A year in the life…

January marked a year since my arrival at Node. I joined to fulfil a long-held ambition to work within a creative cross-disciplinary team, lending my heritage experience to colleagues in landscape architecture and urban design, and learning from them in turn. Both my hopes and expectations have been comfortably exceeded.

As my professional world was opening up, the rest of it was locking down. My first year has been defined by the “new normal” of remote working. Colleagues have been replaced by cats, networking by Netflix, the suit for slippers.

Despite these challenges Node’s heritage team has pushed on with a range of exciting projects, that have occupied a great deal of time and energy. So much so, we have had little opportunity to shout about them. So, to round off year one, we are pleased to share some highlights:

Planning for the future

Since March we have been supporting Historic England to prepare themselves, and the heritage sector at large, for the forthcoming reforms laid down by the government’s ‘Planning for the Future’ white paper.

In close partnership with the National Strategy Team, we are exploring how the sector may take full advantage of a revised framework, ensuring heritage is properly and positively embraced within design-code-led developments.

The task has been both challenging and fulfilling. It is a continued privilege to apply our expertise at such a pivotal juncture.

Scaling new heights

Continuing with a theme, we have also been supporting Historic England to improve how impacts upon heritage assets from tall buildings are considered when determining planning applications.

The project allowed us to take a broad and critical look at some of the most contemporary (and contentious) schemes of recent years. Our findings are supporting Historic England’s emerging strategies for tall buildings, including the forthcoming revision of their dedicated good practice advice note.

Heritage led design and development

Node has continued to support planners, designers, and developers to promote schemes where heritage is a key concern. No task has been too great or too small, with our 2020 portfolio ranging from fifty-storey towers to single-storey extensions.

The schemes have varied, but Node’s ethos has been consistent: applying our core design philosophies and professional techniques to promote positive design that embraces the many opportunities inherent within the historic environment.

Supporting local planning authorities

Supporting planning authorities remained a key service throughout 2020, assessing over 350 planning applications and providing strategic advice to multiple councils.

Expert witness

In a first for me, I have also taken on the role as expert heritage witness at planning inquiry. Having only operated in the background before, this was my inaugural turn “front and centre” (or “in the firing line”, depending on your viewpoint). A nerve-wracking, thoroughly exhilarating, and ultimately successful experience.

So this marks the end of an exciting, varied and rewarding first year for me at Node. I am looking forward to the year ahead, expanding my skills and the team and helping our cross sectorial clients to shape proposals that enhance the significance of the historic environment.