Need a planning consultant in Lancashire?

Planning Consultants in Lancashire

Protecting its beautiful landscapes is a priority, but Lancashire County Council is also keen to encourage development. If you have a problematic development project in this north west county, you may consider engaging a local planning consultant for strategic advice.

In this article, we outline the expertise of town planning consultants and show some beautiful development schemes masterminded by planning consultancies in Lancashire.

How a Planning Consultant can Help a Development Scheme

If you are contemplating a contentious development, planning consultants bring a specialist knowledge of the planning process which may prove beneficial. Planning consultants will be aware of local authority planning policies in the local plan, along with national policies, and their input can often streamline the planning application process by cutting through red tape.

The range of planning services typically provided by a planning consultancy includes assessing sites for development potential, feasibility studies, planning applications, liaison with planning officers, listed building expertise, fulfilment of building regulations, Green Belt planning applications, prior approval, permitted development, reserved matters, and planning appeals.

So, whether you are considering a planning application involving a residential development, a scheme in a conservation area, a sustainable development, or insight into the local plan, a local planning consultant in the Lancashire area could help.

Lancashire and Development

The north of the county is less highly populated than the south: built-up areas include the Fylde coast from St Annes to Fleetwood, and Lancaster and Morecambe further north. There are Green Belt areas in the southern and central areas between the major settlements and in the north. between Lancaster, Morecambe, and Carnforth.

A growing population has created a high demand for new housing alongside employment areas. Significant development is targeted at Preston and Lancaster, where housing and commercial projects are underway. Two major projects in the pipeline include the Cuerden Strategic Site, which aims to create a business and residential hub in South Ribble, and Lancaster South, a mixed-use development focused on housing, retail, and green space.

Lancashire County Council’s 2024 development plan is focused on fostering sustainable growth, boosting the local economy, and providing residential properties while preserving the county’s natural beauty. Key aims include affordable housing development (around 42,000 new homes are planned for the county by 2035), expanding transport and infrastructure, and supporting green initiatives to reduce environmental impact.

One of Lancashire’s main challenges is balancing new development with the preservation of its beautiful landscapes, especially in popular tourist areas like the Ribble Valley and the Forest of Bowland. The north western coast contains a national landscape, while the West Pennine Moors border the south east, and the Forest of Bowland, another national landscape, is found in the north west of the county. To protect such areas, the council emphasises using brownfield sites and sustainable development practices, alongside creating green buffers to protect natural spaces.

Projects by Five Planning Consultancies in Lancashire

De Pol

These chartered town planners advise on all planning and development matters and work across the north west and wider UK on housing, industry, waste, energy, leisure, commercial and rural diversification schemes. Clients include major development companies and private individuals.

De Pol obtained planning permission to extend this former farmhouse and build a pool house and connecting underground link within the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Working with David Cox Architects, a scheme was designed that sat well with the character of the original building and surrounding area. An initial planning application for an orangery and contemporary glazed link to the existing dwelling was approved, after which De Pol applied for a Certificate of Lawfulness demonstrating that the construction of a detached pool house would not require planning permission under the General Permitted Development Order. This was confirmed and De Pol then obtained consent for an underground link corridor.

 Anyon

Providing planning and architectural services for private and commercial clients, Anyon Architectural & Planning deals with new builds, extensions and renovations, school buildings and healthcare extensions. These town planning consultants specialise in achieving planning consent for listed buildings and properties in conservation areas. As well as creating plans, the team can provide a full project management service from the design stage to project completion.

Anyon secured planning permission for this contemporary extension to a 150-year-old house in Lancashire.

RPS Design Group

Combining planning, architecture and 3D visualisation, RPS Design Group embodies a wide skill set and works throughout the UK. Its work includes residential, rural diversification, heritage, equestrian, conversion of listed buildings, sustainable homes, permitted development rights and master planning.

Planning consultants from RPS Design Group submitted a successful planning application for this music room and annexe.

JWPC

This charted town planning and development consultancy based in Lancaster operates across the UK, handling projects from concept to completion. Consultants are Royal Town Planning Institute members with wide-ranging experience across all sectors, and all have worked with local planning authorities giving them insight into planning policy. This planning consultancy offers planning advice to landowners, developers, pub and leisure chains and householders.

JWPC is experienced in securing the removal of restrictive legal agreements for residential properties in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Roman Summer Associates Ltd

Based in Bury, these town planning consultants work on a wide range of developments and regeneration planning projects across the UK and can deal with planning applications, strategic planning and development advice, market appraisals, planning appeals, compulsory purchase and compensation.

Roman Summer dealt with the refurbishment and conversion of this listed building, which involved demolishing recent additions and building a contemporary extension to create 14 apartments.

Find the Right Town Planning Consultants

Speak to planning consultancies with experience in projects like yours as a first step. The firm you choose should be able to provide examples of recently completed schemes they have secured planning consent on. It should be familiar with the local plan for the relevant area, and have good working relations with the local authority. Check that planning consultants are members of the Royal Town Planning Institute and offer a wide range of planning services.

Engaging a chartered town planner or a planning consultancy is not a guarantee of success, but specific advice from planning consultants could give you the best chance of achieving your aims.