Last edited 13 May 2020

Landscape officer

Landscape officers typically work within local authorities, where their main role is to ensure local landscapes are protected and enhanced for the future.

Typically, their duties include:

Reviewing development proposals against relevant legislation, policy and guidance.
Providing expert advice in relation to planning applications.
Reviewing and critiquing Landscape and Visual Impact Assessments (LVIAs).
Developing spatial planning documentation.
Helping inform the design of major development projects.

Landscape officers will work with a wide range of stakeholders including:

Planners.
Other technical specialists within the local authority.
Developers.
Agents.
Consultants.
Statutory bodies.
General public.

Landscape officers will often hold degree level qualifications in a landscape related subject area, such as Landscape Architecture, Landscape Design or Landscape Ecology.

The Landscape Institute is the Royal Chartered Institute for Landscape professionals. There are various levels of membership from student up to retired membership and it is also possible to become a chartered member.

Within some local authorities, the position of landscape officer is expanded to include responsibility for trees. In this situation, the post holder is also responsible for securing the protection of existing trees in the area and negotiating tree issues in relation to development proposals. In particular, they will be responsible for providing advice in relation to tree preservation orders.