We are delighted to announce the promotion of Jake to Senior Landscape Architect! Following a fantastic 4 years with us and the successful completion of his Chartership last year, this promotion is very well deserved.

Jake has become a key member of the team here and his dedication, skill, and collaborative approach have contributed to a wide range of projects across the practice. We look forward to seeing him continue to grow and develop in his new role.

We’re very excited to see the glass artwork at Bargate Quarter starting to land on site!

Right in the historic heart of Southampton, our public art strategy takes its cue from the city’s ancient trade routes and the medieval ‘Artisans of the Bargate Quarter’ who once made, traded and thrived here.

Working with artist Kirsty Brooks, we’ve developed a bold series of screen-printed glass panels that reinterpret the historic walls while adding a layer of storytelling to the City’s wider ‘Walk the Walls’ trail.

Alongside the glass artworks, crafted details are woven through the public realm, giving a nod to Southampton’s historic makers — from brewers and blacksmiths to weavers and woodturners — helping to celebrate the area’s rich heritage.

Thank you to Proto Glass Studios for bringing the glass panels to life. Works are well underway on site and we’re looking forward to sharing the finished scheme soon!

We are very pleased to introduce two new members to the Macgregor Smith team!

Hugo and Sophie are both in their second year of studying Architecture at the University of Bath and will be working with us until the summer.  They each bring a broad range of academic and practical experience as well as strong graphic and hand drawing skills.

Outside of their studies they are both very active – with Hugo playing for the University men’s 1st volleyball team and Sophie on the karate committee, leading weekly sessions.

We are delighted to have them on board and look forward to the contribution they’ll make to the practice over the coming months.

Works completed at Dorset Police HQ earlier this year and the planting has now flourished! The garden has been built on the footprint of the former office building and brings new flexible working areas and a Memorial Garden, creating a natural green environment to meet modern policing needs.

Inspired by Dorset’s unique natural landscapes, the planting design emulates the surrounding heathland, with locally significant species reinforcing local landscape character and creating new habitats. Gentle earth mounds are inspired by the barrows in the surrounding landscapes, creating a more relaxing experience for users and helping to screen the adjacent car park from within.

Read more about the project here.

Photo Credit: Daniel Shearing

We are delighted to announce the promotion of Rosie to Associate. With almost a decade of experience working at Macgregor Smith, this is extremely well deserved and a recognition of all her hard work and the important leadership role she plays within our team. We look forward to seeing Rosie continue to grow in her new position.

We are very excited to see that works at Broad Street Place in Bath have now been completed!

This collaborative project involved working with local businesses, residents and Bath BID to provide a nature-friendly, quiet and relaxing space to enjoy and unwind away from the hustle & bustle of the busy streets of Bath.

The space, which is nestled between Broad Street and Walcot Street, has been given a fresh lease of life with new street furniture, colourful public art, birdboxes and festoon lighting. As well as a variety of new planting, the area is home to existing mature trees and so new innovative, water permeable ground surfacing has been laid to better protect their roots.

Helen Godwin, the Mayor of the West of England, said: “Bath is rightly world-renowned for its history and beauty. Broad Street remains rooted in the city’s unique character, with new seating, art and greenery bringing the area even more to life today. With local and regional funding, together we are investing in places where people want to meet, spend time, and enjoy. Projects like this give local residents and visitors alike more reasons to spend more time here, supporting the West’s businesses.”

It has been great to see this project come to life just around the corner from our office!

Taking a moment to appreciate the sunny days on our new roof terrace at EQ.

A new office space in Bristol, EQ has a rooftop cafe spilling out over our new roof terrace, with incredible panoramic views of the Harbourside, St Mary Redcliffe Church and all the way to the Mendip Hills.

The plants went in this spring and have taken off brilliantly, creating some really immersive spaces for people to relax in over the warm summer months.   Bright green Seslerias and Sedums bring a really zingy base, with colourful Salvia ‘Caradonna’ and looser Gauras bringing some dreamy movement over the late summer months. Lucky bees!

A huge congratulations to Jake who has successfully passed his P2C exam and is now a Chartered Member of the Landscape Institute! Jake has studied extremely hard and put a lot of effort into his chartership so it is very much deserved and we are very proud of him!

