About Us

Diacono Associates is a small team led by Mark Diacono, dedicated to providing forward thinking landscape and environmental planning solutions.

Formerly with EPR and Land Use Consultants, Mark has played a role in the development of all contemporary UK assessment methodologies: he was involved in writing the current Landscape Character Assessment Guidance for England and Scotland, in contributing to the LANDMAP Manual for Wales, and he has an ongoing involvement with The Living Landscapes Project. Recent LCA project work includes the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Landscape Character Project; Cornwall, IoS and Tamar AONB Landscape Monitoring Project; the National LCA database for the Countryside Agency: developing an approach for CPRE that puts public aspirations about their local landscapes into a planning-friendly context; Hertforshire V4C -Vision for the Countryside; ongoing involvement with Dorset and Suffolk LCA projects.

Mark is also at the forefront of applying LCA: he has recently developed a nationally applicable approach to evaluating landscape sensitivity; assessing transport impact on landscape character in pilot studies to derive a methodology for the Countryside Agency. He takes a national lead in the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and the internet to enable decision making and communication.

Further specialist IT experience is provided by Gary Ebsworth, who has eight years experience of developing web technologies from web sites to online databases and GIS.

Further adminstrative and technical support is provided by Candida Bussy. We also work closely with a number of subconsultants who provide additional skills as required.