LUC

And now for something completely different

COMPANY PROFILE

LUC is an award-winning environmental consultancy that aims to make a difference. With nearly 60 years of experience, we want to make an impact: delivering better futures for nature, people, and places.

Our holistic services support clients in tackling complex land use problems on projects at every scale. Our expert teams collaborate across disciplines to create cities, towns and landscapes for a more sustainable future.

We are employee-owned, which means we invest in our people and operate with kindness. Our creative, forward-thinking professionals are passionate about addressing the climate and biodiversity crises.

We’re leading the way in driving lasting and positive change.

Our planning services include:

Strategic Planning and Appraisal

Developing robust evidence to support planning policy development, site allocations and planning applications is a key part of our work. Our key areas of expertise include planning for housing, Green Belts, renewable energy, waste management, minerals, open space, forestry, green infrastructure, renewable energy and social infrastructure. Our complementary Sustainability Appraisal /SEA and HRA services have helped more than 70 local authorities to prepare sound plans, with no legal challenges to date.

• Research and Strategy Development
• Local and Neighbourhood Planning
• Evidence Base Studies
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Expert Witness Services
• SEA/Sustainability Appraisal
• Habitats Regulations Assessment
• Training

Development Planning

We help private and public sector developers to achieve their aims, from initial feasibility studies to post-application support including discharge of planning conditions. Our experience includes housing and mixed use development, minerals and waste planning, renewable energy, primary, secondary and tertiary education, agriculture and forestry development and sport and recreation. We help clients to maximise the potential of their development and reduce planning risks.

• Masterplanning for Development
• Planning Strategy
• Development Management
• Feasibility Studies
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Planning Applications
• Expert Witness Services
• Discharge of Planning Conditions

Impact Assessment

We provide the following Impact Assessment services:

• Environmental Impact Assessment
• Heritage Impact Assessment
• Health Impact Assessment
• Equalities Impact Assessment
• Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment
• Ecological Impact Assessment

We are specialists in managing the EIA process, including screening and scoping advice, helping clients secure relevant consents while protecting the environment. Recent projects include housing and mixed use developments, energy, transport, and forestry developments. We undertake EIA reviews for planning authorities and have prepared EIA guidance for governments, key agencies and professional bodies.

Public and third sector clients include County and District Councils, Defra, DCLG, Natural England, Environment Agency, Historic England, Natural Resources Wales, Forestry Commission, The National Trust, CPRE and Business Improvement Districts.

Private sector clients include Thames Water, The Rutland Group, independent schools, City & Country Group, Scottish Power, EDF, RWE Innogy, and Renewable Energy Systems.

Local & Strategic Planning: Community Plans

Local & Strategic Planning: Development Plan Representation

Local & Strategic Planning: EIP (Examination in Public)

Local & Strategic Planning: Green Belt

Local & Strategic Planning: Minerals Local Plans

Local & Strategic Planning: Sub-regional Planning

Local & Strategic Planning: Transport Plans

Local & Strategic Planning: Waste Local Plans

Local & Strategic Planning: Development Briefs

Local & Strategic Planning: Local Plans

Local & Strategic Planning: Development Plan Monitoring

Local & Strategic Planning: Core Strategies

Local & Strategic Planning: Area Development Frameworks

Local & Strategic Planning: Planning Strategies

Local & Strategic Planning: Duty to Cooperate

Local & Strategic Planning: Sustainability Appraisal

Local & Strategic Planning: Sustainability Statements

Conservation: Characterisation Studies

Conservation: Townscape Impact Analysis

Conservation: Ancient Monuments

Conservation: Archaeology

Conservation: Design Layout

Conservation: Conservation Areas

Conservation: Ecology

Conservation: Historic Building Restoration

Conservation: Historic Towns / Sites

Conservation: Listed Buildings

Conservation: Rural Conservation

Conservation: Urban Conservation

Conservation: World Heritage Sites

Legal: Advocacy

Legal: Appeals

Legal: Judicial Review

Legal: Public Inquiries

Countryside & Environment: Green Belt

Countryside & Environment: Appropriate Assessment (Habitats Regulations)

Countryside & Environment: Renewable Energy Sources

Countryside & Environment: AONB (Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty)

Countryside & Environment: Environmental Trusts

Countryside & Environment: Environmental Management Strategies

Countryside & Environment: Countryside Access Strategies

Countryside & Environment: Country Parks

Countryside & Environment: Coastal Planning

Countryside & Environment: Ecological Surveys

Countryside & Environment: Environmental Impact Assessments

Countryside & Environment: Strategic Environmental Appraisals

Countryside & Environment: Environmental Statements

Countryside & Environment: Gypsy / Traveller Sites

Countryside & Environment: National Parks

Countryside & Environment: Rural Regeneration

Countryside & Environment: Rights of Way

Countryside & Environment: SSSI (Special Sites of Scientific Interest)