We are delighted to share the news that our Clients Galliard Homes and Apsley House Capital have received planning approval for Saint Paul’s Quarter. This major regeneration of currently derelict land in the heart of Birmingham’s Historic Jewellery Quarter is set to become a fantastic new destination with hundreds of new homes, affordable workspace and fantastic retail opportunities.

Working with Corstorphine & Wright Architects, Macgregor Smith acted as Landscape Architects designing a series of public realm streets and spaces that promote pedestrian connections between the Jewellery Quarter and Birmingham City Centre and celebrate the site’s association with the famous Engineer James Watt.

Alongside this we developed a series of immersive private residential courtyards and roof terrace spaces that offer valuable green space for residents to enjoy.

This has been a fantastic project to work on and we look forward to seeing the scheme being realised in the near future.

As part of our continued partnership with the University of Bath’s Department of Architecture and their ‘Regenerative Cities’ module, we are delighted to have chosen the winner for our Landscape and Public Realm Award 2025.

This year’s award goes to Ben Hanger, Beth Kippin, Jamie Ferguson, Joel Boyd, Marco Lin & Siena Cornish for their group project on Bhopal, India.

This project stood out for its clear, community-based approach to regeneration, centred on the repair of natural systems and a thoughtful, place-specific response. The proposal’s kit-of-parts methodology, combined with the clarity and energy of its graphics and illustrations, demonstrates a compelling and creative vision.

We were particularly impressed by the range of inventive initiatives and strategic interventions that draw out and celebrate the special qualities of the city. Their work is an inspiring example of how landscape and public realm design can honour ecology, culture, and community simultaneously.

A big congratulations to the whole team and to all of the Architecture groups for their fantastic work.

It has been great to see people enjoying the sunshine at the recently completed Manbré Wharf!

We worked with ARC (Advanced Research Clusters) to create this vibrant life sciences development on the banks of the River Thames in Hammersmith. New riverside gardens connect into the Thames Path, and existing mounds within the landscape have been remodelled into fluid forms that extend through the site, creating a series of relaxing spaces for both office workers and the public to enjoy.

Marginal tree species and planting palettes reinforce the local natural landscape character and a focus on pollinator plants, biodiverse roofs and nesting boxes encourages habitat creation across the newly developed site.

We are delighted that Building C at Assembly Bristol has won a BCO Award in the Innovation category for the South of England and South Wales.

We collaborated with AHMM Architects to design the landscape and public realm for Assembly Bristol, crafting a cohesive environment that complements the site’s bold architectural identity. The landscape scheme seamlessly unites the cluster of new commercial office buildings while introducing valuable green spaces to the heart of the campus. Key features include a rooftop terrace and a pocket park, providing vibrant, high-quality outdoor areas where workers and visitors can relax, connect, and enjoy panoramic views across the Floating Harbour and Bristol city centre.

The project will now be considered for a BCO National Award in October.

We are pleased to announce that Backhouse has secured planning approval to develop the Wadworth Brewery site in Devizes.

Working with Anderson & Prescott Architects, Macgregor Smith acted as landscape architects delivering a multi-functional landscape strategy for the site which celebrates the Wadworth Brewery’s heritage and creates a vibrant destination within the public realm.

The mixed-use development, located in the heart of the historic Wiltshire market town, consists of 102 new homes alongside retail and community workshop space.

The scheme will create new and enriched connections between the town centre and the Kennet & Avon Canal, with the landscape design including improvements to the canal frontage, flexible shared streets, public open spaces and parking courtyards.

Read more about the project here.

We have recently worked for Gŵyr Community Land Trust to support their planning application for a community-built and community-owned development, called ‘Ffynnon Efwr’, west of Swansea and just outside the Gower National Landscape.

The project proposes a cluster of 14 dwellings which are arranged as compact, low-rise terraces with a close relationship to ancillary barn-style buildings and growing spaces, reflecting aspects of a traditional village and essential to the more productive management of the land. The landscape is designed around the core values of sustainability, biodiversity and community, with the intent to create an attractive, productive and supportive environment with a rural character. The proposals include a community barn and workshop to support the social side of communal gardening, with large areas of natural green space that will be open to the public to enjoy.

