Garden Designer in Hampstead and Highgate, North London
Locorum& designs gardens that feel effortless and enduring. Each garden is designed around how you live, combining structure with natural flow and planting that matures beautifully over time and through the seasons. From concept to completion, every project is handled with care and respect for your home. Working across North London, with our studio based in Hampstead and Highgate, we create outdoor spaces that connect people with nature and elevate everyday living.
A Practical and Considered Approach to Design
Every garden begins with a conversation about how you will use the space and how you would like it to feel. From there, we develop a clear structure and flow, balancing beauty with practicality so the garden works intuitively day to day. Planting is chosen for form, texture, and colour, with combinations that bring interest through the seasons. Materials are selected for quality and character. They are chosen to sit comfortably within their surroundings and to age well over time. Proportion and rhythm guide the design, creating spaces that feel calm, coherent, and that are sustainable. Every stage is handled with quiet attention to detail — from first sketches to the final placement of plants.` Our studio is based in Hampstead and Highgate. We work across North London on gardens that connect people with nature and enrich daily life.
Our Garden Design Process
Every project follows a clear, structured process that adapts naturally to each client. The aim is to keep design and delivery straightforward, transparent, collaborative and efficient.
Concept and Planning
It begins with understanding how you use your space and what matters most. This stage defines the purpose of the garden, how it should work day to day and how you want it to feel. Site visits, sketches and open discussion define the foundation for the design ahead.
Design Development
Initial concepts are refined into detailed plans that show how layout and planting work together. Drawings and material references illustrate how the design will look and function. Feedback at this stage is key; the aim is always a shared understanding of what the finished space will become.
Planting and Detailing
Each aspect of the design is reviewed carefully, from layout and levels to materials and planting. The design draws from the character of your home and surrounding landscape, creating a garden that grows into its setting naturally over time.
Implementation and Support
When construction begins, we communicate with the contractor to make sure the design is interpreted correctly. Our role is to provide direction and feedback when needed, keeping the finished garden true to the design intent.
Questions About Garden Design in North London
How much does garden design cost in North London?
Garden design fees depend on the size of the garden and the amount of design work involved. A smaller garden may only need a clear layout and planting plan, while a larger project can require surveys and more detailed drawings, with support during construction where needed.
The design fee is separate from the cost of building the garden, so it helps to discuss the overall budget early. At Locorum, we talk about this from the start so the level of design work is realistic for the project and, where appropriate, larger schemes can be phased. If you are still working out what level of support you need, an initial conversation can help you understand the likely scope before you decide whether to proceed.
What is included in a professional garden design service?
A professional garden design service takes an idea for a garden and develops it into a clear plan that can be built. It begins with understanding the site and how you want to use it, then develops the layout and planting alongside the materials that will give the garden its character.
Depending on the project, the finished design may include a masterplan and planting plan, with more detailed drawings where they are needed. The exact documents should reflect the complexity of the garden rather than following the same package every time. At Locorum, we explain what we believe your project will need before the design work begins, so you can see what you will receive and how each part of the design will help move the garden towards construction.
How long does the garden design process take?
The design stage usually takes several weeks, although the exact timescale depends on the size of the garden and how much detail is required. A straightforward garden can move through the process more quickly, while a larger landscape may need more development before the plans are ready.
Time is also needed for discussion and feedback. Garden design is collaborative, so there should be room to consider the initial ideas and make sensible changes before the design is finalised. Once we understand the project, Locorum can give you a clearer idea of the likely programme. If you are hoping to have the garden ready for a particular season or event, it is worth mentioning this at the beginning so we can discuss whether the timing is realistic.
Can a garden designer work with my existing garden and planting?
Yes. Redesigning a garden does not mean everything already there has to be removed. Mature trees and established planting can give a garden character that would take many years to recreate, so retaining what works can become an important part of the design.
The first step is to understand what is already growing successfully and how it fits with the way you want to use the garden. Some plants may simply need more space or a different surrounding planting scheme, while other areas may need a more substantial change. Locorum looks carefully at the existing garden before deciding what should stay. The aim is to build on its strengths where possible rather than starting again unnecessarily.
Do I need planning permission to redesign my garden?
Most ordinary garden redesign work does not require planning permission, but some changes may need additional consent. This can apply to certain structures or boundary changes, while listed properties and homes in conservation areas may have extra restrictions. Protected trees also need particular care, and larger garden buildings can be subject to separate planning rules. What applies will depend on the property and what is being proposed.
For garden design projects in North London, we consider these issues early and can flag where further advice or approval may be needed. If you already know your property has planning restrictions, tell us at the beginning so they can be taken into account before the design develops too far.
What happens after the garden design is finished?
Once the design has been agreed, the next stage is turning the drawings into a real garden. A landscaping contractor will normally carry out the construction work using the approved plans. Locorum can communicate with the contractor during this stage and provide clarification where needed. We can also recommend contractors where appropriate, although clients are free to work with their own preferred team.
Our involvement helps keep the finished garden close to the original design while allowing practical decisions to be made as work progresses. We can also remain involved with planting and ongoing garden maintenance once the garden has been completed.