Need a planning consultant in Hertfordshire?

Planning Consultancy in Hertfordshire

As one of the home counties within easy reach of London, there is strong demand for development in Hertfordshire and around 50,000 new houses are planned by 2035.

The South West Hertfordshire 2050 joint strategic plan aims to protect nature while encouraging business investment. Local authorities will scrutinise planning applications, so you may be inclined to take advice from a planning consultancy. We outline the role of planning consultants in the planning process, before looking at schemes delivered by five planning consultants in Hertfordshire.

Planning Consultants and the Planning Process

Planning consultants have in-depth knowledge of local authorities’ planning policies and the national picture. Their insight into the planning process can often enable a challenging property development scheme to achieve approval. Typically, planning consultants offer these services: site assessments, feasibility studies, planning applications, compliance with building regulations, negotiations with local planning authorities through the planning process, and planning appeals.

Planning and Development in Hertfordshire

While there are densely populated places such as Hemel Hempstead, St Albans, and Stevenage, there are extensive rural areas featuring stunning landscapes. Hertfordshire County Council’s 2024 development plan focuses on balancing development with protecting the countryside.

Significant development is aimed at Stevenage and Hemel Hempstead. A new business hub, the Hertfordshire Innovation Quarter, is planned, while thousands of homes are planned at North Harlow Garden Town.

Projects by Five Hertfordshire Planning Consultants

James Holmes Planning Consultant

With 25 years’ experience in the planning process, Royal Town Planning Institute member James Holmes works with the public and private sectors and has a proven track record of securing planning permission. James Holmes Planning consultancy provides a full range of planning services.

DLA Town Planning Ltd.

This firm of chartered planning consultants was established in 1989 and comprises a large team with experience in the public, private and voluntary sectors. The planning consultancy acts for housebuilders, landowners, developers, land promoters, property companies and private individuals.

The DLA Town Planning planning consultancy secured planning permission to redevelop an industrial site in St Albans, allowing for 23 three-bedroom houses and apartments in a Conservation Area.

Concept Planning

With a good track record, this Royal Town Planning Institute chartered planning consultancy deals with planning applications, site appraisals, pre-application advice, permitted development and planning appeals.

Planning consultancy Concept Planning achieved planning permission for an upgrade scheme involving a two-storey side extension and increased floor space at this property in the Green Belt.

Waller Planning

These town planning consultants provide advice on the entire planning process, dealing with planning applications, planning appeals, cartography and graphic design.

This site in King’s Lynn is in a Conservation Area surrounded by listed buildings. Working with Studio 11 Architecture, planning consultancy Waller Planning obtained planning permission for a new house with a contemporary design that complements its surroundings.

PJB Planning

Director Peter Biggs, Dip TP, has extensive experience in the planning process, working for local authorities and national housebuilders. Having moved to planning consultancy, he acts for landowners, developers, and land promoters, advising on the entire planning process.

Planning permission had been achieved for a scheme for five homes in the Green Belt on a previously developed site. PJB Planning amended the scheme to provide for 10 dwellings and addressed the impact on the Green Belt to secure consent.

Do You Need Advice on the Planning Process?

If you want to hire a planning consultancy, it’s important to identify a firm with experience in the planning process and similar projects to yours. Planning consultants should hold a qualification such as a Dip TP and have a track record of success. You might want to identify planning consultants with experience in a specific area, such as listed buildings. A planning consultancy that provides a wide range of planning services will be able to offer the most support as you navigate the planning process.