Alongside protection and enhancement of existing grassland, hedgerows and trees, a range of new wildlife habitats will be created including wetland, woodland, pond, orchard and wildflower meadow.

You can read all about the project here.

We’re delighted to share that we’re now officially B Corp Certified!

By becoming a B Corp Certified practice, we’re joining a global community striving to use business as a force for good, balancing people, planet and profit.

The accreditation process has captured many of the values and approaches to work that form the backbone of who we are as a practice, but this is a journey about continuous improvement and collective action.  By prioritising and taking care of the health of the planet and society, we will be using B Corp as a tool for looking at how we impact our environment, how we engage with communities and how we manage our business and support our clients for the greater good.

As Landscape Architects, we appreciate that we have a huge responsibility to the future of nature and society – it’s an integral part of who we are as a team and why we all got into the profession in the first place.  We hope that by embracing B Corp, we can join forces with the wider B Corp community to make even more of a meaningful change for good in the world around us.

We are delighted to share that our clients Cubex have received planning permission for a 22-storey student resi scheme on Albert Road in Bristol. The development in the City’s Temple Quarter will provide accommodation for c. 500 students as well as commercial space and affordable incubator workspaces to support local businesses.

Set alongside the River Avon, the scheme will see one of the first sections of enhanced flood defence built along the river, forming part of a wider active urban greenway through Bristol.  Only a 3 minute walk from the University of Bristol’s new Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus, the development promotes low-carbon travel through new cycling and walking routes, integrated into the generous landscape proposals.

We’ve really enjoyed working on the scheme with Cubex, and we look forward to seeing the scheme realised as a new destination within this vibrant area of Bristol.

A massive congratulations to Harriet who has successfully passed her P2C exam to become a Chartered Member of the Landscape Institute! Harriet has worked extremely hard over the past 18 months so it is very much deserved and we are hugely proud of her.

The plants are in full bloom on the recently completed rooftop garden of Assembly in Bristol!

Assembly is a new mixed-use waterfront development in the centre of the city, delivering 320,000sqft of contemporary workplace across 3 buildings. The rooftop garden pictured spills out from the top floor of Building C and has stunning views over Bristol’s skyline. A rich palette of seasonal planting and a range of seating options creates a tranquil setting for people to relax and to socialise, as well as space for hosting events. Read more about the project here.

The Duchy of Cornwall has approved proposals for Market Street, set at the heart of Nansledan in Newquay.

The proposals are centred around the distinctive Market Yard, with a focus on showcasing Cornwall’s finest local farmers and food producers.  With a vibrant mix of retail, dining, offices, co-working, leisure and community spaces, the scheme provides significant investment in the local economy and a new hub for the local area.

Our placemaking designs have embraced the local vernacular of historic farmsteads in the area of such as Gusti Vean, Gusti Veor and Chapel Farm, with the architecture inspired by local barns and farmsteads.  Connecting into the new nature trail which runs through the adjoining wetlands, Market Street will be accessed directly off the Newquay Strategic Route, due to open in early 2025.

We are excited to continue working with The Duchy of Cornwall and the design team to move the project forwards, with construction due to commence next year.

Rupert is very proud to have been part of the group of professional mentors awarded ‘Best Team in Support of Student Learning 2024’ by the University of Bath!

Helping to tutor the University’s Architecture & Civil Engineering students in their ‘Regenerative Cities’ module, the sky is the limit, with the brief asking for students to choose a city in the world and make it a better place.  The students Rupert has tutored have achieved unprecedented success, with their final year projects receiving accolades from prestigious national and international awards. Through problem-led, studio-based learning, the mentors provide students with an engaging experience that goes beyond the traditional classroom setting, exposing students to a wide range of inputs and encouraging critical thinking. The department’s passion for regenerative design and solving the world’s big problems creates a collaborative environment where students are encouraged to experiment, innovate, and push the boundaries to their creativity, giving them the confidence to go out into the world and make a real positive impact.

