Practice Information:
Consultancy is a leading firm of UK Landscape Architects based in the rural market town of Petersfield within the officially designated East Hampshire Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, just one hour from Central London, and 15 minutes from the historic channel
port of Portsmouth. Launched by ex- Portsmouth City Chief Landscape Architect in May 1985, the practice has gone on to secure the highest reputation for its standard of work across the entire spectrum of Landscape Consultancy Services, from Environmental Impact
Issues, Planning and Design, through to supervision of project implementation and subsequent management, including commissions at all scales throughout the UK, Europe, Middle East and the USA.

EW #576 founded the practice in 1985 and now acts as a retained consultant, dealing in particular with planning and presentation issues. John initially gained qualifications in Art and Teaching from London University , then Landscape Architecture from Leeds Polytechnic, and worked as Senior Landscape Architect for William Gillespie and Partners in Glasgow . He was Chief Landscape Architect for the City of Portsmouth prior to setting up Terra Firma in 1985. His experience has ranged through all scales and categories of work, for both public and private clients, and he has also executed exhibition and graphic design commissions. He is an experienced Expert Witness, regularly giving evidence on visual and landscape impact, and he speaks fluent French.

Qualifications: Diploma in Landscape Architecture

Experience:
1985- Founder, Past Principal and now Consultant
1982-85 Chief Landscape Architect, Portsmouth City Council
1977-82 Senior Landscape Architect, Gillespies, Glasgow

Expert Witness Service
For the past ten years the practice has represented its clients at Planning Inquiries, and has a considerable wealth of experience in this field. A number of high-profile projects have been entirely dependent on Landscape and Visual Impact issues, and some notable success have been gained. Perhaps more usefully, this experience has enabled contentious schemes to be carefully shepherded through the Planning process to enable a consent to be gained without the time and expense of an Inquiry. One of our consultants, is registered in the Law Society's Directory of Expert Witnesses, and Terra Firma are members of the Institute of Environmental Assessment and the Urban Design Group.

Below is a selection of the Planning Inquiries in which The Terra Firma Consultancy has been involved with:

A3 Services, Liphook (East Hants District Council)*
Roundabouts Copse, North Baddesley*
Sarisbury Green (Radmark Properties)*
Bursledon (Whitbreads)*
Ryde (Leading Leisure Ltd)*
Land at Salterns, Fareham (Southern Water)*
School Lane, West Wellow*
Nettwood Farm, Shrewton*
Land at Kettering*
Glasshouses at Scallows Lane, West Wellow*
Wood View Farm, Hatherden*
Land at Havant Road, Horndean
Nursling Industrial Estate,Southampton*
Netherstreet Farm, Bromham*
Land for Housing at Bridge
Road, Bursledon*
Land for Community and Leisure Development at Ledbury, Herefordshire
Land for Housing at Green Lane, Clanfield*
Land for housing at Westhampnett, Chichester
Student accommodation for Portsmouth University*
Housing at Wootton, Isle of Wight
Land for Housing at Box Hill, Surrey
Leisure housing at South Winchester Golf Course*
Nursing Home in Green Belt at Feltham, Middx*
Gas Turbine Heat & Power Plant. Nursling
Land for Housing at Peacehaven West Sussex
Land for Housing at Hurstpierpoint, Haywards Heath

* Cases where our evidence was supported by the Inspector.