As a specialist in the field of urban design, I adopt a landscape-led masterplanning approach to our projects, with a strong emphasis on sustainability and community benefits. It brings me great satisfaction to witness the positive impact that thoughtful design can have on people's lives.
Maria Aksarina
Maria has over 12 years experience in urban design and has an architectural and planning background.
Her professional passion lies with placemaking, using urban frameworks and strong design codes to create lively neighbourhoods with vibrant public spaces and strong community hubs.
Maria’s portfolio includes a range of masterplanning projects for public and private sectors across the UK and internationally utilising her specialisms in strategic planning, visioning and masterplanning.
Maria's Projects
Aperfield Green
Working for Welbeck Land, tor&co prepared a vision and concept masterplan for Aperfield Green in Biggin Hill, setting out the rationale for around 600 homes in a sustainable location linked to the area’s employment base. The landscape-led strategy protects ancient and semi-natural woodland, delivers publicly accessible open space and biodiversity net gain, and establishes a strong, defensible Green Belt boundary as a transition to the wider countryside.
Berryfield Lane
At Berryfield Lane, Melksham, tor&co developed a landscape-led masterplan for 58 homes for Martin Grant Homes (outline application submitted 2025). The concept stitches into Berryfields with tree-lined, walkable streets and a pedestrian and cycle network. Retained hedgerows and mature trees form a coherent green framework, with western open space and play creating a setting to Berryfields Cottages. Homes overlook key edges, including a safeguarded canal corridor, for legibility and safety.
Land at Long Hanborough Station
The vision for Land at Hanborough Station is to create an attractive, accessible and sustainable new neighbourhood of around 600–650 market and affordable homes at the eastern end of Long Hanborough. Prepared for Blenheim Strategic Partnership and RPG (vision document submitted 2025), the concept is rooted in placemaking, building on the site’s natural setting, strong connectivity and proximity to existing services. It forms a logical extension to the village, with green buffers to Pinsley Wood and the countryside, and promotes walking, cycling, local facilities and wider links.