“Planning consultants can offer a wide range of advice and act on all matters concerned with planning, development and environmental issues relating to a building project. They will use their expertise to ensure a cost effective and smooth running of all transactions from conception to completion. Your planning consultant can support your project by being actively involved with all stages of the planning, or an expert adviser who will guide their clients to ensure they have an understanding of the process and feel completely happy with decisions relating to their project”.
If you are just about to embark on any future project which involves possible ‘planning permission’ requirements – stop and think about:
Why you should appoint a Planning Consultant before you take that first step into the unknown!
A Good Planning Consultant ‘worth his or her salt’ is key to creating great places for people – planners work to manage our space, resources and the environment to help shape the future.
It is important to understand that employing a Planning Consultant does not guarantee your application will success. However, it does mean you have expert advice and help to ensure your application has the very best chance.
Also if your Planning Consultant is a member of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) it means they have met the highest standards set by the planning profession, have appropriate insurance and are governed by a strict Code of Professional Conduct and can be relied upon to give the best advice. (RTPI, 2017).
What areas of planning does a consultant look after ?
A planning consultant can be as involved as you need them to be, but typically the main areas which they would look after are:
LAND: Advising on development potential and whether land and property can often be improved in value if its development potential can be realised. The planning consultant will perform market research into the feasibility of the development, which will range from planning applications to investigations into what land is available for sale.
PLANNING: Preparation and submission of planning applications of all types. Progressing, negotiating planning applications with Local Planning Authorities.
PLANNING APPEALS: This can sometimes be seen as a last resort, however if the need arises your Planning Consultant will proceed if the prospects of success are reasonable.
PLANNING ENFORCEMENT: The legal nature of the planning process can be a minefield and very complicated and the uninitiated can innocently at times, over step the mark. Your Planning Consultant will advise on an appropriate course of action to avoid an attendance at Court.
DEVELOPMENT: Development appraisals, viability appraisals of development sites for planning purposes.