Landscaping leads the housebuilding revolution: reflections from Pro Landscaper Premium Plus
Last Wednesday’s Pro Landscaper Premium Plus – Landscaping the Housebuilding Revolution event in London was a powerful reminder of why our sector matters.
The event brought together planners, developers, landscape architects, contractors and horticultural experts into the same room and this led to honest dialogue about where green infrastructure is heading and what needs to change.
We were proud to take part in the event. Our Sales & Marketing Director, Kersten Catella, joined the speaker line‑up and shared valuable insight on the essential role UK nurseries play in delivering greener, high‑quality landscapes for future housing developments and highlighted the opportunities that lie ahead for growers as demand for resilient, biodiverse planting continues to rise.
Kersten has shared a few reflections from the day below:
Policy sets framework
“If we want green infrastructure to be embedded and protected in housing design, rather than added at the final hour, then clarity in planning policy is non‑negotiable and we need to embrace it wholeheartedly.
“Discussions throughout the day confronted the friction points head‑on. It was agreed by all in the room that strong policy isn’t bureaucracy to be ignored and grumbled about, it’s in fact the very backbone for long‑term environmental quality and success.
Developers are thinking differently
“One of the most encouraging shifts is the change in developer mindset. The conversation is moving beyond ‘ticking the landscaping box’ towards creating places people genuinely want to live in. Biodiversity, stewardship, long‑term maintenance and resident wellbeing are no longer fringe concerns. They’re central commercial considerations. The recognition that landscapes add measurable value is gaining real traction.”
Collaboration is more than a buzzword
“When planners, designers, contractors and growers align early, the outcomes are better for nature, for developers and for communities. When collaboration is missing, there’s a feeling of tension. Everyone involved in the event acknowledged real partnership across the supply chain is the only way to achieve landscapes that will deliver and last.
Long-term value, not short-term cost
“There is real market opportunity ahead, but it sits with the businesses able to demonstrate quality, resilience, ethics and aftercare. Lowest‑cost supply models simply don’t deliver the longevity required for modern developments. The direction of travel is clear: long‑term thinking is the new commercial advantage.
“Perhaps the strongest theme of the day was the need to design and build for more than five to 20 years and beyond and not just for the handover moment. Landscapes must mature, evolve and serve communities well into the future. That requires robust plant supply, careful selection, quality installation and sustainable maintenance plans.
Buoyant and upbeat
“It was an inspiring day of discussions that left me feeling buoyant and upbeat for the future of our amenity sector. I would like to extend a sincere thank you to Pro Landscaper for organising the day, to all the other speakers who joined me at the event for their thoughtful contributions and equally to the audience, whose direct, challenging questions elevated the entire day. You could feel a shared desire to move the industry forward rather than simply talking about change and not acting on it.
“If this is the tone of the ‘housebuilding revolution’ then landscaping is firmly and rightly in the room.
“It’s our time to let the industry be LANDSCAPE LEAD.”
