How SLR is driving sustainability from its Chelmsford base
Sustainability is a key challenge for businesses of all shapes and sizes: how can organisations reduce their environmental impact, both to help protect the planet and meet changing customer expectations? Long-term Waterhouse Business Centre customer SLR Consulting has been at the forefront of helping businesses and governments implement solutions for more than 30 years. As demand for their services has grown, so has SLR Consulting, which now has operations across six continents. Adam Turner, an Associate Transport Planner based in Chelmsford, explains how SLR Consulting is helping to drive positive change.
Delivering solutions for people, communities and the planet
From cleaning up contaminated land to helping local authorities develop sustainable transport strategies, for more than three decades SLR has provided expert advice and technical support that helps clients make practical progress on sustainability. When they first took an office in Waterhouse Business Centre they had 400 employees – they are now a truly global organisation with over 4,400 colleagues in 130 offices across the world. But their mission remains consistent: to make sustainability happen.
At its Waterhouse Business Centre base in Chelmsford, SLR’s team focuses on two key disciplines – transport planning and hydrology – primarily serving developers and public sector clients across the UK. As Adam Turner explains, the team offers a full-spectrum environmental impact consultancy, giving clients access to in-house specialists across transport, ecology, land quality, and more: “Our clients benefit from having everything under one roof – instead of hiring different consultants for each area, they can come to SLR for an integrated approach that prioritises sustainability.”
Business success built on strong values
While many consultancies focus purely on securing planning permission, SLR takes a broader view, advising on environmental and social impact from the start. “We’re not just here to tick planning boxes,” Adam says. “We want to deliver outcomes that genuinely improve how developments interact with the environment and the community.”
With roots in industries like mining and green energy, SLR has a strong ‘green brand’ identity. What sets them apart, according to Adam, is their collaborative One Team culture – an ethos that encourages knowledge-sharing and mutual support across disciplines and borders. “It’s a culture our clients really appreciate,” Adam adds, “because it means we bring a cohesive, strategic approach to their projects.”
Strategic consultancy to drive positive change
Adam’s journey into environmental consultancy wasn’t part of a master plan – “I fell into it,” he admits – but it’s one he’s stuck with for over 17 years. Now an Associate Transport Planner, he’s passionate about helping developers design sustainable, people-focused transport systems.
“Traffic congestion and pollution are challenges in almost every location we work with. Our job is to develop access strategies that put walking, cycling and public transport first, rather than just designing for cars,” he explains. “Personally, I try to cycle or walk to work whenever I can – it’s usually quicker, and it aligns with what we’re advocating professionally.”
SLR also supports the next generation of sustainability consultants, offering graduate programmes that allow new starters to explore different disciplines across the company.
Flexible business accommodation provides long-term office solution
When Adam and a colleague launched the Chelmsford office in 2008, they needed somewhere accessible, professional and easy to set up quickly. Waterhouse Business Centre ticked all the boxes – and what was meant to be a short-term option has turned into a 17-year stay.
“We liked that it was managed, had meeting rooms available, and was close to the station and city centre, but with good parking,” Adam says. “It gave us the professional setup we needed, with the flexibility to grow.”
The office comfortably fits eight desks, although most days three to four team members are in. “The easy-in, easy-out license is great, and the staff here are friendly and approachable – we’ve got to know them really well over the years. It’s a good compromise for me between working from home and commuting to London, especially with a young family.”
Building a greener future
As sustainability rises up the agenda for both governments and private developers, Adam sees SLR’s role becoming even more important. “We want to continue influencing real-world change in how people travel. Making sites accessible without a car isn’t just about meeting regulations – it’s about building better, more liveable places.”
SLR is well-positioned to help shape these kinds of developments, thanks to its multidisciplinary model and deep bench of specialists, with the Chelmsford office continuing to play a key role in delivering smarter, greener infrastructure across the UK.
Tips for green careers and sustainable development
For anyone considering a career in environmental consultancy, Adam suggests starting with a degree in geography or environmental sciences and applying to SLR’s graduate programme. “It’s a great way to try out different disciplines – from hydrology to land quality – and find where your interests lie.”
And for SMEs looking to grow sustainably, he advises thinking long-term: “Look beyond just getting permission. Ask how your development can add value to the community and environment? It’s not just better for the planet – it’s also what clients and stakeholders are expecting now.”
SLR Consulting’s story proves that strong values and sustainable thinking can go hand-in-hand with global success – and that the right office space, like Capital Space’s Waterhouse Business Centre, can provide the solid foundation that growth needs.
