Nottinghamshire and London-based landscape architect Influence is ending what has been a record year following a 50% increase in projects, compared to this time last year.
The practice recently hit the headlines with its bold and ambitious green vision for Nottingham’s now redundant Broadmarsh, on behalf of Nottingham Wildlife Trust.
The plans showed a transformed and reimagined Nottingham city centre, with a proposed 100% greenspace in place of the shopping centre. Put forward to Nottingham City Council, the plans have attracted hundreds of comments from members of the public backing the scheme.
Despite the challenging conditions of this year, the chartered landscape architect – which delivers landscape architecture, urban design, environment planning and expert witness services –
has had a record 12 months in business and plans for further team expansion in the new year.
This year, the company has worked on major developments across the country. In the midlands projects include; Special Educational Needs schools in Lincolnshire, the county’s major flood defence scheme the university’s medical school. In Northamptonshire the team have worked on the recently designated High-Street Heritage Action Zones.
The team are also delivering residential developments in Manchester and are the go-to practice for specialist tall building assessments in London – protecting the capital’s famous skyline.
Sara Boland, managing director of Influence, said: “While it’s been a year of uncertainty, it has also been a year that I have seen the very best from our team – who have worked together to achieve our record year in business.
“Due to a number of challenges this year – the pandemic, social distancing measures and mental wellbeing – green space has been catapulted to the forefront of people’s minds, and we have seized the opportunity to respond. Green, open space plays an incredibly important role in our wellbeing and more of a balance needs to be found within commercial schemes to accommodate this.
“This year has been a real journey of highs and lows but we are so pleased to be able to share such positive business news. There is still plenty of opportunity and movement in the property and construction sector and we are seeing this across all areas of our business.”
Shona Hatton, director of the practice, added: “It goes without saying that we are proud of our team’s achievements in delivering brilliant work this year, and to end the year working on such an incredibly important and high-profile project with Nottingham Wildlife Trust, is really the icing on the cake.
“We have worked hard to provide the best possible training for our team and further build our portfolio and this strategy is reflected in our results this year. We have lots of exciting plans for 2021, and wish to thank our clients who choose to work with us.”
Influence has supported a number of charitable causes throughout the year including mental health charity Mind and will be choosing its charity of year in early 2021.
