LDA Design
LDA Design is a 200-strong, employee-owned UK design and planning consultancy founded in 1979, delivering landscape architecture, masterplanning, planning, and environmental services to developers, government, housing associations, universities, and energy clients across nine UK studios.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1979
- HeadquartersPeterborough, United Kingdom
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What LDA Design does
LDA Design is a UK-based design and planning consultancy founded in 1979, operating across nine studios with approximately 200 specialist staff. The firm delivers landscape architecture, urban masterplanning, planning, environmental impact assessment, environmental planning, and biodiversity services, and holds a 45-year track record on nationally significant schemes including Battersea Power Station, HS2, Peabody housing programmes, and a broad roster of university and local-authority clients. In 2024 the firm joined as a pathfinder partner on the Great British Energy (GBE-N) project at Wylfa and formed a partnership with Welsh renewables developer Trydan Gwärdd Cymru, marking a deliberate push into the UK energy transition vertical. The business model is fee-based professional services: revenue is generated through project-by-project commissions for institutional clients (developers, government bodies, housing associations, universities, and now energy companies), with typical engagements running on multi-year cycles and often embedded in statutory planning processes that create switching cost. Following a multimillion-pound loan from Shawbrook Bank, the firm completed a transition to 100% employee ownership during 2023-2024, ending prior external shareholder arrangements and aligning governance with a long-tenured partner group. The firm pursues selective international work alongside its UK base.
LDA Design firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- LDA Design
- Legal name
- LDA Design
- Website
- https://lda-design.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1979
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- LDA Design is a 200-strong, employee-owned UK design and planning consultancy founded in 1979, delivering landscape architecture, masterplanning, planning, and environmental services to developers, government, housing associations, universities, and energy clients across nine UK studios.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
LDA Design industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Landscape Architecture and Urban Design Services
- NAICS
- Landscape Architectural Services (541320), Landscape Architectural Services (54132), Architectural Services (541310)
- SIC
- Services-Engineering Services (8711)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Landscape Architecture & Site Design (BPAHAKAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Residential Landscape Design (HSAIABAA)
Keywords
Where LDA Design is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Peterborough
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices9 records
Markets served
LDA Design business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Professional Consultancy Services: Fee-based professional services including landscape architecture, masterplanning, planning, environmental planning, EIA, and biodiversity consulting. Project-based engagements with government, developers, and institutional clients.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Project-based professional services |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
LDA Design product offering
Product offeringCore offering
LDA Design is a 100% employee-owned UK consultancy providing professional services in landscape architecture, masterplanning, planning, environmental impact assessment (EIA), environmental planning, and biodiversity. Operating from nine UK studios, the firm serves public and private sector clients on projects ranging from urban regeneration, public realm design, and masterplanning of new communities to renewable energy infrastructure and campus development.
Product overview
LDA Design is a UK-based design and planning consultancy offering six integrated core service areas: Landscape Architecture, Masterplanning, Planning, EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment), Environmental Planning, and Biodiversity. The firm is 100% employee-owned and operates across nine UK studios (London, Bristol, Cambridge, Cardiff, Exeter, Glasgow, Manchester, Oxford, and Peterborough), working on projects ranging from urban regeneration and public realm design to renewable energy infrastructure and masterplanning new communities. The company serves public and private sector clients including local authorities, housing developers, and infrastructure providers. LDA Design does not offer a software product platform; all services are delivered through direct professional consultancy engagement.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Landscape Architecture
- Masterplanning
- Planning
- Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
- Environmental Planning
- Biodiversity
Quantifiable outcome
- Delivered Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park - largest new park created in Europe for over 150 years
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use LDA Design
Customer profileNamed customers15 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
LDA Design technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
LDA Design partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered major.
- Trydan Gwyrdd CymrumajorPartnership with Welsh publicly owned renewables developer to help achieve energy ambitions. LDA Design expanding presence in Wales through this strategic collaboration.
- Great British EnergymajorJoined as pathfinder partner on the GBE-N project at Wylfa, supporting nuclear energy development with environmental planning expertise.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
LDA Design competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Land Use Consultants (LUC): UK-based consultancy offering landscape planning, masterplanning, environmental assessment, and ecology services across the public and private sectors – directly overlapping with LDA's integrated service portfolio and UK local-authority client base.
- Gustafson Porter + Bowman: London-based landscape architecture practice with extensive UK public realm work (e.g. Diana Memorial Fountain, Battersea Power Station Park). Comparable in scale, prestige, and focus on landscape-led design for high-profile urban projects.
- Grant Associates: Specialist UK landscape and environmental design consultancy delivering masterplanning, public realm, and ecology projects – a like-for-like competitor on landscape architecture and biodiversity-led commissions.
- Gross Max: UK landscape architecture practice focused on urban landscape and public realm, working with developers and local authorities. Closely comparable in services, project types, and UK geographic focus.
- JTP (John Thompson & Partners): London-based practice of architects, masterplanners, and urban designers with a strong regeneration and new-community portfolio, including exemplar new-town work – direct overlap on masterplanning and place-making briefs.
- Studio Egret West: UK architecture and urban design practice specialising in masterplanning and place-making, particularly large-scale regeneration – comparable on masterplanning service line, client type, and urban regeneration project profile.
- Allies and Morrison: Major UK architectural practice with substantial masterplanning and urban regeneration work, including high-profile projects like King's Cross. Competes with LDA on masterplanning commissions and developer-led regeneration bids.
Broad incumbents
- AECOM: Global infrastructure and design consultancy offering landscape architecture, planning, and EIA within a much broader multi-disciplinary portfolio – competes on large-scale tenders where LDA often partners or sub-contracts.
- Arup: Global engineering and design firm with significant landscape, urbanism, and environmental consulting capabilities – competes on integrated, large-scale regeneration and infrastructure briefs where multi-disciplinary capacity is valued.
- BDP (Building Design Partnership): Major UK-based interdisciplinary design practice covering architecture, landscape, and masterplanning – competes with LDA on regeneration, education, and large public-sector masterplanning commissions.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
LDA Design social profiles
Digital presenceLDA Design financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
LDA Design leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
LDA Design funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
LDA Design M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about LDA Design
What does LDA Design do?
LDA Design is a 100% employee-owned UK consultancy providing professional services in landscape architecture, masterplanning, planning, environmental impact assessment (EIA), environmental planning, and biodiversity. Operating from nine UK studios, the firm serves public and private sector clients on projects ranging from urban regeneration, public realm design, and masterplanning of new communities to renewable energy infrastructure and campus development.
Is LDA Design a public or private company?
LDA Design is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was LDA Design founded?
LDA Design was founded in 1979. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is LDA Design based?
LDA Design is headquartered in Peterborough, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does LDA Design make money?
One revenue line is on record: professional Consultancy Services.
Who are LDA Design's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Land Use Consultants (LUC), Gustafson Porter + Bowman, Grant Associates, Gross Max, JTP (John Thompson & Partners), Studio Egret West and Allies and Morrison. Broad incumbents are AECOM, Arup and BDP (Building Design Partnership).
Does LDA Design have an API?
No public API is recorded for LDA Design.
What industry is LDA Design in?
LDA Design's product category is Landscape Architecture and Urban Design Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAC, Landscape Architecture & Site Design, with a secondary code of HSAIABAA, Residential Landscape Design. Its NAICS code is 541320 and its SIC code is 8711.