At a Glance
-
45.9
Hectare Reserve
-
3.6
Kilometre Walking Trail
- Location
- Guildford, Surrey, United Kingdom
- Offices
-
-
Client
-
-
Burpham Court Farm
-
-
Partners
-
-
Guildford Borough Council
-
Gleeds
-
Savills Planning
-
Markides
-
-
Award
-
Royal Town Planning Institute, Award for Planning for the Natural Environment, Highly Commended 2025
- Location
- Guildford, Surrey, United Kingdom
- Offices
- Client
-
- Burpham Court Farm
- Partners
-
- Guildford Borough Council
- Gleeds
- Savills Planning
- Markides
- Award
- Royal Town Planning Institute, Award for Planning for the Natural Environment, Highly Commended 2025
Share
Working closely with the Guildford Borough Council (GBC) project team and key parties, our team led the design of the Burpham Court Farm reserve. As part of this process, we developed the Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG) and Biodiversity Management Plan, enabling the GBC project team to secure planning consent and facilitating delivery of the nature reserve.
A SANG is managed green space designed to provide an attractive alternative for recreation, reducing pressure on nearby protected sites, such as Thames Basin Heaths as a form of mitigation for new development. The nature reserve, specifically the SANG capacity, will in turn support development delivery elsewhere within GBC’s jurisdiction.
From the outset, we brought together a multidisciplinary team of environmental managers, ecologists, landscape designers, civil engineers, flood risk analysts, and noise and air quality specialists. This allowed us to view the site as a whole and respond creatively to its opportunities and constraints.
We designed a nature reserve that works with the natural floodplain, incorporating wetlands, grasslands, woodlands, and hedgerows, allowing wildlife to return and flourish and enhancing biodiversity value, over time. Our team also made space for people, shaping paths, viewpoints, and quiet areas that invite visitors to connect with nature, while carefully managing access to protect more sensitive environments.
At Burpham Court Farm, the nature-positive reserve will bring benefits to both people and biodiversity in Guildford, transforming former farmland into a thriving, accessible landscape for the future.
" }At a Glance
-
45.9
Hectare Reserve
-
3.6
Kilometre Walking Trail
- Location
- Guildford, Surrey, United Kingdom
- Offices
-
-
Client
-
-
Burpham Court Farm
-
-
Partners
-
-
Guildford Borough Council
-
Gleeds
-
Savills Planning
-
Markides
-
-
Award
-
Royal Town Planning Institute, Award for Planning for the Natural Environment, Highly Commended 2025
- Location
- Guildford, Surrey, United Kingdom
- Offices
- Client
-
- Burpham Court Farm
- Partners
-
- Guildford Borough Council
- Gleeds
- Savills Planning
- Markides
- Award
- Royal Town Planning Institute, Award for Planning for the Natural Environment, Highly Commended 2025