A unanimous decision by Charnwood Borough Council’s Planning Committee hails a key milestone Bloor Homes’ site at Barrow upon Soar.

Define is celebrating a major planning success after securing resolutions to grant planning permission for the first two phases of a key strategic allocation at Penkridge North.

Through close collaboration with the landowners’ representatives, the Council and project team, Define is delighted to have secured outline planning permission for a strategic employment development at the Former RAF Woolfox Lodge in Rutland.

The 2025 Define study trip took our team to Kent – the Garden of England – to explore our work in the region, reflect on our progress, look ahead to the future, welcome new colleagues, and celebrate our shared achievements.

The 2025 update to the National Standards for Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) establishes best practice as formal policy, redefining how surface water runoff is managed in new developments. This article outlines the new standards and explains how landscape-based SuDS—like rain gardens, swales, green roofs, and wetlands—can be integrated to meet the guidance while enhancing ecology, aesthetics, and amenity.

Last month, Define was delighted to be involved in the transformation of the Jewellery Quarter (JQ) for Brum Park(ing) Day with support from the Jewellery Quarter Business Improvement District (JQBID), Birmingham City Council, and JQ Common Room Microgrants.

We have collaborated with Women in Planning West Midlands to create a walking tour around the Jewellery Quarter, exploring community responses to regeneration and the power of adaptive re-use.

We’re really pleased to have secured another green light for new homes at Pershore, following the latest Planning Committee meeting at Wychavon.

We are pleased to have received the green light for a new residential development in Bloxham, Oxfordshire, on behalf of our clients, William Davis Homes.

We are delighted that our plans for the Major Urban Park South in Whitecliffe were approved unanimously at planning committee last week. We have developed the detailed plans for this significant project in Ebbsfleet Garden City on behalf of our client and the landowner Henley Camland.

Park(ing) Day is a global movement that transforms ordinary parking spaces into vibrant, multifunctional areas, promoting community well-being and environmental sustainability.

We are delighted to announce that Rugeley John Taylor Academy has been given the go ahead by Lichfield District Council following the successful negotiation of a reserved matters application.

We are delighted that Hemel Hempstead Crematorium has been Highly Commended by the Civic Trust at their Awards Ceremony 2024. This is a really sensitively designed scheme within the Green Belt and the award is well deserved.

Milton Keynes Council have approved two Design Codes produced by Define on behalf of our client, L&Q. The Whitehouse South and Whitehouse Town Centre Design Codes were approved in March 2024 to facilitate the ongoing delivery of the Milton Keynes Western Expansion Area (MKWEA).

We’re thrilled to share the news that our new community of 540 homes, with community hub and care home for Merton College, Oxford has been permitted following an appeal against non-determination in early February 2024.

Define was instructed by Taylor Wimpey in late 2023 to audit the urban design credentials of their refused application on the eastern edge of Winnersh, Wokingham. he appeal was permitted on 6 March 2024.

We are now working with Cala Homes (Thames) to help deliver what will be an exemplary addition to Worting.

Define has always welcomed opportunities to connect with and nurture new talent in the industry, and we’ve just said goodbye to our most recent undergrad, Alison, who spent the final few days of her summer placement on our study trip to Cambridge.

Celebrating planning successes is always important, perhaps more so at a time when there is much uncertainty within our industry. Gaining permission for the rebuilding of Yeoman Park Academy in Mansfield was also a significant milestone.

We are delighted to see that the Town Park at the Wixams in Bedfordshire is now constructed and fully open to the public. Define have been providing landscape architecture design services to master developer L&Q Estates for a number of years.