Need a planning consultant in Cheshire?

Planning Consultant Cheshire

Cheshire is known for its farmland and rural landscapes that dominate the south and west of the county, while the north is more densely populated and includes towns such as Runcorn, Widnes and Ellesmere Port.

The county town of Chester with its Roman history and black and white timber framed buildings is a tourist attraction, and while it is thriving, development is constrained by Green Belt boundaries. If you are contemplating a problematic planning development, a planning consultant may be able to provide helpful planning and development advice.

This article examines Cheshire’s planning policies before investigating the role of a planning consultant; it then demonstrates the vision that they can bring to a project by showcasing five respected planning consultancies in the north west and some of the great planning projects they have worked on.

Planning and Development in Cheshire

Protecting Cheshire’s picturesque landscapes, including Green Belt areas and historic sites, is a key concern. Other challenges for local authorities include managing population growth and increased tourism, which place pressure on housing and infrastructure.

Cheshire County Council’s 2024 development plan focuses on sustainable growth through green and eco-friendly development, while protecting the county’s natural beauty and historic charm. There are plans to build around 30,000 new homes in the county by 2035, and the local authority aims to balance housing needs with protecting Cheshire’s natural and cultural assets.

The council’s main goals include providing more affordable housing, supporting economic development, improving infrastructure, and preserving agricultural land. To balance growth with preservation, the council prioritises using brownfield sites for new development and encourages sustainable transport options.

Areas earmarked for development include Chester and Crewe, where new housing and business projects are planned to meet demand and boost the local economy. Planning projects in the pipeline include the Northgate Development in Chester, which involves retail, leisure, and housing in the city centre.

The Role of a Planning Consultancy

Planning consultants bring a range of strategic skills to the planning process. They offer expertise on local and national planning policies, the planning process, listed buildings, and permitted development rights and should be familiar with how the relevant local authority views planning and development.

Typically, they can undertake a wide range of planning matters including project assessment, feasibility studies, preparation and submission of planning applications, negotiations with planning officers, planning appeals, reserved matters applications, change of use planning applications, and enforcement matters, and can deal with regulatory and legal compliance.

Planning consultants can often solve the problems that complex schemes face in achieving planning permission, saving you time and money, and providing the best chance of a successful journey through the planning system.

Five Projects Overseen by Planning Consultants in Cheshire

Emery Planning

With offices in Macclesfield and Chester, this independent town planning consultancy operates nationally and provides a range of planning services including planning applications, appraisals, development promotion, and project management of Environmental Impact Assessments for private clients, land owners and national developers. Their work includes householder schemes and major infrastructure developments.

Emery Planning won an appeal against a refusal of planning permission by the Cheshire East planning department for two single-storey rear extensions and remodelling work at a house in the open countryside. Despite the proposals extending the property by 63%, which exceeds the allowance for planning policy for open countryside dwellings, the inspector agreed that the plans would not significantly alter the property’s envelope or external appearance. The conclusion was that the scheme would not cause unacceptable harm to the character and appearance of the house, and the appeal was allowed.

Axis

Axis has extensive experience in environmental planning and consultancy and has worked for hundreds of local, national, and international clients since 1999. Axis focuses on environment, design and transport planning in the following sectors: energy infrastructure, regeneration, residential, commercial and industrial, waste and minerals, and many of their projects support clients’ transition to net zero carbon.

Axis was approached by developer AGR Group to assist in planning their solar farm in Burwell, Cambridgeshire. On a sensitive site on the edge of fenland, Axis conducted an Environmental Impact Assessment and drew up a planning application submission. To integrate the scheme into the landscape and provide screening, reedbeds were planned around the perimeter of the solar farm, which along with species-rich grassland and removing the farm from intensive agricultural use, created biodiversity net gains. The plans for the 50mw solar farm were approved.

Andrew J Hunt Planning

Based in Widnes, Andrew J Hunt Planning covers St Helens, Warrington, Runcorn Liverpool, and the Wirral, and specialises in planning statements, planning applications, planning appeals, house extensions, new housing developments and permitted development rights.

Andrew Hunt handled a successful appeal for a front and side house extension which involved the impact on a neighbouring property. He persuaded the inspector that the development would not adversely affect the living conditions of the neighbour, and the appeal was allowed. Andrew also handled another successful appeal on the Wirral involving a two-storey side extension and single-storey rear extensions. The inspector found that the scheme would not harm the character of the area, despite it not being fully compliant with the Wirral Unitary Development Plan Policy. 

Eden Planning

Working on projects of all scales, Altrincham-based Eden Planning takes projects from initial concept through to realisation. With bespoke town planning strategies and placemaking at their core, this firm of chartered town planners provides planning appraisals, pre-application engagement, planning statements, project management and can handle public consultations and planning appeals.

Eden Planning, working with Calderpeel Architects, successfully achieved planning permission to adapt a turn-of-the-century cottage on the shore of Lake Windermere into a luxury family dwelling with ancillary guest accommodation. The property, in the National Park, is set in 17 acres and includes a barn and woodland. Planning permission was granted for a replacement dwelling, boathouse and barn for accommodation.

Planning & Design

This north west multi-disciplinary team comprises Royal Town Planning Institute charted planning consultants, town planners, architects, and design professionals. Planning & Design has worked in the public sector and for private clients and land owners and has excellent working relations with local planning authorities. They provide a range of planning and development services including planning applications, urban design, appeals, enforcement, and work in sectors including leisure and tourism, rural planning, community, commercial, residential, energy and waste.

Planning & Design achieved planning permission for the restoration and conversion of this historic mine storage building, which was converted into a three-bedroom home, using traditional stone contrasting with a contemporary profiled metal clad extension. The future of the original building was in doubt unless a viable use could be found for it, and the design ensured that its workshop character was retained in this sensitive conversion scheme.

Professional Planning Advice

As this article illustrates, planning consultants can help with complicated projects facing specific challenges in achieving planning permission. If you are looking for professional assistance with your planning application, it’s important to identify a planning consultancy that has been successful with schemes like yours.

It’s also helpful if the firm offers full town planning services and works closely with the relevant local authority. A planning consultancy with considerable experience of successful planning projects behind it will give your scheme the best chance of success.