As part of our continued partnership with the University of Bath’s Department of Architecture and their ‘Regenerative Cities’ module, we are delighted to have chosen the winner for our Landscape and Public Realm Award 2024.

This year’s award goes to Nicola Maclean, Adam Ferguson, Borna Crvtilla, John Swiss, Marcus Perks and Oliver Porteous-Williams – for their group project looking at the City of Nice, France.

We felt that their project really clearly set out the challenges they felt Nice faces – disconnect, disparity and neglect – and came up with truly innovative solutions that were led by a vision reconnect the Alps to the sea along the Paillon River, connecting Nice back into its incredible Alpine & Mediterranean natural landscapes. The focus was on how this reconnection with nature and water could ensure a sustainable future for the city with ideas including landmark modular ‘bio-towers’ of Nice, inspired by the church spires in the Old Town, to function as wayfinding, wildlife habitat and energy production units and be easily adaptable for use as community facilities.

The team’s use of physical modelling and locally inspired graphic styles really brought their ideas to life and the level of detail their ideas explored was exemplary.  A fantastic effort by all and very well-deserving winners!

Very excited to see our Pioneer Play space at the heart of Crowthorne about to be completed, with only the final touches left to go.

At 3,500sqm, the generous play space integrates a wide variety of play opportunities into what is now the established landscape setting of Buckler’s Park. As with the whole of the wider site, storm water attenuation has played a key role in our design toolbox here and the play area celebrates this with various elements – climbing nets, rope bridges and stepping blocks – all interacting with the watercourse running through the scheme.

Gavin Jones Landscapes have done a fantastic job delivering this project on site, along with Dylan Group who have delivered all of the play elements and the play surfacing.  Some of the play structures include a 5m high tunnel slide, teepees, spinning disks and swings, all set into an undulating landscape.  When it opens Pioneer Play will serve around 8000 residents, both from the new Buckler’s Park development and the existing village of Crowthorne.

We are very pleased to announce that as part of our engagement with the Leeds Beckett University’s Landscape Department, we have sponsored the student ‘Communication and Design Award’ which has been deservedly won by George Stinson.

The award is in recognition of George’s 3rd year undergraduate project ‘Landscape Futures: Placemaking’, which he explored in Bradford. This is a great piece of work by George, clearly and concisely communicating an in-depth understanding of the site’s unique constraints and opportunities, all of which have underpinned George’s bold vision and innovative design strategies for a series of ‘green gateways’.  The final presentation boards communicate George’s design objectives very clearly, allowing the inspiring messages around health and wellbeing & climate resilience to be understood from the outset.

Phase 1 of Manbre Wharf is now open to the public! Macgregor Smith worked with ARC (Advanced Research Clusters) to create this landmark life sciences development on the banks of the Thames in Hammersmith, West London.

Delivered by Kier Construction and Willerby Landscapes, the first section of the new riverside gardens opens up to the Thames Path and helps to provide a coherent identity for the development, with sinuous landforms inspired by the fluvial movements of the river.

A seated terrace defines the edge of the Thames Path providing opportunities to enjoy the regattas or pause to take in the views of the listed Harrods depository building opposite and the iconic Hammersmith Bridge. The development also features marginal tree species and planting palettes that reinforce the local natural landscape character with a focus on pollinator plants.

Read more about the project here.

We are delighted to announce that ARC (Advanced Research Clusters) has secured planning approval to develop a new state-of-the-art science building on their ARC Oxford campus, with Macgregor Smith acting as landscape architects on the scheme. The proposals involve the demolition of seven existing buildings on the campus making way for the re-development of a 105,000 sqft laboratory-enabled office building offering essential lab space for the science, technology and innovation sector. The landscape strategy seeks to complement the architecture by providing an exciting place to work, with design that is best-in-class in sustainable and ecological design, and maximises available external space to provide amenity, well-being and water management benefits to the scheme.

