Gibside is a Grade I registered landscape, and a masterpiece of 18th century design. It contains numerous listed buildings, a fine tree collection, and exceptional views across the Derwent Valley, making it one of the top 10 most visited National Trust properties.

Southern Green was commissioned to prepare a site wide spatial plan for the site’s development, planned over a period of 10 years.  This considered widescale landscape management, restoration of key features within the historic landscape, access improvements to enhance the visitor experience, careful integration of new facilities, and how existing buildings and features should be restored, repurposed and presented.

Desk-based research and site survey work was carried out to inform the planning process, along with extensive liaison with National Trust staff and other external specialists.  This helped to build up a picture of the site’s rich history, existing site conditions, as well as constraints and opportunities.  Previous reports and a wide range of National Trust consultees were also consulted.  A range of spatial plan options were developed along with outline budgets, before a final preferred option was selected by the Trust.  This formed the basis for a £5million package of works.