{"id":34624,"date":"2025-10-17T09:48:30","date_gmt":"2025-10-17T09:48:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/landscapeinstitute.org\/?page_id=34624"},"modified":"2026-02-03T12:54:56","modified_gmt":"2026-02-03T12:54:56","slug":"landscape-institute-feasibility-study-on-an-lvia-accreditation-scheme","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/landscapeinstitute.org\/policy-practice\/technical\/assessments-standards\/landscape-institute-feasibility-study-on-an-lvia-accreditation-scheme\/","title":{"rendered":"Landscape Institute Feasibility Study on an LVIA Accreditation Scheme"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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The Landscape Institute (LI) is exploring the possibility of creating a dedicated LVIA Accreditation Scheme beginning with a Feasibility Study. An accreditation scheme could be a formal route to address growing concerns from members on inconsistencies in standards of LVIA. The feasibility study is one of a number of measures the LI is investigating, including education, training and development of further guidance.<\/p>

As the professional body for the landscape sector, it is the Landscape Institute\u2019s role to continually reflect and review on the changing environment for landscape practitioners.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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News Update Jan 2026<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The Landscape Institute has received the Final Report.<\/p>

Evaluation of the findings has begun with Standing Committees, the Study Task & Finish Group and Staff to consider next steps. Their findings will be presented to the LI Advisory Council before progressing to the next part of the process.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Why investigate an accreditation scheme?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The LI has a long-standing relationship with the Institute of Sustainability and Environmental Professionals (ISEP) (IEMA as was) for the Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment GLVIA3 . ISEP have an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Quality Mark scheme that has been running successfully for 15 years. The LI took inspiration from this as a starting point.\u00a0<\/p>

An LVIA accreditation scheme may also address issues around LVIA terminology and definitions, such as the requirements under EIA to use a \u2018competent expert\u2019 and have access to \u2018sufficient expertise\u2019 to review EIA outputs. As noted in LI guidance TGN 01\/20 current EIA regulations do not define the terms \u2018competent expert\u2019 and \u2018sufficient expertise\u2019. In the absence of formal certification of specific competence, the LI considers that it would normally be a Chartered Member of the LI, however this is not a mandatory EIA requirement. Assessments can therefore be carried out by others, presenting potential issues for the developer who must ensure an LVIA is prepared by a competent expert accompanied by a statement outlining the relevant expertise or qualifications.\u00a0<\/p>

An accreditation scheme would allow individuals and\/or organizations in the UK to commit to excellence in their LVIA activities, and have this commitment audited and independently peer reviewed. An accreditation scheme could provide a trusted, evidence-based mark for specific advanced skills in LVIA, for individuals and organizations operating in this area.\u00a0<\/p>

LI members are from a wide range of fields of practice, and demonstrate their knowledge skills and experience through Technician, Chartered or Fellow membership. These are a mark of quality and excellence in the profession with a commitment to maintaining standards and personal development. An LVIA Accreditation Scheme would supplement and sit alongside the skills demonstrated under this membership, with the same scrutiny.\u00a0<\/p>

An LVIA accreditation scheme would also allow Practices and Organizations, and those conducting LVIA\u2019s to visibly show that their expertise and competency has been established. Since an accreditation scheme would focus solely on LVIAs, it would not replace the more comprehensive membership categories of LI members. There are precedents for similar specialized subject specific accreditations that members and others may already have alongside broader memberships and accreditations.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Overview <\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Should it go ahead, the scheme would operate on a voluntary basis, separate from Landscape Institute Membership. The feasibility study will also gather opinions on potential features for the set-up of an accreditation scheme, such as:\u00a0<\/p>

  1. Building a code of practice covering, for example, technical quality, professional integrity, transparent presentation and adherence to regulations with recognized good practice.<\/li>
  2. Members (either organizational or individual) submitting evidence of recent LVIA work for independent review and regular external audits. The audits could assess report quality, stakeholder engagement, CPD, and compliance with the code or practice. Ongoing requirements including submission of annual case studies, participation in knowledge-sharing activities, and evidence of Continual Professional Development (CPD).\u00a0<\/li>
  3. Successful participants displaying an LVIA Accreditation Mark, appearing in a public register, gaining access to a library of best-practice resources, events, and peer learning opportunities.\u00a0<\/li><\/ol>

    The feasibility study will also examine methods for working with members who do not achieve or maintain competency, have persistent issues or where there is evidence of misconduct. This could entail being given the opportunity for redress, being offered support or where necessary removed from the scheme.\u00a0<\/p>

    The scheme would serve as a visible sign of commitment to a standard of quality and consistency.\u00a0<\/p>

    The feasibility study is considering the development of an accreditation scheme for individuals and\/or organizations, in consultation with members and will provide an informed view of the options available to the Landscape Institute. This study is the start of an investigation on the desirability of a scheme and how it might operate, currently at the exploratory stage.\u00a0<\/p>

    Feedback is an essential part of the process, and we encourage people to engage.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    The Feasibility Study<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    Greenfriars\u202fhas been appointed\u202fby the LI to provide a Report which will be used to consider how we might proceed. The study will include evidence-based recommendations, progressing through three stages of work:\u202f\u202f<\/p>