Business & Technology
LUC launches ENGAGE3D for infrastructure consultations
LUC has launched ENGAGE3D, an immersive visualisation tool for community consultation on infrastructure projects, designed to help local people understand how proposed developments could appear in their area.
The system uses game-engine technology to create interactive 3D models of proposed schemes within real-world landscapes, displayed on a touchscreen television at consultation events. Users can move through a site at eye level, switch to a virtual drone view, and compare different layouts and scenarios.
ENGAGE3D can also be tailored for individual projects. Users can explore landmarks and selected viewpoints while switching between seasons, weather conditions, visibility settings and turbine speeds, alongside supporting media and annotations.
Each model draws on several datasets, including LiDAR terrain models, aerial imagery, the National Tree Map and photography, to reflect conditions on the ground. The approach is intended to give communities a clearer view of how planned infrastructure could alter local landscapes.
The launch comes as infrastructure developers face growing pressure to show residents what projects will look like before planning decisions are made. Visual impact is often a central issue in consultations on wind farms and other energy developments, particularly in rural areas.
One of the first organisations to adopt the system is Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru, the publicly owned renewable energy developer in Wales, which is using the technology in consultations on a series of new wind farm proposals across the country.
Residents can explore landscapes within an average 10-kilometre radius of each site through the model prepared for the developer. Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru commissioned LUC to apply the system so communities could better understand the visual change that might result if projects proceed to construction and operation.
Rob Booth outlined the thinking behind the product launch.
“At LUC, we believe that the best projects start with listening. Effective consultation builds understanding, strengthens trust, and helps communities feel part of shaping their future,” said Rob Booth, chief executive of LUC.
He added: “This is why we developed ENGAGE3D – an integrated service backed by 60 years of environmental consultancy expertise and robust GIS data. It is a tool that will facilitate meaningful conversations about development proposals and place communities at the heart of decision-making.”
Early use
Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru said the model has already been used at early-stage project introduction events and helped people examine the appearance of proposed turbines from both nearby locations and several kilometres away.
Dr Catrin Ellis-Jones described how the model is being used in those consultations.
“The 3D digital model is an excellent tool for visualising what a project can look like in the local landscape from close up, or from kilometres away. It helps provide context and illustrates how features such as trees and buildings, or topographic effects, can make turbines less apparent from some locations and more obvious from others,” said Dr Catrin Ellis-Jones, head of public involvement at Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru.
Ellis-Jones said the system also allows residents to compare new proposals with existing turbines where relevant and broadens access to technical planning material.
“It allows direct comparison with existing turbines where they exist, which people are often keen to see. It makes the data and designs we draw up easily accessible to a wide range of people, young and old, and in turn helps us gather informed and specific feedback on our proposals.
“It was appreciated by local people and stakeholders who participated in our early-stage project introduction events, and the 3D model will be updated through the iterative and consultative planning process, so people can also see our designs evolve,” she said.
LUC is an environmental consultancy offering planning, impact assessment, landscape design, ecology and geospatial services to public and private sector clients. The employee-owned firm has more than 300 staff across offices in London, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Sheffield, Cardiff and Manchester.
Jayden, 13 launched Jay’s Bakes from his home in Taunton Road in Bicester on Saturday, June 20.
His late nan, a keen baker herself, was the inspiration behind his passion, as well as time spent helping his uncle with his catering business.
Over the last 18 months he has honed his skills by preparing sweat treats every day after school.
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Determined to turn his hobby into something more, Jayden spent two and a half months researching requirements, gaining his Level 2 food hygiene certificate and officially registering his business, mostly without adult intervention.
After four days of preparation, the business officially launched.
Customers were treated to a wide selection of homemade goods, including M&M cookies, Kinder brownies, Biscoff cookies, Victoria sponge trays, lemon drizzle cups and viral ‘dot cakes’.
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His Kinder brownies proved particularly popular, and by the end of the day he had sold out of everything, taking £210.
Despite feeling “excited and a bit nervous” beforehand, Jayden said the opening was a success, with a strong turnout and positive feedback shared on social media.
His favourite moment came when he officially opened the shed by cutting the ribbon.
