3D Landscape Design
Planning-ready 3D visualisations that clarify intent, support decision-making and bring external works to life before construction begins.
Whether you’re progressing design options, strengthening a planning submission, coordinating with contractors or resolving visual impact concerns, a 3D landscape design gives your team a clear, shared understanding of how your external environment will function and look.
Our role is to provide visual clarity, technical accuracy and proportionate detail that keeps your project moving.
Do you need a 3D Landscape Design?
A 3D landscape design is typically required when your project needs clear visual confirmation of how layouts, planting, materials, levels and external features will work together.
If teams are debating interpretation, a 3D design removes the ambiguity.
What is a 3D Landscape Design?
A 3D landscape design is a computer-generated visual model showing the proposed external environment, including materials, planting, levels, boundaries, structures, views and sequencing.
It creates a realistic, navigable representation of your site to support planning, design coordination and construction.
Trigger points — signs your site needs a 3D landscape design
You’re likely to benefit from a 3D landscape design when:
LVIA or planners require visual confirmation of mitigation
the project includes detailed hardscape, multi-level changes or complex planting
the design team needs clarity on how external works integrate with buildings
options need testing before committing to a layout
stakeholders require visualisation for review or consultation
contractors require a visual reference before build
These triggers help determine when modelling supports progression.
What We Deliver
We keep guidance clear and planning-ready — supporting predictable project delivery.
| Service | Purpose | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 3D Visual Model | Show the full external environment in a realistic, navigable format. | Your team sees exactly how the scheme functions and interacts. |
| Rendered Views | Provide fixed-angle visuals for planning or internal review. | Clear, proportionate images supporting submissions and decisions. |
| Annotated Plans | Connect visuals to specifications, edges, levels and transitions. | Contractors and planners understand the design logic instantly. |
| Concept Variations (optional) | Test alternative materials, layouts or planting structures. | Faster decision-making with side-by-side comparison. |
| Planning-ready Visuals | Strengthen submissions that require visual justification. | Reduce negotiation by clarifying appearance and intent early. |
| Digital Pack (PDF + image set) | Supply deliverables in usable, consistent formats. | A complete visual record ready for planning, design or tender. |
How it Works
Our process is designed to remove friction and keep decisions moving.
Site Review & Briefing
We take measurements, identify constraints and confirm design objectives.
Model Build & Visualisation
We create the full 3D environment, with accurate levels, materials and planting structure.
Review & Finalisation
You review the visuals; refinements are made; final files are issued for planning or design coordination.
Timing & Submission Windows
3D landscape design can be completed year-round, but the optimal window depends on what the visuals support in your project:
Pre-Planning Design Development
Year-round. Use 3D visuals early to test materials, levels, boundaries, and planting logic before drawings are fixed.
Planning Submission Support
Any Time – but best before validation. LPAs often ask for visual clarification when schemes involve complex external works, key views, or sensitive settings.
Construction & Tender Stage
Post-Planning, Year-Round. 3D visuals help contractors interpret detail accurately, avoiding misunderstandings and reducing variation risk.
Why planning officers request LVIAs
Planning officers request visuals to confirm:
visual coherence and alignment with local character
planting and mitigation logic
relationships between buildings, boundaries and levels
integration with retained trees and constraints
the accuracy of LVIA viewpoints
clarity of material finishes and transitions
3D visuals do not replace LVIA requirements but strengthen submissions by illustrating proposed mitigation clearly and accurately.
Our Approach
We produce 3D landscape designs with a planning-first, detail-conscious mindset.
Our approach is defined by:
realistic, proportionate visualisation
clear logic linking planting, levels and hardscape
consistent documentation planners can interpret easily
internal coordination with arboriculture and ecology
build-friendly sequencing that avoids ambiguity
predictable, defendable outputs that reduce negotiation
We design with clarity, precision and planning alignment. Visuals are realistic without exaggeration, technically consistent and formatted to support real-world design decisions.
The purpose is simple: remove doubt and accelerate agreement.
How this supports your project
A 3D design strengthens the project by:
aligning architects, planners, engineers and ecologists around one source of truth
reducing redesign caused by unclear drawings or assumptions
clarifying interactions between trees, drainage, hardscape and planting
improving the narrative of LVIA and planning documents
helping contractors understand expectations before tender or construction
3D design integrates naturally with:
LVIA — visuals support mitigation logic and visual effects
Landscape Schemes — the model informs plant structure, surfaces and external logic
Arboriculture & Ecology — allows instant visual alignment of RPAs, SuDS, habitat zones and design intent
This alignment is significant: a strong 3D model stabilises decisions across the entire consultancy team.
It brings certainty at the stage when decisions carry weight.
Case Insight
Your Next Step
3D Landscape Design - FAQ
Do I need a 3D Landscape Design for planning?
Not always. Most planning applications rely on 2D landscape plans.
3D modelling becomes valuable when the LPA needs to understand visual massing, interfaces between levels, complex materials, or the relationship between buildings, boundaries and external works. If clarity is needed, a 3D model prevents unnecessary queries.
What’s the difference between 2D landscape plans and a 3D design?
2D plans show the technical layout; a 3D design shows how the space actually works.
It explains form, levels, material transitions, canopy positions, visual weight, and how people will experience the finished environment.
Can a 3D design support an LVIA or visual statement?
Yes. While it’s not a replacement for LVIA, a 3D model provides visual logic, mitigation structure and material context that often strengthens visual reasoning and reduces uncertainty during planning.
How accurate is the 3D model?
The model is proportionate to the stage:
concept-level for early design testing
detailed-level for planning
refined-level for construction alignment
Accuracy is driven by topographical levels, architectural data and survey inputs.
Do you visit the site?
Yes. A site review is carried out for measurements, context, levels, views and photographs. Existing drawings are integrated to ensure consistency across disciplines.
Can you work from architects’ or engineers’ drawings?
Yes. We integrate with architectural layouts, drainage plans, engineering levels, ecology inputs and arboricultural constraints.
3D modelling helps reveal conflicts early (e.g., level clashes, root constraints, retaining interfaces).
Will a 3D design reduce the number of revisions?
Typically, yes.
Visual clarity makes decisions faster, reduces subjective interpretation and stabilises design conversations with planners, architects, contractors and clients.
Will ProHort support revisions during the process?
Yes. Proportionate adjustments are included to refine layout clarity, mitigate risk and align the model with planning or technical requirements.
Can a 3D model be used by contractors?
Yes. It clarifies design intent.
Contractors generally use 2D plans for build accuracy, but 3D makes interpretation easier, especially for complex edges, levels and transitions.
How is 3D design packaged with other services?
This is where ProHort adds value.
3D visualisation strengthens:
LVIA (mitigation logic)
Landscape Schemes (materials + planting structure)
Tree Constraints Planning (levels + clear root interfaces)
It acts as a bridge between technical surveys and final design planning.
These connections create a unified, planning-first approach and reduce the risk of conflicting recommendations.