Need a planning consultant in Dorset?

Planning Consultant Dorset

Dorset’s prized landscapes, picturesque towns, and villages may appear to make achieving planning permission a challenge, but development is encouraged by Dorset Council.

Particularly problematic development projects may, however, benefit from the services of a planning consultant, whose detailed knowledge of the Dorset planning process could provide the route to a successful planning application.

After outlining the expertise and role of a planning consultant, this article looks at some amazing schemes masterminded by five planning consultancies in Dorset in south west England.

Do I Need a Planning Consultant?

While planning consultants provide a range of services, perhaps the key reason for using them is their in-depth knowledge of the planning process. Planning consultants will be aware of the local government’s position on development, and national policies, which could make the process of applying for planning permission straightforward.

As well as providing bespoke advice about your planning needs, planning consultants can represent a developer in negotiations with planning officers, and by streamlining the planning application process, they can offer time and cost savings. If you are considering a Dorset planning application that faces a challenging journey through the planning system, a planning consultant could help you achieve planning permission.

Planning Advice

The broad range of services provided by planning consultants includes feasibility studies, preparation and submission of planning applications, liaison with planning officers, listed building expertise, advice on building regulations, change of use, Green Belt planning applications, land use, prior approval, permitted development and planning appeals.

Dorset’s Development Approach

While preserving Dorset’s unique character is a priority for local planning authorities, development is planned for several areas of this south west county. Dorset County Council’s 2024 development plan focuses on creating a sustainable and thriving future by providing more affordable housing and economic growth while protecting the beautiful natural environment, which includes several areas of outstanding natural beauty.

There are plans to build around 39,000 new homes between 2024 and 2035: this ambitious target is part of the council’s commitment to providing quality housing while ensuring that Dorset remains an attractive place to live and work. Preserving the unique character of its towns and countryside is a priority for Dorset Council, alongside plans to improve infrastructure, particularly transport and digital connectivity, to ensure that both urban and rural communities are well-connected.

Substantial development is earmarked for Weymouth and Dorchester, where new housing and commercial projects are planned to cater to the growing population and help boost local economies. Two major development schemes include the North Dorchester development, comprising thousands of new homes, along with schools, parks, and community facilities, and the Weymouth Gateway project, which includes new housing, retail spaces, and improved transport links aimed at revitalising the area.

Creative Schemes by Five Planning Consultancies in Dorset

Chapman Lily Planning Ltd

Based near Poole, these town planning consultants work on projects across South England, advising clients on planning applications, planning appeals, master planning and design and identifying land for development. Their services also include planning appraisal, project management and community engagement.

Chapman Lily Planning Ltd secured planning permission to demolish an existing building and build a mixed-use development comprising various business uses and 64 apartments on the former Poole Pottery site in Poole.

Darryl Howells Planning Consultancy

This Poole consultancy offers pre-application advice, planning strategy, planning applications, prior approvals and manages planning appeals. Darryl Howells is a member of the Royal Town Planning Institute and worked as a senior planning officer before joining the private sector: since 2017 he has worked on development schemes throughout the country.

Darryl Howells Planning Consultancy (DHPC) achieved planning permission to demolish an existing bungalow in Poole and replace it with two three-storey contemporary townhouses. DHPC prepared the planning application and planning case to justify the scheme in a street comprising traditional houses, convincing the planning officer that the plan was in line with policies. The scheme’s architects were DMW Architects.

Pure Town Planning

Chartered town planners, Pure Town Planning is an independent consultancy focused on maximising development value and meeting the specific requirements of a scheme cost-effectively. This Dorset planning consultancy has offices in Bournemouth and Winchester, and services include initial advice, pre-application advice, planning applications and planning appeals. Clients include householders, commercial and residential developers and landowners.

Pure Town Planning won an appeal on a former pub site in a residential area of Southampton regarding a proposal to demolish the pub and build five houses. Southampton City Council planning committee refused the scheme against their planning officer’s recommendation on grounds of design, parking and garden size, but the Inspector found in favour of the scheme.

Ken Parke Planning Consultants

Clients include property developers, landowners, private individuals and affordable housing providers.  This chartered town planning consultancy has worked in the private sector and within local government and can bring commercial awareness to a scheme as well as technical know-how. Services include site appraisals, pre-application advice, planning applications and appeals, and development plan representations.

Ken Parke Planning Consultants secured consent for this hybrid planning application for 53 homes in Fordingbridge, Hampshire after entering into detailed negotiations with local authority planners and consultees. The planning authority approved 41 open market houses in outline and 12 affordable homes in full. The scheme combines modern architecture with traditional design, and the architects were Brightspace Architects.

Intelligent Land

Comprising chartered surveyors, town planners and architects, housebuilders and investors, this multi-disciplinary practice focuses on seeing schemes from conception to completion. Based on the south coast, Intelligent Land offers a complete in-house consultancy service, including development consultancy, planning, land brokerage, assessment of project viability, opportunity analysis, land purchase, technical analysis, planning, contract and building, marketing and sale.

Intelligent Land established a convincing case for approval for this conversion of a redundant barn into a dwelling. The project involved assessing the barn’s potential for conversion, and the firm secured consent under the prior approval process set out by Class Q of the General Permitted Development Order. The barn was in the Green Belt, and Intelligent Land worked on a case with DMW Architects to create an attractive scheme and a planning statement clarifying how the scheme complied with the Class Q criteria.

Find a Planning Consultancy

Identifying a firm with experience in a project like your own is the first step. Whether you need planning advice with assessing development potential, development management, a rural planning matter, barn conversions, change of use, or a complex planning application, there is a range of Dorset planning consultancy services that may help.

While using planning consultancy services is not a guarantee of success with a planning application, finding the right firm will mean that you receive bespoke advice about your planning requirements and secure the best outcome.