APL8011 : Landscape Professional Practice, Planning and Law
- Offered for Year: 2025/26
- Module Leader(s): Ms Stef Leach
- Lecturer: Mr Scott Matthews, Dr Usue Ruiz Arana, Miss Madeline Charlotte
- Owning School: Architecture, Planning & Landscape
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
To provide an introduction to: elements and areas of practice in landscape architecture, planning and management, including ethics and values.
To provide an introduction to key areas of the Landscape Institute's Competency Framework: professional judgements, ethics and values; sustainability, climate and resilience; planning, legal, policy and regulatory compliance; contract administration and contract management; landscape assessment; environmental legislation; professional relationships; and broader issues associated with professional practice.
To supportive students to understand and develop their positionality and ethical framework. And introduce students to research by design and the idea of practice as a form of inquiry, in advance of the design thesis module in semester 2 and 3 (APL8025/APL8019)
Outline Of Syllabus
The module provides an introduction to professional practice as a landscape architect/professional in Britain. The module follows the Landscape Institute's entry standards competency framework syllabus.
1. The landscape profession: ethics and values. The role of the Landscape Institute. Charter and Code of Practice. Ethics, values and professional relationships. Forms of practice. CPD.
2. Basic concepts of land law, contract law and the law of tort. Contracts of employment.
3. Planning law and the laws related to environmental protection.
4. Tendering and contract administration.
The module includes four seminars led by local landscape professionals.
The module also introduces research by design and its application to landscape architecture.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 4 | 3:00 | 12:00 | Seminars led by local practitioners |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Practical | 2 | 2:00 | 4:00 | Small group presentations |
| Guided Independent Study | Directed research and reading | 1 | 84:00 | 84:00 | N/A |
| Guided Independent Study | Project work | 1 | 80:00 | 80:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Workshops | 10 | 2:00 | 20:00 | Present in Person. |
| Total | 200:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Knowledge of the key areas of the Landscape Institute's competency framework is delivered through a combination of seminars and workshops, supplemented by guided reading. Students also learn experientially by discussing/role playing practical questions related to each topic in workshops as well as through group practice ideation/formation.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 1 | M | 40 | Reflective Essay on Ethics and Positionality |
| Research proposal | 1 | A | 60 | Landscape Architectural Project Proposal |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
Assignment 1: Reflective Essay on Ethics & Positionality
Encourages students to critically reflect on their own positionality as a future landscape practitioner and how this informs their ethical and design approach. They are asked to explore the influence of cultural, social, and environmental contexts on their values, motivations, and anticipated challenges in professional practice.
Assignment 2: Landscape Architectural Project Proposal
Requires students to synthesise and refine weekly group activities into a coherent Landscape Architectural Project Proposal that responds to the example brief/tender provided. To demonstrate understanding of practice formation, ethical positioning, design ethos, business and operational planning, policy/regulatory context, and professional communication - aligned to the Landscape Institute (LI) Competency Framework.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- APL8011's Timetable