Design
This is where you need to convert your idea on to
paper. This can be either be a rough draft, concept plan or a more
detailed design.
A concept plan will help you explain to others what you want to
do and what you want your project to look like when it's finished.
It can also help to cement ideas within the group. A concept plan
can be helpful when carrying out public consultations and can enable
you and your group to visualise where you can incorporate changes
or other ideas if you decide to.
Your plan doesn't have to be professional but it does need to be clear, with measurements and notes to explain what you want to do. You should also make sure you include any services such as gas, water or telecom services. These may have an impact on where you can site some parts of your project.
You can obtain simple maps of your project area from Lancashire County Council's online mapping system. You can also obtain maps of your site from your local authority for a charge if you need planning permission.
It's important for you to consider what you already have on site and if possible or appropriate to develop your project around it. These are some things you should consider:
- Services - e.g. gas, water, electricity, sewers, telephone, field drainage etc.
- Hard and Soft landscape features e.g. paths, walls, fences, car parks, trees, shrub beds, etc.
- Main access points and circulation routes for people and vehicles
- Will you need planning permission?
- Looking at what you've already got
If you decide you want to produce a more detailed plan you will probably need to use a professional designer. There are several options for finding designers that are used to working with community groups:
- There may be someone in your group who can draw up your design. If they do it for free you may be able to claim their time as 'in kind labour' match funding in some grant schemes.
- District or borough councils - some local authorities have designers or landscape architects who can work on community projects. They may, however, have to charge you a fee for their services.
- Groundwork* - this is an environmental and regeneration charity that specialises in working with communities to deliver action on the ground. They will be able to assist you with many aspects of your project including design, implementation and community consultation; again you will have to pay for their services.
- If you have to pay for a design plan for your project you may be able to get support* for this.
- Private consultants - these can usually be found listed under Landscape Architect in the Yellow Pages
It is sensible to get quotes from three different consultants. Don't forget to send your designs in with your grant application and to contractors when asking for quotes.
Be realistic about your designs and ideas. Often projects can be split into more manageable stages. If your project is large or complicated then splitting it into smaller stages will enable people to see what they are achieving and it will not seem so daunting.