The proposed scheme has been developed to allow for retention of all of the site’s 41 boundary trees together with the introduction of meaningful greening, new habitats and tree planting.  Over 50 new semi mature trees will provide a positive canopy gain after 25 years with the new planting scheme achieving the required Biodiversity Net Gain through provision of new planting, rain gardens, SuDs and biodiverse roofs. A unique sense of place will be created including a series of new external amenity spaces, with inspiration drawn from the landscape typologies of Oxford and articulation of the architectural and industrial heritage of the site through the development’s green spaces, planting and structural interventions. Integration of new and improved routes for pedestrians and cyclists includes the enhancement of the existing southern footpath leading from the neighbouring residential streets, improving permeability into and across ARC Oxford.

Planning permission has been granted for this proposed mixed use scheme which combines student living, shops and a medical centre on the site of the Selly Oak in Birmingham.

A fantastic project working closely with Galliard Apsley Partnership and Corstorphine & Wright Architects to develop a scheme which will transform this derelict former supermarket site, bringing a new lease of life to this important node within the Selly Oak area.

The landscape proposals include a mixture of public and private spaces, a new terraced plaza around the retained Selly Oak trees, pedestrian and cycle routes through the site and a series of roof terraces.

The unique tessellating paving to the Grade II listed Civic Square in Plymouth has been completed!

The distinctive pattern was inspired by the original design by Geoffrey Jellicoe, framing the baroque gardens and creating a playful surface.

As part of our landscape upgrade work at ARC Oxford, we have transformed a shady lawn in the middle of a car park into an animated and functional pocket park. This serves the recently re-purposed office and lab space on site, providing a vibrant amenity space on their doorstep.

Only 18 x 16 metres in size, we carefully re-designed the space to incorporate the existing Cherry trees, creating a central space with tables and benches encouraging social activity, bordered by grasses and colourful perennials with a focus on planting for pollinators.

Pioneer Group, working with Macgregor Smith and Corstorphine & Wright, have been granted planning approval by Cambridge City Council to convert a declining retail shopping centre into a mixed-use scheme providing in-demand life science lab space and a new, high-quality retail environment.

Alongside renovation of the existing centre, an enhanced and multi-functional public realm will be delivered that provides a new north-south connection and external public square, drawing on the heritage of the Kite area of the City and responding to the typology of intimate pedestrianised shopping streets found throughout Cambridge.

Read all about the project here.

We’re delighted to share our latest Heddon Street project, a wonderful collaboration with the talented team at Meristem Design!

Together, we’ve brought a fresh, lively feel to this urban space by introducing an array of vibrant planters. Whether you’re a local or simply passing through, come and experience the beauty of nature in the heart of the London!

Macgregor Smith recently worked with Down to Earth to create an outdoor-based Wellbeing and Healthcare Facility within the grounds of University Hospital Llandough.

The 14-acre site near Cardiff will feature a landmark Therapy Centre built entirely from natural materials and surrounded by an edible landscape. The outdoor activity centre will give patients the opportunity to help with the development of the site landscaping and construction of the therapy facilities, as well as the enjoyment and maintenance of the site. Down to Earth’s approach of getting people working outdoors with nature has been clinically proven to boost mental health and is as effective as anti-depressants – without the side effects.

Installation of the whole scheme and all future landscape management will be undertaken by volunteers, including food growing and harvesting from the vegetable plots, forest garden and orchards, bee keeping and meadow management. It aims to give patients and staff a unique space where they can escape the noise of the hospital and enjoy the fresh air with their visitors.

Temporary artworks have now been installed on and above Milsom Street and Kingsmead Square, designed by artist Zoe Power. These vibrant installations form part of a wider street dressing and High Street renewal programme being implemented by B&NES. The artworks draw on some of the historic and current uses and characteristics of both Milsom Quarter and Kingsmead Square.

Macgregor Smith helped to prepare the artist brief for both Milsom Quarter and Kingsmead Square in close collaboration with B&NES. For further information please see Zoe Power’s website and B&NES Press release.

Everards Printworks has been named as one of only three recipients of this year’s Bristol Civic Society Design Awards.

The panel of judges commended the re-development of the old NatWest site for its sensitive integration of the beautiful Everard’s Printing Works façade and making a significant positive contribution to the public realm, in what until recently felt like a neglected and underused part of the Bristol’s historic centre.

