Private estates across the Lake District National Park are increasingly adopting Whole Estate Plans (WEPs) to create long-term, sustainable visions for their land.
More than a planning document, a WEP is a strategic framework balancing financial resilience, environmental stewardship and community engagement.
"It's about providing strategic oversight. Our skill lies in connecting and co-ordinating the many specialists and stakeholders involved. We are more than architects, more than building designers. We lead as strategic partners - guiding, facilitating and driving change to turn an estate's vision into reality”
Chris Granger, Managing Director.
At its core, a WEP is holistic, recognising that every element of an estate - land, heritage, biodiversity, economy and community - is interconnected. Crosby Granger Architects describe three pillars of sustainable estate management that guide every WEP as economic viability, community engagement and environmental stewardship.
Economic Viability Economic viability underpins the sustainable future of rural estates - balancing commercial opportunity with the preservation of heritage, landscape and local character. For Higham Estate we focused on re-establishing its historic centre with the new ‘Heart of Higham’, diversifying farming and reusing redundant buildings.
Environmental Stewardship In accordance with Lake District National Park Authority guidance, our approach ensures that the estate is not only financially sustainable but that it also actively enhances the environment. At Higham, we established a core vision that the estate should become a community dedicated to preserving and enhancing its spectacular landscape, wildlife and cultural heritage in every action and decision, ensuring their sustainability for future generations.
Community Engagement Each aspect of estate planning supports and benefits the others, it is inherently holistic. For example, the local community values its environment, the availability of local jobs, and the ability to walk and enjoy the landscape - all of which are closely tied to the estate’s long-term success. A core vision we established was for Higham Estate to become an organisation that plays an active role in fostering a prosperous local economy while supporting a vibrant, thriving community.
