Innovation and shaping best practice have been a cornerstone philosophy since the practice was established in 1988. An enterprising and investigative culture nurtures creativity across all our activity promoting more sustainable added value real-world solutions.
Consultancy needs to respond to ever more complex environments and embrace new digital tools and technologies to offer more productive innovative solutions bespoke to clients. New software and analytical modelling offers stronger technical assessment and delivers for clients cost effective and sustainable value.
In-house developed R&D & Innovation
Specialist areas of current practice initiatives/activity 2025-2026 include:
I:Engage
Inclusive Participation
Innovative virtual engagement software for interactive on-line consultation and engagement linked to social media / real-time surveys for more inclusive participation.
June 2025
Net-Zero-PAS
Carbon Modelling / Holistic Approaches
Integrated GIS spatial modelling working with and OneClick (LCA) Carbon Modelling (PAS 2080) and connecting Bio-diversity Net Gain and BREEAM Infrastructure assessment into design validation.
March 2025
Build-INTELLIGENCE
Whole of Life Materials
Whole of Life approach focused on sustainability, advanced building technologies, and digital innovation to maximise material reuse, recycling, future deconstruction, and decarbonisation. Irvine’s Maritime Mile designed with Whole Life principles at its heart, and due to open in 2025
March 2025
P4PLACES
Participatory Co-design
People for Places is working with communities through co-design enabling and empowering local groups, trusts, place-based interests to shape their neighbourhoods. - Co-Design Toolkit / Co-designing Spaces for People and Communities.
March 2025
Project / Client Based Innovation
Innovation and project successes delivering sustainable solutions:
Play Sufficiency Assessments
New Methodology
Play Sufficiency Assessments along with an Open Space Strategy are now a statutory requirement for Local Authorities. Ironside Farrar have developed a specific expertise in Play sitting alongside our wider work in Open Space Strategies, Green Infrastructure Planning, Playspace Planning & Design and Local Place Plans aligned to National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) and the PSA Regulations. We have provided support services across 20+ Scottish Local Authorities, prepared Best Practice Guidance, and developed a simple, application model to ensure regulatory compliance.
November 2025
St Andrews Links
Best Sustainability Project
The St Andrews Links Trust continues to innovate in nature-based engineering to combat coastal erosion, embracing ecological techniques to work with natural systems. Our dune restoration project along the estuary side of the Outhead peninsula and the Jubilee course is a standout example of this. This nature-based approach avoids hard coastal defences, instead relying on the dynamic processes of dune ecology to protect the shoreline naturally. Awarded Best Sustainability Project at the Scottish Golf Tourism Awards.
March 2026
Greenock Town Centre
Funding Success 2025
Inverclyde Council was successfully awarded UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund to transform Greenock Town Centre, realign the A8/A78 and Oak Mall.
June 2025
Edinburgh Futures Institute
UNESCO Award 2024
Awarded UNESCO Prix de Versailles Laureate as one of the World’s Most Beautiful Campuses 2024. Edinburgh Futures Institute is one of six recently developed university buildings serving creativity, reflection of local heritage and ecological efficiency, that has been recognised as leaving an extraordinary imprint on its environment
December 2024