Location

External Estates University of Bristol

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Start Date

May 2017 - ongoing

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​Client

University of Bristol

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Team​

External Estates Team

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Future Vision of External Estates:

Duncan Hancox Consultancy 

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Green Infrastructure Framework:

Streets Reimagined 

Burton Reid Associates

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Services

RIBA Work Stages 0 to 1

#baselineassessment

#stakeholderengagement

#sustainabilityreporting

#strategyplanning

#research

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"Landsmith Associates' unique approach, to an issue that has been unsolvable in-house, lent a fresh view of the situation and was represented in a manner that attracted the attention of senior managers within the institution."​ Former Head of External Estates, University of Bristol

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The Living Estates strategy is helping guide the future framework and vision of change for the University's external estates from operations to supply chain

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Landsmith Associates has worked with the University of Bristol since 2017 to co-develop a visionary Living Estate Strategy that supports the University’s climate and ecological ambitions. This body of work directly informs and underpins the strategies and vision of the University of Bristol External Estates, embedding biodiversity, accessibility, and climate resilience into the fabric of the institution’s development and land management approach.

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The work is grounded in Natural England’s Green Infrastructure Standards, ensuring that University campuses are planned, enhanced, and maintained to deliver multiple benefits for nature, climate, and community. Across campuses, baseline assessments have been carried out to evaluate tree canopy, habitat quality, green space accessibility, and community well—being, forming the foundation for ambitious, measurable improvements.  

Landsmith Associates led the development of:

• Future Vision of External Estates including project evaluation of Hiatt Baker, Life Sciences, and Tyndalls Avenue 

• The Green Infrastructure (GI) Framework (2020) – provides structure, priorities, and direction across all campuses.

• Campus-level GI Strategies, such as Clifton Campus Extended (2025), map baseline conditions, typologies, and target interventions.

• A detailed set of Living Estate SMART Targets (2025–2035) for operational works and supply chain, with metrics for canopy cover, biodiversity net gain, urban greening, and access. All to inform the broader UoB sustainability strategy.

• Inclusive engagement processes, including the University’s first student survey on external estates, gather data on how students value and use green space, helping prioritise future investment and design.

• Case study visits to Belmont Estate and University of Exeter

• City and Gown Green Corridor: Strategic green route from Temple Meads to the University precincts, supported by local BID partnerships.

Impact

• These strategies inform and support the University External Estates’ long-term planning and capital project briefs, which are currently being piloted and tested before confirming targets.

• Data and spatial mapping are used to track biodiversity, canopy cover, accessible physical spaces and climate resilience performance in line with national and local policy.

• The Living Estate is a case study in the Nature Positive Universities programme, which aligns with the Building with Nature benchmarks.

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