Our Planning Services
Securing planning permission for a self-build home can be complex, but with expert guidance, you can avoid pitfalls, speed up approvals, and ensure a smooth development process.
Planning Consultancy
Navigating the planning process can be complex, time-consuming, and frustrating. That’s where we come in.
As a specialist self-build and custom build planning consultancy, we provide expert guidance at every stage of the planning journey, ensuring you have the best chance of securing planning permission. Whether you’re assessing the feasibility of a plot, submitting a planning application, or dealing with planning conditions, our team is here to support you.
From planning appraisals and securing planning consent to plot investigations and valuations, we help self-builders and custom builders achieve planning success with confidence.
Planning Appraisals
Before investing in a plot of land, it’s crucial to understand its development potential. Our planning appraisal service provides an in-depth analysis of your site’s suitability for planning permission.
What We Assess:
✔ Planning Policy Review – we examine local planning policies, national planning frameworks and case law to determine whether your project aligns with regulations.
✔ Site Constraints – identifying flood risk zones, protected landscapes, Green Belt, AONBs, conservation areas, listed buildings, and ecological constraints that may affect your application.
✔ Previous Planning History – reviewing past applications, refusals, and appeals on the site to assess risks and opportunities.
✔ Access & Highways Considerations – ensuring your project meets visibility splays, road safety, and parking requirements.
✔ Viability & Likelihood of Approval – providing a professional opinion on the chances of obtaining planning permission and advising on the best strategy.
Securing Planning Consent
Submitting a well-prepared planning application is key to securing approval. Our team specialises in creating robust planning applications for self-builders, ensuring they meet local planning authority requirements.
How We Help You Get Planning Permission:
✔ Pre-Application Advice – we prepare your submission and engage with the council’s planning officers to gather feedback, improving your chances of planning success.
✔ Full Planning Application Preparation – working with our network of specialist consultants, we handle the planning statements, design and access statements, sustainability reports, and technical design needed for approval.
✔ Liaison with Architects & Consultants – we coordinate with architects, surveyors, ecologists, and highways consultants to ensure your application is comprehensive.
✔ Application Submission & Management – we submit, track, and manage your planning application, keeping you informed throughout the process.
✔ Negotiating with Planning Authorities – we work with the council and key stakeholders to address concerns and avoid unnecessary refusals.
Discharging Planning Conditions
Once you’ve secured planning permission, you will need to discharge planning conditions before starting construction. These conditions often relate to materials, landscaping, drainage, biodiversity, and highways.
How We Can Help:
✔ Identifying Planning Conditions – we review your decision notice to clarify which conditions need to be discharged.
✔ Preparing & Submitting Documentation – we compile technical reports, materials samples, environmental statements, and construction plans to satisfy planning conditions.
✔ Liaising with the Local Authority – we communicate with planning officers and regulatory bodies to ensure approvals are granted swiftly.
✔ Overcoming Delays & Challenges – if conditions are unclear or unreasonable, we help you negotiate amendments.
Support with Planning Appeals
If your planning application has been refused, don’t panic! Many self-builders successfully overturn planning refusals with the right approach. We provide expert appeal support to challenge unjust decisions.
How We Handle Planning Appeals:
✔ Reviewing the Refusal Decision – analysing the reasons for refusal and assessing the strength of your case.
✔ Preparing Appeal Statements – drafting a robust planning appeal statement addressing each refusal reason.
✔ Representation at Planning Hearings – acting as your professional advocate in appeals to the Planning Inspectorate.
✔ Negotiating with the Local Authority – seeking compromises and resubmission strategies to avoid a full appeal process.
✔ Planning Policy & Case Law Analysis – using legal precedents to strengthen your appeal.
Explore our land services.
Address
Orchard House, Greenfields,
St Ives, Cambs, PE27 5HB
Phone
07862 257 384