Local Planning Authority: Planning Applications, Appeals and Policy Work

In any planning authority there are times when staff are struggling to meet their performance targets, and deal with planning applications efficiently and cost effectively. It only takes one valued member of staff to leave, and targets are missed, planning applications are delayed and undue pressure is placed on the remaining hard worked staff.  

Recruiting new staff is a costly and time consuming exercise. However, we are able to provide an efficient and professional solution to maintaining and improving the planning service that you provide. 

Essentially, when you need to, we can take any number of planning applications off your hands and deal with them immediately. 

• You provide the application forms and plans, and undertake the statutory consultation procedures,
• We undertake a site visit, 
• We liase with applicants and neighbours over any matters arising,
• We consider the proposals in the context of your local planning policies,
• We prepare a delegated report to your standard - with a recommendation,
• You consider the recommendation together with any representations received,
• You make the decision and send out the decision notice.

Turnaround of reports and recommendations can be to your specification, be it a few days for emergencies, or otherwise well within your 8 week target date. Whatever the case, the final decision to grant or refuse remains with the Local Planning Authority.

There will be no need for you to employ extra staff, provide office space or additional equipment, and we can hit the ground running. And all at a cost that will be less than the planning application fee for the application that we will be dealing with. This, we believe, is considerably less than employing a full time member of staff or agency staff.

We can also help with the preparation of your Local Development Framework, including Core Strategies, Consultation Strategies and Development Plan Documents. With our extensive knowledge, particularly of South London and South East England, we know what the pressures and issues are likely to be. We can help relieve some of the pressures that your staff may be experiencing in preparing reports for Committees in order to secure the adoption of the these important documents.

Equally, we have had experience of providing planning input and assistance into the Judicial Review process of several high profile cases.

We would be pleased to discuss how we can meet your aspirations, so please do not hesitate to contact us.