŷn Peninsula's coastline where rocky headlands meet long sandy beaches punctuated by castle sequences, Snowdonia's distinctive mountain range with its vales and forested slopes, Portmeirion's Italianate village demonstrating what architectural vision can achieve in landscape setting—created unconscious formation in protected landscape character.
The Cob's land reclamation, the Glaslyn and Dwyryd Estuaries, the Great Little Trains working Eryri's slate-quarried slopes, the UNESCO World Heritage slate landscape at Blaenau Ffestiniog: this was my experiential education in how human intervention and natural systems create places of significance. I absorbed genius loci before knowing the term, understood landscape layers before studying landscape architecture.
Little did I know this childhood immersion in designated protected landscapes—Eryri National Park, Llŷn National Landscape, multiple Heritage Coasts—was foundational training for what would become my professional calling.
THE JOURNEY AWAY
My career pathway built diverse expertise deliberately. Early years with design-focused practices developed creativity and thought leadership—small studios where every design decision mattered. Then national architectural practice delivering PFI infrastructure (healthcare, education, custodial, defence facilities), where I developed detailed hard and soft landscape design skills and learned professional practice disciplines running major contracts.
Multi-disciplinary environmental planning followed—collaborating with ecologists, arborists, engineers on large-scale masterplanning, residential urban extensions, commercial estates, green infrastructure. This is where I cut my teeth on LVIA and Environmental Impact Assessment landscape chapters, understanding how landscape evidence shapes planning decisions.
When I became Chartered in 2011, I established Robinson CLA on the Peak District's edge, bringing breadth of experience from design studios through infrastructure delivery to strategic masterplanning. That diverse foundation meant I could tackle complex projects others avoided.
THE WORK THAT FOUND ME
Something interesting happened organically. The inbound projects that resonated most—the work where landscape expertise made genuine impact—involved LVIA combined with heritage setting assessment. Projects where planning officers needed evidence addressing both natural landscape character AND cultural heritage significance. Developments facing dual scrutiny from landscape policy and heritage protection frameworks simultaneously.
It found me, this intersection of natural grandeur and cultural depth. I reached a realization: the projects where landscape and heritage expertise made the greatest difference weren't the easiest or most profitable—they were the most necessary. Where development pressure meets protected landscape designation meets heritage asset proximity. Where getting it wrong has consequences, and getting it right requires understanding both frameworks intimately.
Not all projects were in the Peak District, but the National Park's edge location undoubtedly influenced the work that came. Complex planning contexts, heightened scrutiny, clients needing robust defensible evidence—that became my practice's natural territory.
THE RETURN
Fourteen years building Robinson CLA taught me where my expertise mattered most. When family circumstances enabled return to North Wales, the decision felt inevitable. Not nostalgia—strategic clarity.
There was the innate pull back to the sea, the psychological draw that never left since university took me away. The welcome return to Snowdonia's remote tranquility, its mystical quality unchanged. But more than personal reasons, there was professional logic: North Wales is where natural and cultural heritage intersect most acutely. Where almost every significant development faces LVIA requirements in National Park or National Landscape contexts, combined with heritage setting assessment near the region's abundant Designated and Non-Designated Heritage Assets.
Eryri Landscape Architecture was established deliberately—returning with 25 years' expertise to practice in the landscapes that unconsciously formed my understanding of why landscape protection matters. Bringing Peak District rigor, national infrastructure experience, and strategic masterplanning capability to projects where landscape and heritage concerns overlap.
THE PASSION
Using that intersection of natural and cultural heritage expertise to facilitate sensitive development whilst protecting the special intrinsic qualities of these landscapes—that's the practice's purpose. Not preventing development, but ensuring it respects both natural landscape character and cultural heritage significance. Early engagement, integrated assessment, strategic mitigation addressing both frameworks simultaneously.
The landscapes that shaped my childhood understanding of place now define my professional practice. That's not coincidence—it's completion of a circle. Protecting what formed you isn't just business strategy; it's professional calling answered.
OUR APPROACH
Early Engagement, Not Retrofitting
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Appointed early (RIBA Stage 0-1) to shape design, not just document it
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Three considerations inform concept: landscape character, heritage setting, biodiversity
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Late appointment = costly risk: discovering constraints after design is fixed means expensive redesign
Landscape-Led Integration
Our Unique Position
As landscape architects, we’re uniquely positioned to coordinate evidence across LVIA, heritage, and NBB.
Connecting the Dots
Our landscape design work naturally connects visual impact, heritage setting, and habitat creation.
Collaborative Approach
Working alongside your heritage specialist, ecologist, and arborist, we ensure mitigation strategies reinforce rather than conflict.
