UK landscaping industry faces a new challenge as drought puts water resilience at the centre of landscape design

September 12, 2026 admin

After an exceptionally dry summer, landscape designers, contractors and developers are facing growing pressure to create outdoor spaces that can withstand water stress while supporting biodiversity and long-term resilience.

The UK’s landscaping sector is facing a growing challenge as prolonged dry conditions put water resilience higher on the agenda for landscape designers, contractors, developers and local authorities.

The issue has become particularly important following a dry summer in which drought conditions affected large parts of England and Wales. The pressure on water resources is also prompting wider discussions about how water is allocated and used across the economy.

For the landscaping industry, the consequences extend beyond private gardens. Public parks, housing developments, commercial schemes, highways, regeneration projects and new urban neighbourhoods all depend on landscape designs that can remain functional and attractive under increasingly variable weather conditions.

Designing landscapes for less water

Traditional approaches to landscaping can depend heavily on regular irrigation, particularly during the establishment period for new planting.

However, landscape professionals are increasingly looking at ways of reducing the long-term water requirements of schemes through planting choices, soil improvement, rainwater management and better site design.

This can include selecting species that are better adapted to local conditions, increasing soil organic matter, using mulch to reduce evaporation and designing planting areas so that rainfall is retained rather than rapidly discharged from the site.

The objective is not simply to create landscapes that survive dry periods. Well-designed schemes can also help manage heavy rainfall when conditions change.

Water management becomes part of landscape infrastructure

The role of landscape design is increasingly moving beyond planting and visual appearance.

Sustainable drainage, rain gardens, wetlands, swales, permeable surfaces and other forms of green infrastructure can help slow and store surface water while creating habitats and improving the quality of public spaces.

This approach is particularly relevant to new housing and regeneration schemes, where landscape architects are working alongside architects, engineers and ecologists from the early stages of development.

The Landscape Institute has continued to promote a landscape-led approach that brings together land, water, biodiversity and cultural heritage when designing resilient places.

Biodiversity adds another layer of complexity

Water resilience is also becoming closely connected with biodiversity.

In England, Biodiversity Net Gain has changed the role of landscape design within development projects. Rather than treating landscaping as a final-stage exercise, developers increasingly need to consider habitats and ecological outcomes during the design and planning process.

The government says Biodiversity Net Gain is expected to prevent between 6,000 and 10,000 hectares of habitat loss each year, while encouraging earlier and more nature-led design decisions. Changes introduced in 2026 also include targeted exemptions for some biodiversity-focused developments and certain improvements to parks, playing fields and public gardens.

For landscape contractors, this means that planting schemes increasingly need to perform several functions at the same time: supporting biodiversity, managing water, contributing to the visual character of a development and remaining practical to maintain.

Native and climate-resilient planting

The shift towards more resilient landscaping is also encouraging greater attention to planting palettes.

Using a wider range of species and selecting plants suited to the site’s soil, exposure and moisture conditions can reduce the risk associated with extreme weather.

Landscape professionals are also considering how planting can support pollinators and other wildlife while providing shade and cooling in urban areas.

This is particularly important as more development takes place in already dense urban environments, where trees, planting and other forms of green infrastructure can help reduce the impact of heat and improve the quality of public spaces.

The cost of maintenance is becoming more important

Water resilience also has a commercial dimension.

A landscape that requires intensive irrigation, frequent replacement planting or substantial maintenance can become significantly more expensive over its lifetime.

For developers and local authorities, the initial construction cost is therefore only part of the equation. Increasing attention is being given to whole-life performance, including maintenance, irrigation requirements and the ability of planting to establish successfully.

For contractors, this creates an opportunity to demonstrate value through better soil preparation, irrigation design, planting specification and aftercare rather than competing purely on installation price.

A changing role for the landscaping sector

The landscaping industry is increasingly becoming part of the wider conversation about climate adaptation and infrastructure.

The sector’s role now extends from creating attractive gardens and public spaces to helping developments manage water, support biodiversity and respond to changing environmental conditions.

That shift is particularly relevant in the UK, where water shortages and extreme weather are becoming more prominent considerations for planners and developers.

For landscape architects and contractors, the challenge will be to create spaces that remain attractive and functional while using fewer resources and delivering greater environmental value.

As the UK’s development pipeline continues to grow, landscape design is likely to become an increasingly important part of how new neighbourhoods and public spaces respond to climate and biodiversity pressures.

The direction of travel is clear: landscaping is no longer simply about what a place looks like. It is increasingly about how that place performs.