The design awards recognise developments in Bristol that are visible from a public place and make a positive contribution to the local environment through design excellence.  Bristol Civic Society is an independent, voluntary organisation that exists to improve Bristol’s built environment and celebrate its heritage.

Everards Printworks was also shortlisted for the Award for Best Use of Heritage in Placemaking at the National Planning Awards in June 2023.

Photo: Artisan Real Estate

The restoration of Geoffrey Jellicoe’s tessellating paving in the Grade II listed Civic Square at the heart of Plymouth is underway.

The design has looked to restore the unique patterned surface in granite setts in varying sizes, creating a carpet of tessellating ‘bow ties’ that will encircle the central baroque gardens. The gardens themselves will also be renovated to return the southern end of the Civic Square to its former glory.

Future phases of regeneration will look to restore the Dragon fly pond walls, define a new designated cycle way, new trees, and recycled benches!

Macgregor Smith’s long-standing client British Land has secured planning approval for Broadway Connection in Ealing – a major office-led mixed use regeneration scheme located within the town centre.

The proposals will deliver a multi-layered landscape providing distinct character areas. Our public realm approach looks to restore the fine urban grain and vibrancy of the original Broadway, whilst also drawing on the area’s rich history around the former Lyric theatre and building on Ealing’s identity as the green and leafy ‘Queen of the suburbs’.

As part of our continued partnership with the University of Bath’s Department of Architecture and their ‘Regenerative Cities’ projects, we are delighted to have chosen the winner for our Landscape and Public Realm Award 2023.

This year’s award goes to Will Allen, Mohit Buch, Isabell Czech, Kieran Mckenna, Frankie Prinsloo and Chew Shan Wei – for their ‘Udaipur, India’ group project.

The team’s project delivered a clear approach to regenerate and redefine this part of Udaipur which was communicated through a very clear process addressing the city context, specific response to place, clarity and energy of graphics and illustrations, creative initiatives with strategies that draw out the special qualities of the city.

Macgregor Smith were appointed by Hammerson to create ambitious proposals for a new roof terrace as part of their exciting mixed-use scheme ‘Drum’ at Birmingham’s Grand Central.
Working alongside Make Architects, this dynamic repurposing of the former John Lewis department store as office and retail space has health, wellbeing and social amenity firmly at its core.

The terrace repurposes an existing rooftop car park and its design focuses on creating a series of flexible, comfortable, and intimate amenity spaces with fantastic views of the city centre.
The landscape proposals put nature front and centre with intensive planting, green walls and extensive areas of biodiversity roof incorporated into the design.

Planning for the scheme was approved by Birmingham City Council in March 2023.

A huge congratulations to Yushi who has successfully passed her P2C exam and is now a Chartered Member of the Landscape Institute! Yushi put in a huge amount of effort and studied hard over the past few years so this is very much deserved!

The latest phases of Shanghai Business Park are now nearing completion. Through close collaboration with our Chinese partners and client team we have developed a riparian setting for a high-tech business campus which integrates office space, retail, F&B and connections via a metro station back into central Shanghai. Phases 4,5 & 6 features a riparian waterside setting which meanders through the hi-tech park, leading to pause points and civic spaces. Curving bridges connect the building plots together. Overlooking the northern civic space is a series of roof gardens which feature cafe spill out space set within semi-intensive and extensive planting. The images show phase 4 with images of the lake and lakeside gardens to follow (phase 5).

We are absolutely delighted that Buckler’s Park & Forest in Crowthorne has been shortlisted in the Excellence in Health and Wellbeing category at this years Landscape Institute Awards! The ceremony takes place at the end of November so we have our fingers crossed for another win! You can read all about the scheme here.

We are delighted to see the St Mark’s Student Quarter in Lincoln nearing completion and looking great! Designed for the University of Lincoln and Aberdeen Standard, St. Mark’s is a student residential scheme close to the centre of Lincoln and its growing University. 10 residential buildings are focused around a series of communal courtyards, with the landscape design taking inspiration from the site’s former use as sidings on the approach to the historic St. Mark’s railway station. The habit of old railway sidings evolving into linear woodlands which host a rich ecological tapestry has been reflected in the planting strategy for the project, with naturally regenerating ornamental grasses, pioneer tree species and shade tolerant flowering perennials creating a series of intimate garden spaces.

