Martin Watt Ba.Dip has been working as a Landscape Architect since 1988.

Background - Having qualified twice from Heriot-Watt University in Landscape Architecture and Town Planning, I worked several years in local authorities, private practices and in Australia establishing my own business in 1990.

Appointments - I have been appointed as a regional design consultant for several product manufacturers who have recognised the quality of my service and recommend me to their clients.

Experience - with over 20 years experience I am able to meet the expectations of any client and deliver a great service with value for money.

Reputation - I have never lost a business contact in over 20 years and obtain most of my work from recommendations because of the quality and reliability of my service.

“I am always able to save my clients money and achieve much more than they imagined.”

Unique - I offer clients a unique service with a very personal style to produce hand crafted designs that are creative, inspired and beautifully detailed. I design to budgets and deadlines for simple effective garden projects or dramatic Chelsea flower show requirements.

One Stop - With my garden design experience and range of contacts I can offer a one stop shop for all my clients’ design and build needs including more specialist elements such as lighting, irrigation, glass and steel work, full building services, roof terraces, road building etc. I can also deal with obtaining any planning permissions or building warrants.

Fixed Fees - I quote fixed fees for projects with any extra work on an hourly basis. My fees and hourly rates are competitive and I always aim to keep fees and drawing productions to a minimum unlike other consultancies who charge fees of up to 15% of a client's budget to produce often unnecessary volumes of drawings and specifications.

Build Estimates - I will give you very accurate ideas of costs for every detail and option all along so that you know the design is achievable. It is very easy to design projects that clients would love, the bigger challenge is to design to a client budget which only very experienced designers can do, there and then without having to go away and measure up design options. I produce very accurate details that can then be used as construction and contract drawings.

Contacts - I have a number of excellent landscape contractors and builders whom I have worked with for many years who give my clients great value for money, making a good job of building my designs and maintaining a good name for me. As a result I enjoy many recommendations that generate more than half of my work.

Range - I do a very large range of design work with private clients designing front and back garden areas often producing master plans for whole property redevelopments including extensions, outbuildings, garden rooms and pools.

Scale - I enjoy the challenge of any scale or style of project, making sure all my designs make the most of my clients’ site and budget. I am always able to save my clients money and achieve much more than they imagined.

Save money / achieve more - The service I offer is guaranteed to save my clients money and hassle by working through a good design process to identify and specify all the best details to obtain keen and fixed prices for all projects.

Design to Budget - I am very knowledgeable on prices and timescales, so I can advise clients accurately about the cost of various options so I can design to a budget and never miss a deadline

Experience - With over 20 years experience my surveys and designs can make the most of your space and budget looking carefully at all options

Affordable - My affordable fixed fee services cost much less than a landscape contractor would have to budget for in his price, for working things out on site with you and you will get a much better design and a better fixed price build quotation.

Comprehensive - My rates are very competitive so my clients can afford a complete and comprehensive professional service to get their job just right in every detail and I do not charge for changes to my designs

Great Ideas - I love the challenge of surprising clients with what is possible even in small gardens and I always come up with ideas you would never think of

Evolved Designs - It’s cheaper and more effective to look at ideas on paper than on the ground with materials and designs can evolve more.

Accuracy - Having an accurate survey and design will create contract drawings to help you compare quotes and get competitive and realistic fixed prices from landscape contractors

Lasting Investments - My designs stand the test of time and add value to your property as genuine investments because of my experience and understanding of details and materials allowing me to design lasting features

Complete Service - With all my experience and contacts I can offer a one stop shop for any project from concept through design, obtaining any permissions required and onto build with all trades required to complete

martin often uses feng shui design principles in his gardens

Using Feng Shui Principles

I use a lot of techniques common to the Chinese art of placement and relationships between everything “Wind and Water” that explains in subtle terms why some details work and some do not. All my designs start from first principles in the fullest possible context. I also use the western principles from “Pattern Language” which are very similar in guiding priorities of design and how to read a space and its’ context. I work hard to bring out the best potential in every design relative to balancing the needs of a client, budget and priorities.

Sustainability and Ecology

I am very conscious of sustainability and environmental issues and I consider those factors in my design choices, decisions and advice. Wildlife, carbon footprint, embodied energies, soil retention and hydrology protection issues are always important to me. I live in my own self built wooden eco-house with a solar powered office.

I am experienced in protecting and creating wildlife habitats, protecting valuable specimens and safeguarding any valuable natural asset during a development. I can design wetlands, river bank stabilisations, soft engineering solutions and flood prevention measures. I am regularly asked to detail land drainage solutions and attenuation details for surface water management without scouring of valuable water courses. With my engineering contacts I can co-ordinate designs for works on any scale.

Commercial Projects

I carry out commercial projects like housing master plans and Landscape and Visual Impact Assessments for wind farms under my business name of Alma Consultancy.

Some of my commercial work involves designing outdoor spaces for hotels, pubs and restaurants to build durable details that create the right character are easy to maintain and increase revenues.

Recent commercial projects have been a golf clubhouse, a wind turbine in West Lothian, a new housing estate in Dundee and low density housing plans in West Lothian.

I take pride in giving commercial clients a consistent high quality of service at competitive fixed fees with work always done to deadline.

For further details, visit my commercial site Alma Consultancy.

design for garden by Martin Watt

Lesley Robertson, Edinburgh Architect
“I have worked with Martin on several projects over the last 10 years and found he has great ideas , presents them well and has good contacts to get the work done. I was delighted with the work he did for me and happy to recommend him.”

Niall Hedderman, Director, Capital A Architecture Ltd
“I have known Martin's work for over two years now and have been continually impressed by his expertise, enthusiasm and attention to detail. Martin has a broad range of professional interests which give him the edge over other landscape designers. I have seen how Martin is adept at guiding clients through the design process, whether they are first time homeowners or professional developers. Martins willingness to go the extra mile makes him stand out from the crowd and I have no hesitation in recommending him to my own clients or anyone else besides.”

John Blair, Owner, Greenfields Architectural Design Ltd
“We have worked with Martin for over 10 years and always found he is a very approachable professional who always has the client's interests as his main priority and gives great value for money.”

Mr and Mrs Moore, Glasgow, Customer
“We used Martin’s survey and design service for our home in Glasgow and we were amazed at what he achieved in our garden with our modest budget. We have no hesitation in recommending his very affordable service that delivered a garden we could never have come up with ourselves”

Mr and Mrs Neilly, Kirknewton, Customer
“We have employed Martin to design the whole master-plan of two properties now and we have been delighted both times by his skills, ideas and ability to deliver on budget garden areas and details we never thought of. We have had problems with Architects and builders in the past and that has added to our appreciation of the quality of reliable service Martin offers”

Mr and Mrs McLean, Penicuik, Customer
“Martin produced the design for our garden in Penicuik, his ideas and drawings were fabulous and the end result even better. I still cannot believe how perfect and beautiful my garden is. He seemed to understand what suited us and organised the complete build. We love showing off our garden and we could not recommend Martin enough”

David Robertson, Dalgety Bay, Customer
“Martin approaches each job individually ensuring the design solution is fit for purpose every time. I am a believer in investing a little up front to ensure the outside space is optimally designed and delivered to exacting specification resulting in a great outcome. Martin designs collaboratively adds flair and seeks sign off before build commences - a truly professional service".

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Contact Details

Email: office@martinwattgardens.co.uk
Office: 01506 834 109
Mobile: 0771 866 2832

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