Need a planning consultant in Liverpool?

Planning Consultant Liverpool

Planning projects that present challenges in satisfying the local authority may require the expertise of a planning consultant.

In this article, we explain the role of planning consultants in helping a project to achieve planning permission. And if you need a planning consultant in the Liverpool council area, we highlight a range of schemes successfully piloted through the planning process by five outstanding planning consultancies in this North West city – one of these may suit your scheme.

What is a Planning Consultant?

Planning consultants offer a range of strategic skills, and can often identify solutions for complicated schemes, saving you time and stress.

Planning services provided by planning consultants include:

• Expertise in the local council area plans
• Knowledge of national policies and environmental matters.
• Project assessment
• Feasibility studies
• Preparation and submission of planning applications and follow-up negotiations with planning officers
• Management of a planning appeals process.

What’s the Difference between a Planning Consultant and an Architect?

Both bring different skills to a project. An architect will design a building and create drawings, while a planning consultant will focus on satisfying planning regulations. While an architect may suffice for a straightforward project, a scheme with complicated issues may benefit from a planning consultant’s expertise to achieve planning permission.

Liverpool and Development

Liverpool City Council’s Local Plan (2024-2035) seeks to accommodate the city’s growing population and earmarks several key areas for housebuilding, job opportunities, and other developments. It focuses on revitalising urban spaces while ensuring sustainable growth, and prioritises brownfield sites for development while protecting green spaces and enhancing urban areas. The Plan aims to balance economic growth with environmental sustainability: new developments must meet green standards without compromising on quality or affordability.

The Plan’s vision is to see approximately 35,000 new homes built across a mix of affordable and high-quality living spaces. Key areas include the city centre, the Knowledge Quarter, and the Liverpool Waters development area, all targeted for both residential and commercial projects. These regions are set to become vibrant hubs, combining new homes with facilities for business, education, and leisure.

One major development scheme is Paddington Village in the Knowledge Quarter, which is already transforming into a state-of-the-art urban space with plans for housing, academic buildings, and innovation centres. This area aims to attract high-tech industries and foster a dynamic community atmosphere. Another significant project is Liverpool Waters, a vast waterfront redevelopment plan, set to feature thousands of new homes alongside commercial spaces, hotels, and cultural venues, creating a dynamic new district for living and working.

Five Stand-out Planning Consultancy firms in Liverpool

These firms provide a wide range of planning consultancy expertise across the north west: one may have experience in a project like yours.

Pegasus Group

This development consultancy has 13 offices around the UK, offering planning services including design, heritage, land and property, planning applications, planning appeals, site appraisals, Green Belt assessments and planning statements.

Negotiations with Cheshire West and Chester’s conservation team secured planning permission for the conversion of a Grade II listed building on the banks of the River Dee in Chester into three executive apartments. As well as providing planning and heritage expertise, Pegasus Group obtained planning permission for a new build block of seven apartments to supplement the conversion cost.

Pegasus Group secured Listed Building Consent and achieved the restoration in one year of a thatched Grade II listed pub following a fire. Pegasus liaised with the local planning authority and prepared heritage reports. As Harborough district council did not have a conservation officer, Pegasus had a dual role; representing the client’s interests and adhering to requirements of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, ensuring the local authority’s statutory duties in the decision-making process were followed, monitoring the site to ensure the work complied with the legal framework.

PHPC

Independent planning consultant Peter Hamilton Planning Consultancy Plc works with developers, landowners, property owners, local authorities, town councils and community groups. Projects range from large-scale mixed-use regeneration projects to house extensions. This consultancy offers planning services including site appraisals and pre-applications, and can manage planning applications.

pHpc obtained planning permission for the change of use of a six-bedroom semi-detached house to six-bedroom service accommodation. A management plan was created to address concerns relating to the proposed site and impacts on neighbours, along with a planning statement. Planning consultants managed the planning application process through to a successful decision.

Townscape town planning consultants

Working on development projects, site appraisals, strategic planning, new housing, heritage and conservation projects, Townscape planning consultants cover the Merseyside area, including Liverpool, Southport and Birkenhead and other parts of the UK.

Townscape created an impact assessment, a refurbishment method statement and a statement of significance for a change of use application to convert this Methodist chapel in County Durham into residential accommodation.

Townscape successfully dealt with a change of use application to create residential apartments at the Victoria Park Hotel in Barrow.                                                                                                                                        

MPD built environment consultants

MPD offers a comprehensive range of planning services, specialising in planning permission and planning appeals relating to residential and commercial developments. Planning consultants are experienced in working with local authorities and housing associations across the Merseyside area and the North West.

MPD secured planning permission to create a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) in Bootle from this three-storey property. The initial proposal was to convert it into a six-bedroom HMO. Sefton Council imposed an Article 4 Direction on the area, restricting the conversion of family houses into HMOs without planning permission, and imposing a minimum criterion that HMOs must meet. MPD surveyed the locality to demonstrate that there was not an over-concentration of HMOs, then produced a scheme for five bedrooms rather than six, due to a lack of outdoor amenity area, which was granted planning permission.

DLP Consultants

This planning consultancy offers town planning and development consultancy services to public and private sector clients.

DLP Consultants obtained planning permission, listed building consent and advertisement consent to convert grade II* listed Carbrook Hall, a former pub at Attercliffe Common, Sheffield, into a coffee shop and drive-through facility. Consultants addressed concerns about the drive-through extension obstructing a view, devising mitigation measures for this and for the harm to the setting of a listed 12th-century building by additional landscaping and the use of appropriate materials. The high-quality scheme involved sensitive restoration to allow the public a chance to appreciate the building, which is an Asset of Community Value, and planning permission was granted.

Take the Next Step

Hopefully, the projects featured here will inspire you if you have a challenging development scheme in Liverpool or the North West. These diverse projects demonstrate just what a planning consultancy can contribute to a problematic scheme, leading to a successful journey through the planning process and the granting of planning permission.