Whether you are seeking to replace your home with a ‘grand design’ or looking to build a modest extension for your property, gaining planning permission is an all-important step on the road to completing your vision. Policy constraints, neighbour consultations, technical requirements and paperwork can make the process of getting planning permission feel daunting.
This guide is designed to explain how a planning consultant can help you with the process of getting planning permission, how they can add value during a project and help turn vision into reality, and what to look for in a consultant you are considering partnering with.
What to Look for in a Planning Consultant
For homeowners, a planning consultant is a skilled adviser who helps you navigate the process of getting planning permission. The role of a planning consultant is usually to work alongside your architect, technician or designer to develop a scheme that meets relevant planning requirements and delivers your vision. If you don’t have an architect or technician many planning consultants like Holland Lloyd will still be able to assist you and provide appropriate recommendations for your project.
The exact services offered will vary between planning consultants, but a planning consultant should be able to provide you with any level of service between a full planning package (covering project start to determination of your application) to just the required planning reports to supplement your application. Our own planning support service for homeowners covers this exact range of relevant planning services.
The most effective consultants combine a professional, collaborative and engaging approach with first-class project management, attention to detail and expert technical planning knowledge. At Holland Lloyd we’re very proud that our customers frequently cite these positive attributes when giving us 5 star reviews on Google.
“…personal approach and attention to detail has been second to none.”
… professionalism and experience shone through at all stages.”
“…great planning advice. I would highly recommend them to anyone.”
As a homeowner, it’s a good idea to look for relevant experience and expertise when choosing a consultant to work with:
- Experience with relevant residential schemes, alongside larger-scale developments
- A strong understanding of local and national planning policy, and an ability to clearly articulate perspective on key areas of expertise
- Relevant experience in key niches, such as gaining planning permission where a listed building is involved.
- A relevant recent projects portfolio, and strong and consistent testimonials
Benefits of Hiring a Planning Consultant
Clear Early Advice, Know Where You Stand
One of the main benefits of engaging a planning consultant early is knowing where you stand before investing in a full planning application. Before drawings are even finalised, a planning consultant can advise on key areas such as whether planning permission is required or your project could fall under permitted development. If a full application is required, a consultant should be able to input into early design work to maximise the chances of compliance with local or national policies.
Early input from an RTPI accredited planning consultant like Holland Lloyd can help prevent rework at the design stage, save time and streamline the process to maximise the chances of approval when the project proceeds to a full planning application.
Reducing the Risk of Refusal
Many failed planning applications arise because proposals fail to address well-established challenges, such as neighbour amenity, development scale or character. A planning consultant can help shape proposals to avoid well-established pitfalls and present a compelling application to your Local Planning Authority (LPA).
Our free homeowner advice content series is designed to help you navigate common refusal risks. Our article on Top Reasons Neighbours Object to Planning Permission explains how to engage with neighbours to reduce the chances of objections and issues during statutory consultation, and our guide to Listed Building Consent covers common challenges homeowners face when seeking planning permission for developing listed properties.
Managing the Planning Process
The planning application process is complex and guiding an application successfully through to determination in good time requires attention to detail and project management. Validation requirements, consultation responses, officer queries and conditions all need to be well-managed. A planning consultant will act as your key point of contact with the LPA, helping to keep applications moving and responding promptly to issues as they arise.
How a Consultant Can Add Value
Strategic Advice on the Right Route
A planning consultant can advise on the most appropriate route for a project. This might include confirming whether planning permission is required, advising on the scope of a householder application, or recommending and managing the process of obtaining pre-application advice from your LPA.
Supporting Changes and Amendments
Where planning permission has already been obtained, a planning consultant can advise whether proposed changes can be dealt with as non-material amendments, require a Section 73 application, or need a fresh planning application. Our article on Changing Planning Permission explores these routes in more detail.
Handling Conditions and Compliance
Many approvals include planning conditions that must be discharged before work starts or before occupation. A planning consultant can work with your technical partner to manage the process of discharging conditions and help ensure you gain the correct approvals and certificates. For your reference, we cover how the discharge of planning conditions works in our free advice article on planning conditions.
Maximising Development Scope and Value
Beyond securing permission, a planning consultant can help maximise the value of a project. This includes advising on how far development can reasonably go within policy, identifying opportunities to increase floorspace, and ensuring that you gain all the approvals and certificates you need for a future sale or refinancing.
In some cases, careful planning strategy can make the difference required to achieve the whole of a grand vision and fully realise a property’s potential, however challenging gaining approval for your scheme may seem at the outset.
How Holland Lloyd Can Help
At Holland Lloyd, we provide specialist planning support to homeowners across England and Wales. Our Planning Support Service is designed to give our clients the expertise, reassurance and outcomes they need to realise their vision for a property, regardless of the scale of your project.
Whether you are at the early feasibility stage or navigating a complex application, our team can help you move forward with confidence. Contact us today for support and advice.
FAQs
What does a planning consultant do?
A planning consultant’s role is to advise on planning strategy, interpret policy, prepare and manage planning applications, and liaise with your Local Planning Authority.
Can a planning consultant help if planning permission is refused?
Yes a planning consultant can advise on whether to submit a revised application or appeal and help address refusal reasons in a further application effectively.
Can a planning consultant speed up the planning application process?
A well-prepared application prepared by a planning consultant like Holland Lloyd, together with proactive liaison with your Local Planning Authority and effective project management can smooth the planning application process and help avoid delays.