Planning consultant Berkshire

Planning Consultant Berkshire

A planning consultant can bring a wealth of expertise to a property development scheme, giving it the best chance of securing planning permission.

If you have a development project in Berkshire, you may consider engaging a planning consultant to advise you, especially if your scheme faces specific challenges in obtaining planning permission.

In this article, we outline the role of a planning consultant and look at some great examples of successful schemes masterminded by five planning consultancies in Berkshire to inspire.

Advantages of Using Planning Consultants:

Expert knowledge

Planning consultants have in-depth knowledge of the planning system, local authority and national policies, regulations, and procedures. Their extensive experience helps them navigate the often-complex planning process more efficiently.

Identifying development potential

Planning consultants can provide strategic advice on the development potential of a project, guiding developers on the best approach to secure planning permission. They can identify potential town planning issues early on and provide property owners with advice on mitigation, increasing the chances of a successful planning application.

Local insight on planning policies

Consultants often have strong local connections and understand parish councils and local planning authorities’ specific requirements and preferences. This extensive experience can be crucial in tailoring a development proposal to meet local needs and gain approval.

Development management

Engaging a planning consultant can save time and reduce costs by streamlining the planning application process, avoiding common pitfalls, and ensuring all necessary documentation and reports are correctly prepared and submitted.

Advocacy and negotiation

Planning consultants can act as advocates for a project, representing the developer’s interests in negotiations with the local authority and other stakeholders. Their development management experience can be key to resolving disputes and securing favourable outcomes.

Overall, a planning consultant adds value by helping to ensure that the whole process is smooth, efficient, and successful.

What does a Planning Consultant’s Work Involve?

• Initial project assessment.
• Feasibility studies.
• Preparing planning applications.
• Liaising with planning officers, local planning authorities and stakeholders.
• Conservation and listed building projects.
• Environmental reports.
• Meeting all regulatory requirements throughout the planning process.
• Obtaining planning permission.
• Handling planning appeals.

Berkshire and Development

Sustainable, well-planned growth is supported by Berkshire County Council. Its 2024 development plan focuses on creating a thriving region that balances growth with protecting the environment and the county’s rich historical heritage.

The main aims are to provide more affordable housing, boost economic development, and improve infrastructure. There are plans to build around 45,000 new homes from 2024 to 2035, reflecting the county’s commitment to meeting housing demand.

Areas earmarked for development include Reading and the Thames Valley Corridor. Reading is set to see significant growth, with new housing and commercial developments planned to accommodate its expanding population and economy. The Thames Valley Corridor, known for its tech and business hubs, will also see further development to support economic growth and innovation.

Two major development schemes in the pipeline include the Reading Station Hill project, which will transform the area around Reading Station into a mixed-use development with homes, offices, and leisure facilities, and the Shinfield Studios expansion, boosting the area as a hub for the creative industries.

Five Planning Consultancies Operating in Berkshire

Having extensive experience, these firms have worked on fantastic schemes that could inspire and help you choose the right planning consultants in the south east to suit your project.

Boyer

Based in Wokingham, Berkshire, Boyer is a multi-skilled consultancy that deals with all stages of the development planning process. Clients include housebuilders, private individuals, local planning authorities and landowners. Boyer carries out strategic planning, site and land promotion, residential, urban regeneration, retail and leisure schemes.

Boyer worked on this 100% affordable housing scheme which was carefully integrated within the landscape. The design incorporated materials reflecting the character of the locality.

ET Planning

Working with private individuals, developers and private investors, this independent planning consultancy provides strategic planning advice, site appraisals, planning applications, planning appeals and can deal with enforcement matters. Covering the south west, ET Planning has offices in Berkshire, Oxford and London and its planning team are members of the Royal Town Planning Institute.

ET Planning successfully managed a scheme (left) for change of use application for a new hospital development in Maidenhead’s Green Belt. The well-designed office building on a business park in Maidenhead will be converted into a new health centre. ET Planning demonstrated that the change of use was acceptable in terms of local development plans, sustainable development, green belt development and transport guidelines, and submitted a planning statement that addressed all issues and stressed the scheme’s positive impact on the community.

The firm also obtained approval for this large replacement house (right) in the Wokingham countryside after clarifying that permitted development rights would enable the scheme for a five-bedroom house and three outbuildings to replace a detached bungalow on the site.

Harwood Savin

These independent town planning consultants in Reading offer a full range of town planning services. The firm can provide advice on projects ranging from small-scale domestic schemes, rural sites, and green belt location work to major commercial projects UK-wide.

Harwood Savin provided strategic and planning advice to Ashford College which resulted in the approval of planning permission for new campus facilities in 2011 and 2015.  A new college and technology centre, partly within a conservation area, was constructed in phases.

Ascot Design

Based in Ascot, Berkshire, Ascot Design offers a bespoke service to private clients, developers and commercial enterprises. Development services include feasibility studies, planning submissions, concept design, property remodelling and house extensions, and this firm works with commercial developers on delivering health care, education, institutional property and regeneration projects.

This development involves five individually designed, contemporary farmhouse-style homes with private gardens in the Chiltern Hills.

Evans Jones

Evans Jones is an independent firm of planning consultants and chartered surveyors that advises on the acquisition, development potential and management of property across the UK. It has a track record of success across a wide range of sectors including residential developments, urban regeneration, listed building projects, heritage schemes, rural projects and commercial and educational schemes.

Evans Jones applied for planning permission to convert redundant stable blocks to dwellings in west Berkshire. When pre-application discussions proved negative due to a lack of evidence that the buildings were redundant, Evans Jones provided a strategy with detailed evidence in a planning statement clarifying that the buildings were redundant and compliant with planning policy. Planning permission was achieved under delegated authority.

Identify the Right Planning Consultant for you

While engaging a planning consultancy will not guarantee that your scheme will obtain planning permission, it will ensure that you receive expert advice to provide the best chance of success.

It’s important to identify the right planning consultancy for your project: hopefully, these examples have provided some ideas and demonstrated how a planning consultancy with a great track record can help to get a challenging scheme through the planning process successfully.