Need a planning consultant in Essex?

Planning Consultancy in Essex

This south east county comprises affluent, densely populated locations, as well as beautiful rural areas such as Dedham Vale and Epping Forest. One of the home counties, Essex is made up of historic villages, London commuter belt towns, and open countryside and it has an extensive 562-mile-long coastline.

If you have a challenging planning and development project in Essex, you may consider engaging a planning consultant for professional advice. The specialist skills that planning consultants can bring to a complex property scheme can often provide the vision needed for it to proceed.

In this article, we explain the role of a planning consultant before examining Essex’s development policies. We then showcase some stunning projects that have been guided through the planning process by five planning consultancies in Essex.

Why Use Planning Consultants?

Their specialist knowledge of the planning process from a local and national perspective can bring a wide range of benefits to a difficult property development scheme. Planning services offered by planning consultancy firms include project assessments, feasibility studies, submission of planning applications, land promotion, and fulfilment of building regulations requirements. Planning consultants can also handle public consultations, negotiations with local planning authorities, and planning appeals.

Planning and Development in Essex

The middle and southern parts of the county are highly populated, being part of the London commuter belt, while the rest of Essex is more rural. A typical landscape may include villages or hamlets with houses built from timber and brick with clay tile or thatched roofs.

The east coast is characterised by broad estuaries including the Stour and the Thames, along with saltmarsh and wetlands, while the eastern part of the county includes woodlands such as Epping Forest, and the Dedham Vale area of outstanding natural beauty on the border with Suffolk.

Essex is protected by the Metropolitan Green Belt which prevents London from expanding into the county. Essex County Council is focused on ensuring that growth respects the county’s natural landscapes and heritage: its development plan aims to support sustainable growth across the county, deliver affordable housing, enhance transport links, and boost the local economy.

While approximately 50,000 new houses are planned to be built in Essex by 2035, a key issue is balancing the demand for new homes and infrastructure with the need to protect green spaces and rural areas. The county’s popularity with commuters and tourists has increased pressure on housing and transport, especially near coastal areas and commuter hubs.

To address this, Essex County Council is prioritising brownfield redevelopment and encouraging eco-friendly construction. The council is also investing in improved public transport and green infrastructure to reduce car dependency and protect the environment.

Development is focused on the county town of Chelmsford, and Harlow, where new housing and commercial spaces are planned to support population growth. Major development schemes include the Harlow and Gilston Garden Town and the North Essex Garden Communities project which will create sustainable communities.

Diverse Schemes from Five Planning Consultant Firms in Essex

Collins & Coward

Based in Coggeshall in Essex, Collins & Coward is an independent planning and development consultancy that advises on projects throughout the UK. The firm deals with all town and country planning matters from large infrastructure schemes to small-scale developments. Clients include landowners, government departments, and international and national companies. Collins & Coward can act as lead planning consultants, environmental coordinators or expert witnesses.

Collins & Coward gave advice relating to the amount of compensation to be paid to their clients following the compulsory purchase of Grade I-listed Apethorpe Hall. The project involved assessing the redevelopment and conversion scheme for residential development that would be permitted within the curtilage of the listed Jacobean mansion.

Phase 2

This independent town planning consultancy’s clients range from major housebuilders to private sector developers, landowners and the public sector. Phase 2 has a consistent track record of success and covers all aspects of the planning process, including planning appraisals, local plan promotion, planning applications and appeals, enforcement, listed buildings and environmental impact assessments.

Phase 2 successfully achieved planning permission for this solar power generation scheme which will enhance the viability of the clients’ business operations. Consent was gained following extensive pre-application discussions with the local planning authority before a planning application was submitted.

ADP Ltd.

This Colchester-based planning consultancy combines town planning, architecture and urban design expertise to provide a holistic approach to planning and design. Their ethos is based on good design and sustainable development. ADP deals with new development schemes, alterations to existing properties, large-scale urban extensions and individual schemes. ADP works with large companies, developers, landowners and private individuals, and offers planning strategy advice, prior approval applications, planning applications, land promotions, and planning appeals.

ADP secured planning permission for the demolition of an existing glasshouse site and a redevelopment scheme of 22 houses, within close proximity of a Grade I listed church and the Dedham Vale Area of Natural Beauty. The application involved consultation with key stakeholders including Historic England and Essex County Council. The scheme, which included individually designed buildings to reflect local character, is included in the Essex Design Guide as an exemplar case study.

Reeve Brown

Operating in Essex and Suffolk, Reeve Brown specialises in submitting successful planning applications and appeals for residential, commercial, agricultural and equestrian developments. The firm deals with major and minor residential development, mixed-use and commercial schemes, change of use, and listed building consent. Services include strategic advice, pre-application discussions with local planning authorities, planning appeals and enforcement proceedings.

Reeve Brown secured planning permission for 14 houses at appeal on a greenfield site near Braintree that was adjacent to but outside the settlement boundary.

Thompson Planning Ltd.

Chartered town planning company Thompson Planning is registered with the Royal Town Planning Institute and offers town and country planning advice to developers, homeowners and local planning authorities. Thompson Planning has a great track record and can advise on home extensions, commercial schemes and residential development.  

Thompson Planning secured consent for a new dwelling in the Epping Forest District Council area on a site of restricted size and shape, including a former telecommunications mast in the Green Belt. Planning permission was achieved with the first application for this generously-sized detached home.

Seeking Advice with Planning and Development?

These examples of what planning consultants can bring to a scheme may have inspired you, especially if your development aspirations face hurdles. When considering different planning consultants or chartered town planners, it’s important to ensure that they are experienced in projects like yours and can provide evidence of a good track record of success. They should also be able to provide a wide range of planning services.