Creator of iconic Eden Project launching Manchester office

L-R Jacq Whitworth, Allan Tom Jonson and Chris Cox

Landscape design, planning, impact assessment, heritage and ecology consultancy LUC, whose previous projects have included the iconic Eden Project and Tumbling Bay, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, has opened two new offices in the North West as part of its ambitious national expansion plans.

LUC has offices in London, Bristol, Glasgow and Edinburgh and its expansion into the north of England is designed to better serve its growing client base across the region.  The consultancy regularly wins industry awards for the quality of its design and planning work, receiving 10 awards and commendations in 2016 alone.

LUC already has a strong track record in the north of England, having recently completed a major study of the Manchester Green Belt and from being involved in major design projects including the restoration of Heaton Park.  The company is working with local authorities across the north of England to help them prepare local plans for future housing and economic development.

The Manchester city centre office will be headed up by director of landscape architecture Tom Jonson. He has more than 20 years’ experience as a landscape architect and urban designer overseeing high profile city centre public realm schemes in Manchester, Salford, Liverpool, Sheffield and more recently Leicester. He also has extensive university campus design experience.

Jonson joins LUC from the Manchester office of AECOM where he was an associate director of landscape architecture. Joining him are principal landscape architect Jacqueline Whitworth-Allan and consultant landscape Architect Chris Cox.

Whitworth-Allan has worked on numerous projects and has authorised townscape and landscape visual impact assessments for HS2, Manchester’s Second City Crossing as well as the Old Trafford Cricket Ground redevelopment.

She also has extensive historic park restoration experience.  Chris has worked across a range of public realm and urban design projects and has recently led on the public realm works for the Engineering Showcase Building as part of the University of Salford Masterplan as well as the redevelopment of Kendal’s market square.

The Manchester office will initially offer landscape design and urban planning but aims to offer more of its services in the near future.

Heading up LUC’s new office in the Lancaster Environment Centre at Lancaster University, is Jon Abbatt who has joined the company as director of strategic development. Abbatt, who was previously Head of Environment with ADAS UK, will draw on his expertise in arboriculture, ecology and land management to develop new and strengthen existing LUC services and market sectors.

LUC managing sirector Jeremy Owen said: “These are exciting times for LUC and we are thrilled to have on board highly talented new staff with a wealth of knowledge and experience in the north of England.

“LUC has worked on many fantastic projects in this region and our investment in these new offices is a testament to our commitment and belief in the north of England as a part of the country with tremendous growth potential. We are confident that we can make a significant contribution to help its future growth be both sustainable and successful.”

Jonson added: “I am delighted to join LUC which has an excellent reputation in the industry. It is an award-winning, independent consultancy which offers its prestigious clients the full range of services from initial inception through to completion.

“This is a fantastic opportunity to join a talented well-established practice with an exciting vision for the future and as a result I am looking forward to helping further expand this vision in the north of England for the benefit of our clients and local communities.”

LUC is holding its north of England launch party on Thursday July 13 in Manchester from 5.30pm to 9pm.

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