Supported by his mum, stepdad, grandparents and uncle, Jayden first began selling from a table in May before building and painting his now-signature blue cake shed.
He now plans to continue baking and selling regularly, bringing his creations to the local community.
Lidl has been given planning permission to build its ninth supermarket in Oxfordshire, despite concerns over flooding.
Aldi opened in Didcot in 2015 and has a supermarket at the Jubilee Way roundabout but shoppers in the town have had to wait over a decade for Lidl to follow.
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South Oxfordshire District Council has now backed plans by the German retailer for a new supermarket in Abingdon Road.
Former Didcot mayor Mocky Khan said: “This give the residents of Didcot more choice, especially when you consider the cost of living environment we have at the moment.
“The town is growing with more new homes being built, and with more growth it’s good to have a wide variety of supermarkets to fit all budgets,”
The plans for the new supermarket were first submitted in 2024.
Didcot Town Council previously objected to the scheme, on the grounds of a lack of flood risk mitigation measures, along with the county council who said there was “insufficient information”.
The town council noted there are “several flooding incidents in the area, especially when the Marsh Bridge water pumps fail”.
But in a report by planning officers granting permission to the supermarket, those issues have now been addressed by Lidl.
The officers said the proposals “largely accord” with the policies around planning, and more can be done to “break up” the car park with greenery.
Planning officers chose to let Lidl build the new supermarket subject to conditions.
They said in a report: “Balanced against this policy conflict is the fact that this is a previously developed site, which is currently in a dilapidated state.
“The proposals represent a significant improvement on the current underutilisation of the site and on its appearance.
“The National Planning Policy Framework and Local Plan set out significant support for the reuse of previously developed land.
“As stated in the applicant’s planning statement, there have been previous enquiries as to the redevelopment of the site that have not come to fruition.
“Given this, finding a viable use for the site is a clear benefit which I consider to be of substantial benefit.”
Thirty-four residents had objected to Lidl’s plans, highlighting concerns over extra traffic, there being no need for another supermarket in the town and there being more appropriate locations to build in their view.
Didcot already has an Aldi store just off Broadway and a Sainsbury’s, M&S Foodhall and Asda.
The nearest Lidl to the proposed site are in Lupton Road, Wallingford, and Marcham Road in Abingdon.
Three people wrote in to support the new Lidl, recognising the benefits of a discount food store and the further jobs it will create.
Lidl has said its proposals for a Didcot supermarket would deliver 40 full-time equivalent jobs as well as further employment during the construction phase.
No opening date was given by the retailer, while the developer is currently on site progressing with the enabling works.
A spokesman said: “We’ve seen demand for our affordable, high-quality products continue to rise in Oxfordshire, and we are committed to serving more communities in the area.
“Our new store will create around 40 new jobs and build on our continued growth.
“We’re excited to be a step closer to opening this store and thank everyone who has supported us on our journey so far.”
It also said the £12m investment would work with the 6,300 new homes allocated to be built, as per the local plan.
Dalcour Maclaren, a specialist in utilities and infrastructure, announced the news on June 22, following a detailed assessment of its operations, including governance, employee wellbeing, environmental impact, and social responsibility.
James Neil, CEO of Dalcour Maclaren, said: “This is a fantastic achievement for Dalcour Maclaren.
“B Corp status gives us the official badge that recognises everything that matters most to us in our culture, our values, and how we make decisions for our people and our clients. We thrive on doing things differently at DM and B Corp absolutely endorses this.”
The certification means the company meets rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability.
Dalcour Maclaren now joins more than 10,000 B Corps worldwide and over 2,600 in the UK, including well-known names such as The Guardian, Innocent Drinks, Patagonia, and The Big Issue.
Chris Turner, CEO of B Lab UK, said: “Welcoming Dalcour Maclaren to the B Corp community is hugely exciting. Its commitment to doing business differently will be an inspiration to others and will help spread the notion that success in business is as much about people and planet as it is profit.”
Dalcour Maclaren operates across the UK and Ireland, supporting major projects in energy, water, transport, and digital infrastructure. The company’s services include land, planning, environment, stakeholder engagement, and geospatial services.
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