Seren Swansea is looking great in the summer sunshine with the planting in full bloom. The Fusion Student project was completed towards the end of 2021 and has hosted its first residents this term.

The landscape proposals were centered on developing a coherent identity for the development, and ensuring its integration as a vibrant and viable new destination for students to meet, be entertained and socialize.

The children at Northgate Primary School had a great day out last month, helping to plant hundreds of aquatic plants into the new wetland swales at our Brewery Field project in Bridgwater. Thanks to the joint efforts of the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT), Willmott Dixon and our Macgregor Smith team – a fantastic day was had by all and we’re looking forward to seeing the area really start to take shape over the summer.  This exciting project forms part of the wider ‘Bridgwater Blue Heritage’ project – a partnership initiative which seeks to work with local people to boost green and blue infrastructure within the area and promote topics of climate resilience, creation of new wetland habitats and wellbeing initiatives within the community.

We had a brilliant day out at The Newt Gardens down in Somerset last month to celebrate our 30th anniversary! A real landmark event, we were joined by past and present members of the Macgregor Smith team – a great opportunity to meet up after so long in lockdown – not to mention taste the local cider and have a tour around the amazing grounds. Taking a trip down memory lane, we celebrated the last three decades of brilliant projects and people we’ve had the great pleasure of working with.

A huge congratulations to Alex, who has been promoted to Senior Landscape Architect. It’s already been a busy year for Alex, who became a Chartered Member of the Landscape Institute in December. Alex is a key part of the team here at Macgregor Smith, involved in a very wide range of projects across the practice. With a very bright future ahead of him, we look forward to seeing him continue to develop as a brilliant Landscape Architect.

We are excited to see Civic Square’s public engagement go live! Plymouth City Council have launched the Civic Square project on their website building on the formal consultation held as part of the Better Places Program. We’re hoping to start work on the square early next year to restore its most important heritage features, whilst re-imagining it for the 21st Century. More information can be found here; www.plymouth.gov.uk/bigbuild/betterplacesplymouth/civicsquare

The build is nearing completion at Fitzwilliam Street in Sheffield’s City Centre! The new scheme for Fusion Students provides accommodation for 850 students in the heart of the City, with the layout focused around a series of communal spaces.  The landscape design language takes its cue from the City’s famous industrial heritage, carving out contemporary social spaces in the courtyards with seating, table tennis tables and a basketball court.

We are delighted to announce that Teesside Park has won a BALI National Landscape Award! The project came out top in the ‘Soft landscaping Construction (non-domestic) – Over £500K’ category which is sponsored by the Landscape Institute. Congratulations to all involved and we look forward to the award ceremony in December! Read all about the scheme on our project page.

Zhaoxiang Park is one of a number of interesting new projects which we are working on in Shanghai. The project is a new development which houses high tech businesses and integral to that is an interconnected landscape with a series of garden spaces. Each garden space has a unique character and use, whether it be the ‘Hilltop Garden’ which is a quiet tranquil space or the ‘Central Lawns’ which can host events and activities. The Landscape also provides a running and exercise track which meanders through a densely treed landscape.

Fosse Park West is buzzing with activity as it opens to the public following the COVID lockdown. With our cheeky fleet of foxes dotted all around the park, pops of colour and imaginative play elements form an interactive trail around this new addition to the main busy Fosse Park site. Our wildflower meadows are blooming, the green walls have all taken off fantastically, and the fountain is proving a popular cooling off spot in the hot weather! Read more about it here.

We are delighted that The Bargate Quarter scheme in Southampton has been granted planning permission, with the Planning Committee voting unanimously in its favour. The project is uniquely set alongside the medieval Old Town Walls and the new scheme creates a series of public gardens and a new pedestrianised street within the heart of Southampton. While this development is now residential lead, it still provides much needed connections east – west and north – south from the City’s parks and along the High Street. The new garden street provides access all the way around this section of the Old Town Wall and provides opportunity to view the wall from positions and angles which haven’t been seen by the public for over 30 years.