Leonie and Rosslyn attended this conference focused on how a landscape-led approach is essential for people, place and nature
The Scottish Government has set an ambitious housing target of 110,000 affordable homes by 2032 as part of its Housing to 2040 Strategy, as a response to the national housing emergency. This goal presents an opportunity to create high-quality places that are resilient, inclusive, and sustainable, delivering long-term value for people, communitie,s and the environment.
To explore how this quality can be achieved, the Landscape Institute (LI) is hosting national conferences across the UK in 2025 and 2026. The second in the series was held at Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh, on Thursday 29 January 2026.
A Landscape-led approach places the landscape at the heart of decision-making, ensuring that development responds to local context, integrates nature and climate action, and delivers long-term social and economic value. It is fundamental to shaping sustainable and liveable places that unite policy, planning, design, and management to achieve outcomes that work for people, place, and nature.
Collaboration across the built and natural environment is essential to achieving this ambition. By embracing a Landscape-led approach, developers, planners, housing providers, local authorities, and other professionals can unlock multiple benefits, including:
- Economic growth and placemaking
- Long-term community and commercial value
- Environmental resilience and biodiversity
- Health and well-being outcomes
- Social equity and community cohesion
The conference brought together policy leaders and practitioners to debate and explore how this approach can be embedded in housing delivery across Scotland. Sessions covered themes including planning policy and housing delivery, climate and nature recovery, health and equity, and the creation of resilient, connected places.
A closing panel discussion looked ahead to how collaboration across sectors can accelerate progress. The conference concluded with a networking reception, providing an opportunity to meet peers and partners working to create high-quality homes and neighbourhoods across Scotland.