The practice was first established in 1982 by Mike Glen and Gerry Kemp, both of whom became well respected names in the areas of landscape reclamation / landscape planning, and urban design respectively. Having joined Glenkemp in 1998, Philip Barker took over the practice in 2014 when both Mike and Gerry retired from the company.

 

We continue to offer a wide range of environmental design services on large and small scale projects for clients in both the private and public sectors. We are quick to establish what a client requires from us, whether it be offering a helping hand to assist a client in realising their own vision or providing a client with innovative and sustainable environmental design solutions.

 

Our over-riding ethos is that in most instances, good environmental design is not about treating an external space within a site as a blank canvas on which to deliver a designer’s whim or flight of fancy, but is about creating spaces that genuinely engage those who encounter them on a day-to-day basis as places in which to live, work or play.

THE TEAM

Philip Barker

BA (Hons), M Phil, CMLI

Director

 

Philip has been a fully qualified member of the Landscape Institute since 1992 and has worked in both the public and private sector. As well as being responsible for running the practice, Philip is personally involved in all commissions, regardless of the size of the project in question.

 

Philip has extensive experience in all aspects of landscape design and masterplanning and in the process of Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment. He has acted as expert witness at Public Inquiries on behalf of Local Planning Authorities and for private developers.

 

He has been a guest lecturer at the Departments of Architecture at Newcastle University and at the University of Northumbria. His particular interests lie in designing engaging play spaces and in habitat creation.

 

Outside (and sometimes inside!) the office, Philip enjoys indulging in his life-long interest in birdwatching. He also likes working with stained glass.

Debbie Polkinghorn

Office Manager

 

 

Philip may run the practice but Debbie is definitely responsible for the smooth running of the office! In particular she ensures that we adhere to our Quality Management System.

 

Quality management aside, her main ambition is to find the perfect supply of biltong – to remind her of her homeland of South Africa.

Quintin Vince

Technical Manager

 

 

Quintin has been with Glenkemp since 1989 and has seen many changes over the years! He now manages all technical aspects of the running of the practice including developing our BIM capabilities and providing a ‘clerk of works’ role for projects on site.

 

Beyond the office environment Quintin is a dedicated biker, running a local bike club and raising significant amounts of money for local charities.