Chartered Town Planners

The current Town and Country Planning system in Britain is plan led but unfortunately characterised by complexity. The benefits of employing experienced planning professionals for guidance through the various stages and processes involved in order to secure the success of a development project cannot be over emphasised.

Planning Appraisals

The firm offer a comprehensive planning appraisal service:

• To help clients make prompt well-informed decisions about land usage
• To give advice on the prospects of obtaining consents for developments
• To ascertain the long-term options for landowners and developers

We also act on behalf of third parties to advise on development proposals by others.

Planning Applications

We are able to coordinate all types of proposal schemes on behalf of clients. Particular areas of expertise include:

• Large and small scale residential schemes and redevelopment proposals
• Rural development proposals
• Development schemes in historically sensitive locations
• Leisure use developments
• Mixed use urban design schemes and master planning

The practice prepare applications for all forms of statutory permissions, including  planning, listed building, conservation area and advertisement consents, certificates of lawfulness for existing and proposed uses, reserved matters consents and applications for the discharge of conditions.

Our consultative approach with planning authorities has frequently been a decisive factor in the successful obtaining of permissions. Most cases are discussed with the authority prior to submission, and progress is carefully monitored throughout the application process.

Planning Appeals

Our familiarity with development plan policies and established precedents is invaluable when submitting and progressing an appeal on behalf of clients.

We undertake appeals via written representations, hearings and public inquiries, and our successes have been achieved over a wide range of appeal types, and for a similarly wide range of clients , including local authorities, landowners and developers.

In the case of  Public Inquiry, the following services can be provided:

• Preparation and provision of all relevant advice in relation to the appeal
• Critical assessment of the probable success  of the appeal
• Instructions to Counsel
• Advising on the choice of suitable Counsel on a case sensitive basis

Development Plans

The firm’s significant experience and expert knowledge of the current development planning system is invaluable to landowner and developer clients seeking to promote their long term interests through the development plan process.

We offer professional advice on the preparation of submissions to identify sites from the earliest stages of the plan process. We also make personal representations on behalf of clients at  Examinations in Public.

Environmental Statements

The preparation of an Environmental Statement is often a requirement to support a planning application for major new developments. We have flair and experience in the preparation of these Statements, as well as in providing the appropriate specialist planning input.

Development Briefs / Design Statements

Our up to date understanding of central and regional government policies, together with the development plan policy framework in any given local area, are essential in the preparation of development briefs and design statements for individual sites – whether  on behalf of local authorities, landowners or developers.

Project Management

The firm have long experience of working within a multi-disciplinary framework, where it is frequently our planning consultant role to lead the professional team.

Development Land Consultancy

The firm acts on behalf of private, public and corporate clients, ranging in size from large to small developers. These include county councils, national quoted companies and major regional landowners. Over many years we have built established and longstanding relationships with a majority of the UK’s major development land purchasers.

Sales and Acquisition

We are professionally engaged in the promotion and disposal of:

• Residential, Commercial and Industrial development sites
• Smaller scale building plots

Sales can be dealt with by private treaty, tender or public auction; as dictated by market conditions or the specific requirements of the vendor.

The firm also acts for clients in the acquisition of development land, including site assembly.

Development Appraisals

With exceptional knowledge and experience of the property market across East Anglia and the East Midlands, including the A1, A1(M), A14 and M11 corridors, the firm  is able to provide specialist appraisal advice in:

• Assessing the potential of development land
• Establishing its permitted and practical uses
• Feasibility studies to assess economic viability
• Land valuation
• Calculating market value of completed projects
• Development design and layout advice
• Assessing maximum economic return

Our experience covers most sectors of the market from large redevelopment schemes to small-scale residential development.

On behalf of clients, the firm will undertake discussions with planning authorities to determine the suitability of parcels of land for residential, commercial or industrial development.

Valuations

We undertake formal valuations in accordance with the strict guidelines of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors , of which we are a member firm, in respect of:

• Sales
• Acquisitions
• Probate
• Taxation
• Development funding
• Compulsory purchase