Countryside & Environment: Tree Preservation Orders

Countryside & Environment: Visual Impact Assessments

Countryside & Environment: Wind Farms

Countryside & Environment: Wetlands

Countryside & Environment: Wildlife Centres / Trusts

Agriculture: DEFRA - Consultancy Advice

Agriculture: Agricultural Developments

Agriculture: Barn Conversions

Agriculture: Diversification

Agriculture: Estates

Agriculture: Horticulture

Agriculture: Planning & Development

Agriculture: Development Applications

Business: Business and Science Parks

Business: Change of Use

Business: Car Parking / Access

Business: Extensions / Alterations of Premises

Business: Lawful Development Certificates

Business: New Premises

Design: Masterplanning

Design: Urban Design

Design: Characterisation Studies

Design: Townscape Impact Analysis

Design: Tall Buildings

Design: Design Layout

Economic Development: Community Infrastructure Levy - Evidence Studies

Economic Development: Community Infrastructure Levy - Examination

Economic Development: Funding Advice

Economic Development: Development Strategies

Economic Development: Funding Applications

Economic Development: Feasibility Studies

Neighbourhood & Community Planning: Community and Stakeholder Consultation Events

Neighbourhood & Community Planning: Planning for Real & Trade

Neighbourhood & Community Planning: Public Participation

Neighbourhood & Community Planning: Schools / Community Buildings

Neighbourhood & Community Planning: Village/Town Appraisals

Neighbourhood & Community Planning: Village Design Statements

Neighbourhood & Community Planning: Neighbourhood Development Plans

Neighbourhood & Community Planning: Independent Assessor

Health Planning: Cemeteries

Health Planning: Crematoriums

Health Planning: Health Centres

Health Planning: Hospices

Health Planning: Hospital

Health Planning: Nursing Homes

Housing: Appeals

Housing: Applications

Housing: Boundaries / Curtilage

Housing: Housing Needs Studies

Housing: House Extensions

Housing: Objections

Housing: Residential Developments

Housing: Custom Build

Industrial: Heavy Industry

Industrial: Light Industry

Industrial: Minerals / Aggregates / Extraction

Industrial: Mining

Industrial: Oil & Gas

Industrial: Pollution (Air, Water, Noise)

Industrial: Service Industry

Industrial: Utilities

Industrial: Waste Disposal

Industrial: Site Design Layout

Information Technology: CAD

Information Technology: GIS

Information Technology: Local Authority IT Guidance / Systems

Negotiation & Dispute Resolution: Section 75 Agreements

Negotiation & Dispute Resolution: Expert Witness

Negotiation & Dispute Resolution: Planning Gain

Negotiation & Dispute Resolution: Section 106 Agreements

Probity: Elected Member Training

Overseas: European Planning Systems

Overseas: Other Planning Systems

Overseas: Overseas Planning and Development

Research: Viability and Planning Assessments and Inquiries

Research: Feasibility Studies

Research: Land Availabiltiy Studies

Research: Research / Surveys

Research: Site Appraisals

Research: Environmental Impact Assessment

Retail: Change of Use

Retail: Motorway Service Areas

Retail: Town Centres

Tourism & Leisure: Golf Courses

Tourism & Leisure: Fast Food / Take Away Outlets

Tourism & Leisure: Hotels

Tourism & Leisure: Marinas

Tourism & Leisure: Parks

Tourism & Leisure: Playing Fields

Tourism & Leisure: Stadiums

Tourism & Leisure: Tourism

Tourism & Leisure: Wildlife Centres / Zoos

Tourism & Leisure: Sport & Recreational Strategies

Tourism & Leisure: Visitor Management Strategies

Transport: Airports

Transport: Cycle Ways

Transport: Motorways

Transport: Ports

Transport: Railways

Transport: Roads

Transport: Rivers / Canals / Waterways

Transport: Traffic Management

Transport: Trams

Transport: Transport Impact Studies

Transport: Travel Plans

Urban Regeneration: Rural & Village Schemes

Urban Regeneration: Waterfront Sites

Urban Regeneration: Design

Urban Regeneration: Town & City Centre Revitalisation Schemes

Urban Regeneration: Brownfield Sites

Urban Regeneration: European Funding

Minerals & Waste: Mineral Local Plans

Minerals & Waste: Waste Disposal

Minerals & Waste: Minerals/Aggregates Extraction

Minerals & Waste: Quarries

Minerals & Waste: Waste Local Plans

Minerals & Waste: Mining

Minerals & Waste: Waste Recycling

Minerals & Waste: Oil & Gas Exploration

Minerals & Waste: Incineration

Minerals & Waste: Landfill

Local Authority Services: Development Management

Local Authority Services: Local Plan Making

Local Authority Services: Contracted Out Services

Marine: Spatial planning

Marine: Conservation

Marine: Energy

Marine: Land use

Enforcement: Appeals

Renewable Energy: Wind Power

Renewable Energy: Solar Power

Renewable Energy: Tidal Power

Renewable Energy: Biomass

Renewable Energy: Geothermal

Employment: City Centre Tall Buildings

Employment: Impact Tests

Infrastructure: Community Infrastructure Levy - Evidence Studies

Infrastructure: Community Infrastructure Levy - Examination

Infrastructure: Infrastructure Planning for Local Plans

Infrastructure: Health Assessments

Infrastructure: Duty to Cooperate

Infrastructure: Schools Planning