Celebrating

The pre-eminent planning and development consultancy in the UK

Town planning was a very new discipline when Nathaniel Lichfield set the company up in 1962. He was a pioneering economist and town planner, and the business was soon advising government, local authorities, and private clients on some of the country’s most significant projects - from new towns and airports, to the country’s first regional shopping centre, and the world’s most famous stadium.

These days, our planning and development specialists offer insight, innovative thinking and expert advice to create great places for future generations.

No-one is better at coming up with new ideas, and new ways to plan and manage the country’s biggest development projects. We’re always looking for a better way – for every client, and for every project. It’s what we do. And what makes us stand out.

With over two hundred people operating from nine offices across the UK, we combine local contacts with the know-how to deal with every kind of project, large or small.

We’re delighted to launch a year of celebrations as we reflect on 60 years of working hard to service the needs of our clients. We will be focussing on staff wellbeing during the year while we grow the business and maintain our professional service levels for which we are well respected.

James Fennell, Chief Executive

60 years of innovation in planning

1962

Creation of a Legacy

Nathaniel Lichfield Associates was born out of the planning and development of the second wave of 1960s new towns. We played an instrumental role in the burgeoning growth of Milton Keynes and Peterborough.

Image credit: Allan Cash Picture Library / Alamy Stock Photo

1976

Brent Cross

The UK’s first regional shopping centre opened its doors in 1976 to fill a gap in the retail hierarchy of north London. Lichfields presented the economic case for Hammerson.

1986

London City Airport

Lichfields secured planning permission for London’s short take-off and landing (STOL) airport in 1986. Principally serving London’s financial district, the airport grew in 1991 to accommodate jet aircraft. Passenger capacity for the Capital’s fifth-biggest airport currently exceeds three million passengers per annum.

Image credit: A.P.S. (UK) / Alamy Stock Photo

1992

Newcastle Great Park

A vision for a new urban extension of Newcastle-upon-Tyne led to the release of nearly 500 hectares from the Green Belt, withstanding changes in Central Government and policy and avoiding a public inquiry. Twelve years later, in 2004, a new headquarters for Sage Plc and the first phases of 2,500 residential units were completed.

2000

London Eye

Some of our staff claim to be amongst the first ever to “fly” the EDF London Eye after we delivered the planning approvals to implement this iconic structure in the late 1990s including a new 4D cinema in the Grade II* County Hall.

2011

The Co-operative Group HQ

This iconic building on the Manchester skyline is one of the most environmentally sensitive buildings in Europe. The scheme has a BREEAM rating of outstanding and an impressive list of renewable technologies and Lichfields was delighted to prepare the EIA.

Image credit: The Co-op Group

2021

FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies’ Bio-Campus

This new bio-campus in Stockton is where Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies has developed one of the Covid-19 vaccines. The first phase was commended by the RTPI in its 2021 Planning Excellence awards and we will be taking the second phase through the planning process in 2022.

Image credit: Chris Gillespie at Skylapse Media | Ryder Architecture

Publishing market intelligence

We have always been at the forefront of market analysis and we track government policy and legislation so we can give fresh insight to our clients. Our Think Tank is a catalyst for industry-leading thinking on planning and development.

Sharing our knowledge

Lichfields is a leading voice in the planning and development industry, and no-one is better connected across the sector. We work closely with government and leading business and property organisations, sharing our knowledge and helping to shape planning policy for the future.

Sectors

Services

Celebrating

The pre-eminent planning and development consultancy in the UK

60 years of innovation in planning