Need a planning consultant in East Sussex?

Planning Consultant East Sussex

If you have a complex development project in East Sussex, it may be beneficial to engage the services of planning consultants. Their specialist knowledge of the planning system can often streamline the process of securing a successful planning application.

In this article, we look at the skills that planning consultants can bring to a project, before looking at successful schemes masterminded through the planning system by planning consultants in East Sussex.

Why Planning Consultants can help Prospective Developments

If you have a straightforward development project, engaging an architect to create drawings may be sufficient. However, if your scheme presents complicated planning problems, planning consultants can often provide valuable insights that save you time and money.

Planning consultants will regularly liaise with the local authority’s planning officers and will be aware of the council’s stance on commercial and residential development, along with national policy guidelines. The planning services they provide include feasibility studies, submission of planning applications, negotiations with planning officers, expertise with listed buildings, building regulations, permitted development rights and planning appeals.

Whether you have a commercial or residential development across the south east that’s encountering planning difficulties, hiring the right planning consultants could pave the way to a successful planning application.

Development in East Sussex in the South East

This beautiful part of the UK includes the South Downs National Park, and picturesque towns including Rye, Lewes, Hastings, and Brighton. While East Sussex County Council is committed to enhancing green spaces and preserving the county’s rich heritage and natural beauty, it is granting planning applications. Many housing and development schemes are in the pipeline: around 22,000 new homes are forecast to be built between 2024 and 2035 as the county council aims to support the local economy and improve the infrastructure.

Key development areas include Eastbourne and Hastings, where new housing and commercial projects are planned to support the growing community; development must however balance the need for growth with preserving the county’s unique coastal and rural character. Two major schemes include the North East Bexhill development, which will create thousands of new homes along with schools and community facilities, and the Newhaven Enterprise Zone, which is aimed at revitalising the town with new business areas and housing.

Successful Schemes Masterminded by Five Planning Consultancies in East Sussex

Parker Dann

Based near Brighton in the south east, this established chartered town planning consultancy advises on development projects and provides guidance on all planning matters. Planning services include pre-application assessments, pre-application meetings with local planning authorities, creation and submission of residential development planning applications, project management, permitted development rights, liaison with case officers, and planning appeals.

Parker Dann planning consultants submitted a planning application to replace an existing bungalow standing in the grounds of a grade II listed building in an area of outstanding natural beauty. The brief was to create a contemporary, energy-efficient building with an increased floor space and height. The council’s planning officer was persuaded to overrule an objection from the council’s conservation officer regarding the setting being close to a listed building.

Wilbury Planning

Full planning consultancy services for all types of development are provided by this firm which works with developers, land owners and householders across the south east and further afield. Projects include residential development, commercial, mixed-use, listed buildings, agricultural and leisure schemes, extensions and replacement buildings. Wilbury Planning has an established working relationship with several local planning authorities and a wide professional network, and planning consultants are members of the Royal Town Planning Institute.

Whaleback Town Planning

This experienced team of chartered town planners, registered with the Royal Town Planning Institute, can deal with complex development and planning issues. These specialist consultants have worked with land owners and developers on schemes in national parks and urban centres.

Whaleback planning consultants offer project development advice, submission of planning applications, appeals, enforcement and heritage expertise, along with new building schemes, change of use, conversions, permitted development rights, tourism uses, and Class Q agricultural barn conversions.

Whaleback provided heritage and planning consultancy advice for the award-winning Nithurst Farm, designed by Adam Richards Architects. This new build home in the South Downs National Park is sited on the footprint of a former farm worker’s cottage, which was a heritage asset: the new design had to be exceptional to justify its loss in a protected landscape. The project, built from concrete cased in brick with a black zinc roof, successfully integrates contemporary design with traditional elements.

SC Planning

Specialising in new house builds, extensions, listed buildings, home offices and holiday lets,  SC Planning is based near Lewes and provides services for homeowners, land owners and businesses across the south east. Owner Sarah Collins has 15 years of planning experience in the public and private sectors and is a former principal planner with Brighton & Hove City Council. SC Planning services include pre-application advice, submission of planning applications and post-application advice.

This grade II listed terrace in Hastings required listed building consent to change the use of the two lower floors from office to residential use, the layout of the upper floor flats, and the rear parking area. The project involved internal and external alterations: SC Planning designed a scheme to comply with Fire and Building Regulations and convinced the conservation officer to agree to the changes to a listed building. An external fire escape was removed, and a fire alarm system was installed, along with additional roof lights. Working closely with the architect, planning authority, building contractors and building control officers at each stage ensured that planning and listed building consent was secured.

Lewis & Co Planning

Brighton-based Royal Town Planning Institute chartered town planners Lewis & Co offer a local, regional and national planning service which includes site appraisals, submitting planning applications, appeals, permitted development rights and expert planning witness services.

Lewis & Co Planning secured retrospective planning permission for a new dwelling to replace a demolished barn with prior approval to be converted into a house. The appellants did not complete the conversion within the three-year time limit and while the finished scheme was in line with the prior approval design, the local planning committee decided to pursue enforcement action if the appeal failed, because the development was in the countryside and accessible only by car. The planning consultants stated that the self-build home was sustainable, it preserves the area’s rural character, and biodiversity enhancements have been completed. The inspector judged the site to be accessible to local services and the sustainable construction methods and site enhancements were all material considerations in its favour.

Take the Next Step with your Planning Application

If you decide that your project would benefit from the advice of a planning consultant, the first thing to do is to identify a firm that’s carried out similar schemes to yours.

While engaging planning consultants does not mean that succeeding with your planning application will be plain sailing, you will receive tailored advice about your project, giving it the best chance of success.