Welsh Protected Landscape Specialism
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Based in North Wales: deep understanding of Eryri's landscape qualities and PPW Edition 12 requirements
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25+ years in protected landscapes: we know what National Park planning officers expect
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Bespoke assessment: responsive to intrinsic special qualities, not copy-paste methodology
Evidence That Withstands Scrutiny
Assessment planners trust
Structured submissions with clear impact conclusions, coordinated mitigation, and consent-ready evidence
Standards withstand scrutiny
GLVIA3-aligned LVIA, Cadw heritage guidance, DECCA-compliant NBB (Wales) / Metric 4.0 BNG (England)
Robust Evidence
Planning officers receive coordinated evidence, not disconnected reports they must reconcile.
OUR EXPERIENCE
Core Expertise
Landscape & Visual Impact Assessment
25+ years navigating National Park and National Landscape planning. Viewpoint methodology, landscape character assessment, cumulative impact analysis. LVIA for residential, tourism, commercial, and renewable energy projects.
Heritage Setting Assessment
Coordinated assessment showing how development affects Listed Buildings, Conservation Areas, Registered Parks & Gardens. Heritage-sensitive design informed by significance evaluation.
Net Benefit for Biodiversity (Wales) / Biodiversity Net Gain (England)
NBB strategies coordinated with ecologists using DECCA framework principles (Wales). BNG habitat creation strategies, plans coordinated with ecologists, 30-year Landscape & Ecological Management Plans (England). Metric 4.0 understanding ensuring landscape design delivers measurable enhancement where required.
Exceptional Rural Dwellings (TAN 6)
Experience with exceptional dwelling applications in protected landscapes and heritage contexts. Landscape strategies demonstrating exceptional design quality and setting enhancement (Wales’ equivalent to England’s Paragraph 79).
Condition Discharge
Detailed landscape masterplans, planting specifications, LEMP discharge, hard landscape detailing. Ensuring approved mitigation translates to on-ground delivery.
Sector Experience
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Residential Development: Single dwellings to major housing schemes requiring integrated LVIA, heritage, and NBB/BNG assessment
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Heritage Assets: Listed Building conversions, historic estates, Conservation Area development
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Tourism & Recreation: Visitor centres, holiday accommodation, outdoor recreation facilities in National Parks and National Landscapes
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Commercial & Energy: Renewable energy projects, commercial schemes requiring EIA landscape chapters
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Garden Design: Country house gardens, historic parkland restoration, estate grounds
Professional Practice
Chartered Member of the Landscape Institute since 2011. Professional indemnity insurance. Extensive experience working within multi-disciplinary teams—architects, engineers, planners, ecologists, arborists, main contractors. Design & Build consultancy. Masterplanning and strategic landscape frameworks.
Established track record securing planning consents in protected landscapes, heritage contexts, and challenging planning environments.
Quality Without Apology
We produce evidence that withstands scrutiny. LVIA methodology that satisfies Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (GLVIA3). Heritage assessment aligned with Cadw guidance. NBB strategies and BNG plans that planning officers can confidently condition.
No generic templates. No boilerplate impact descriptions. Every assessment responds to the specific landscape, heritage context, and ecological baseline.
We strive to provide comprehensive LVIA, heritage, and biodiversity assessments, ensuring that our clients receive evidence-based, practical, and results-focused support throughout the planning process.
Integration, Not Separation
Planning officers expect coordinated evidence across landscape, heritage, and biodiversity frameworks. We ensure your submission demonstrates how mitigation addresses all three simultaneously—not three separate compliance exercises.
This integrated approach is what makes complex protected landscape applications succeed.
Sole Practitioner, Deep Expertise
Eryri Landscape Architecture is a sole practitioner practice. You work directly with a Chartered Landscape Architect with 25 years’ experience across diverse practice environments—not a junior team member requiring supervision.
Personal involvement in every project. Hands-on site walkovers. Direct engagement with planning officers at pre-application meetings. Evidence prepared by someone who understands what Welsh protected landscape planning demands.
Value Through Integration
Our integrated approach often costs less than appointing three separate consultants (landscape, heritage, ecology) while delivering better outcomes and lower planning risk.
Coordinated evidence. Fewer consultant coordination meetings. Single point of contact for landscape, heritage setting, and NBB/BNG landscape strategy. Planning officer confidence through integrated submissions.
OUR COMMITMENT
WHY ERYRI LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE?
When landscape expertise determines planning success—exceptional rural dwellings, Listed Building settings, National Park developments—clients need coordinated assessment, not generic LVIA.
When heritage and biodiversity complicate landscape strategy—sites where historic field patterns, veteran trees, and ecological networks constrain layout—clients need integration, not separated consultancy.
When projects face heightened scrutiny—National Park applications attracting Natural Resources Wales and Cadw objections—clients need evidence that withstands statutory consultee review.
That’s when developers choose Eryri Landscape Architecture.
That’s our specialism.
That’s why we’re here.
READY TO DISCUSS YOUR PROJECT?
Let’s talk about how our integrated landscape-led approach can secure consent for your Welsh protected landscape project.