Strategic Land & Major Development

We are pleased to be actively promoting several major residential and mixed-use strategic sites across the Midlands, South East and Central regions.

Large-scale development opportunities are often accompanied by complex heritage considerations that can have a strong influence on strategic sites.

Whether its the setting of a nearby listed building, a non-designated heritage asset within the Site or the potential underlying archaeological resource, its good to get a handle on the issues and opportunities from an early stage.

Whether you’re promoting land through the Local Plan process or seeking planning permission for a multi-phase scheme, we can offer the foresight and advice you need to navigate heritage constraints effectively. Our evidence is consistently thorough and fit for use across the full life-cycle of bringing strategic sites forward for development.

Why choose Locus:

We’re experienced with working in multi-disciplinary teams on large sites where heritage is one of many issues. The advice we offer is pragmatic and solution-led, aimed at improving development outcomes.

What we do

  • Scoping Reports to assess heritage opportunities and constraints

  • Prepare evidence to support Local Plan site allocations

  • Advise on masterplanning and input into Vision Documents

  • Liaison with local planning authorities, Historic England and other stakeholders

  • Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs)

  • Heritage Impact Assessments

  • Negotiation of information requirements pre- and post- determination

Projects

  • Large-scale Aluminium Works, Annesley

    Located immediately adjacent a Grade II* Park and Garden alongside many other highly graded assets, Locus worked with planners at Nineteen47 to secure permission for a 7.28 hectare site adjacent J27 of the M1.

    A robust Heritage Impact Assessment and Archaeological Desk-based Assessment was key to negotiations with a wide number of statutory consultees alongside ensuring the mitigation achieved the desired result and screened much of not all of the development from within key views.

  • Chesterfield Waterside Development

    Woodall Homes commissioned Locus to undertake a Heritage Impact Assessment, including archaeological desk-based assessment to support an application for 103 contemporary homes and 41 apartments along the banks of the River Rother.

    Locus addressed matters of buried archaeology as well as the setting of the town’s infamous crooked spire.

  • Student Accommodation - Agard Street, Derby

    Construction of 93 bedroom student accommodation block in the Friar Gate Conservation Area, Derby. The proposed development entailed the demolition of a number of Victorian properties and development within the immediate setting of several listed buildings, including the Grade I Pickford House.

    Locus worked with Simon Foote Architects and DLP Planning to minimise the impact of the scheme upon surrounding heritage assets and the wider area, enabling the sensitive site to accept a development of elevated scale.

  • Highgate Road Mosque

    Locus were asked by MADE Architecture to undertake a Heritage Impact Assessment for a mixed-use community development comprising a school, community centre, a Mosque, commercial and residential units in the heart of Sparkbrook, Birmingham.

    Our advice assisted in minimising impact upon the setting of a Grade I listed building and evaluating the impact of the demolition of two non-designated heritage assets.

  • Copyright Hawkins Brown Architects

    Aston University Library

    Working closely with the project leads CBRE and alongside architects Hawkins Brown, Locus were employed to undertake a Heritage Impact Assessment for Aston University’s incredible new library.

    Unusually, the commission included evaluating the significance of the Tipping Triangle fountain, a late 20th kinetic sculpture that was considered to be a potential non-designated heritage asset.

  • Millford Mills Redevelopment

    Located in the hart of the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site, Locus were employed by Clowes Developments and Chevin Homes to provide heritage consultancy on the redevelopment of the former mill site.

    Some of the key issues included the impact on the World Heritage site itself, nearby listed buildings and the potential to uncover archaeological remains of early industry.

  • Bolsover Business Park

    Locus were employed by The Welbeck Estate to undertake a combined Heritage Impact Assessment and Archaeological Desk-based Assessment for the redevelopment of Bolsover Business Park and adjacent land for two commercial units and 35 new homes.

    Working with planners Planning and Design Group, we navigated a complex range of issues form the impact upon Bolsover Castle, the town’s conservation area and the remains of the former colliery.