Need a planning consultant in Nottinghamshire?

Planning Consultants in Nottinghamshire

While there is an increasing demand for housing and development in the county, schemes will come under scrutiny as Nottinghamshire County Council puts sustainability at the heart of its outlook.

A planning consultant may provide the specialist skills and insight needed to steer a difficult project successfully through the planning process.

In this article, we examine the role that a planning consultant plays in a preparing and submitting planning applications, before looking at Nottinghamshire’s development plan. We then show schemes by town planning consultants in Nottinghamshire to inspire you.

Planning Consultants’ Role in Securing Planning Permission

Planning consultants offer a host of specific planning related skills. They will be familiar with the local development plan and national planning policies. They should have a good working relationship with the relevant local authority planning department, giving them an understanding of what type of projects will be acceptable.

Consultants should have significant experience of an area’s key issues, from town planning matters to residential development, outline planning permission, sustainable development and strategic land promotion. As well as dealing with these planning issues, planning consultants generally provide site assessments, feasibility studies, preparation and submission of planning applications, follow up liaison with planning officers, project management and handle planning appeals.

Nottinghamshire and Development

Nottinghamshire County Council’s 2024 development plan focuses on housebuilding to accommodate the growing population and boosting local infrastructure, while balancing environmental sustainability. The council aims to build up to 40,000 new homes by 2030, with an emphasis on sustainable, high-quality developments. This target reflects the region’s increasing demand for housing and economic growth, particularly in key urban areas like Nottingham, Mansfield, and Newark.

One of the primary planning issues is managing the delicate balance between growth and environmental preservation. Much of the county contains valuable green spaces and wildlife sites, including areas designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) and numerous nature reserves. Notably, sites like the Bilsthorpe and Bestwood Country Park are home to important biodiversity, which could face pressure from urban sprawl and new infrastructure projects. The county’s development plans include efforts to protect these areas through environmental mitigation measures and green belt policies.

Two significant projects are currently in the pipeline. The first is the Chesterfield Road South Development, a major residential project in Mansfield, which will bring over 1,500 homes along with schools, healthcare facilities, and green spaces. The second, the Civic Quarter Regeneration in Newark, will redevelop a 15-acre site into a mixed-use development, combining retail, leisure, office space, and 500 new homes.

Schemes by Planning Consultancies in Nottinghamshire

Oxalis Planning

This independent planning consultancy has significant experience in bringing forward residential development, mixed-use, and commercial development schemes. Oxalis Planning handles all aspects of the development process, including strategic land promotion, public consultation, political engagement, securing and delivering planning permission.

Whitley South is a mixed commercial scheme including manufacturing, small warehousing and office space, located south of Coventry. Oxalis promoted the site through the Local Plan process, resulting in its removal from the Green Belt and allocation for employment development, leading the planning application process to secure outline planning permission.

Marchini Curran Planning

Marchini Curran Planning deals with all stages of the development process, from feasibility studies through to the securing of planning permission and managing planning appeals.

This firm will prepare planning statements, design and access statements and coordinate input from other required technical fields as well as all communications with the Local Planning Authority. Part of a multi-disciplinary team, Marchini Curran Planning comprises specialist divisions in planning, architecture, engineering, and interiors.

Marchini Curran Planning worked with a housebuilder who had bought a site with permission to build out but wanted several changes made to meet their requirements. Revised planning permission was achieved via a variation of condition.

P and DG

Offering expertise in planning design, heritage, technical and environmental studies, P and DG has offices in the Midlands, London and Oxford.

Planning permission was secured for three new dwellings in the Green Belt, replacing a defunct craft centre. Drawing upon calculations of the existing building’s footprint, extant permissions for extensions and permitted development rights, P and DG successfully argued that the new dwellings would have no greater impact on the Green Belt than the existing craft centre. This argument found favour with officers and planning committee, despite the dwellings occupying a greater part of the site overall.

Martin Hubbard Associates

The practice offers building design, planning applications and consultancy, building contract services management and property advice. Martin Hubbard Associates provide a range of other services to support clients through procurement, design and construction of their projects.

Identify a Planning Consultant in Nottinghamshire

The first step is to find a firm with a good track record of success with schemes like yours. If possible, view one of their finished developments to see if it aligns with your own ideas. The consultancy should offer a wide range of planning services, giving you access to the best advice. It should be able to demonstrate successful planning applications in the East Midlands, both outline permission and full, and offer a range of planning advice from residential development to conservation area experience, planning appeals and reserved matters.

Most firms will offer a free initial consultation, which is your chance to explain your scheme and assess their answers to your questions.