C2C Planning Consultants

Our Services

Home
Why use consultants?
Our Services
News
FAQs
Seminars
Contact Us

Do you have a site or a building that you think isn't fulfilling its planning potential?

c2c Planning Consultants can help you by
  • Carrying our an initial planning assessment.  An initial planning assessment examines the following broad planning issues:

    • Relationship to existing settlement;
    • Proximity to sites of national importance for biodiversity
    • Compatibility with neighbouring uses;
    • Flood risk designation;
    • Relevant planning history and policy
    The initial planning assessment determines whether a site is considered suitable in planning terms for the proposed use identified by the landowner, or whether an alternative use would be more appropriate.
  • Where sites satisfied these criteria, they could be assessed as part of the detailed assessment undertaken by a wide range of experts including, ecologists, landscape architects, arboriculturists, and engineers. c2c work with a number of experts in other disciplines (or can work with your existing project team) to create such an assessment.

  • If you need an initial assessment of a site or a building, please contact us through our contacts page.

Do you want to extend your property without having to apply for planning permission?

The permitted development rules have changed recently, allowing more freedom for householders.  However, the complexity of the wording of the rules has meant that there are inconsistencies in the way Local Planning Authorities interpret the rules. Therefore, it is almost essential to apply for a Certificate of Lawfulness before commencing any building work. c2c Planning Consultants can assist you with your Certificate of Lawfulness application to ensure your proposed development complies with the rules.

Click here to have a look at the article we wrote on Permitted Development Rights.

Do you want to apply for a Certificate of Lawful Development?

Have you rung the Planning Department to ask whether your proposed conservatory requires planning permission to be told that no firm opinions are given informally any more.  Indeed, a planning officer’s opinion isn’t worth the piece of paper it is written on!

This is where the Certificate of Lawful Development comes into play.Certificates of Lawful Use or Development are certificates issued by the Council, which establish that the use or development of land is lawful in two circumstances:

(a) Certificate of Lawfulness of Existing Use or Development - where you wish to confirm that any existing use, or operation, or activity in breach of a condition or limitation on a planning permission that has already taken place is lawful on the date specified in the application. It is defined as being lawful if enforcement action cannot be taken against it. This may be because it had, or did not need planning permission, or it may be the case that the use or operation took place so long ago that the time for enforcement action has expired;

(b) Certificate of Lawfulness of Proposed Use or Development - where you wish to confirm that what you are proposing would be lawful i.e. it would not require express planning permission. For example you may need to establish that what you have proposed does not constitute development, is ‘permitted development’, or already has planning permission.

There are benefits in gaining a Certificate of Lawful Use or Development. It is a determination that has legal status providing certainty to prospective developers and purchasers of land and buildings. Certificates of Lawful Use or Development will be particularly beneficial to those participating in the housing market. Solicitors representing purchasers of, for example, extended dwellings, will usually require documentary evidence that extensions such as conservatories are lawful. This evidence may assist with the sale of property. Certificates of Lawful Use or Development also provide the necessary evidence that any works being undertaken are lawful if, for example, a neighbour were to make an enquiry or complaint about the work.

C2C Planning Consultants Ltd can help with the submission of such applications and deal with any appeal arising from the refusal of such a Certificate.

Are you applying for planning permission?

c2c Planning Consultant can help you by:

  • Providing pre-planning advice
  • Advice on the type of planning application to submit
  • Arranging pre-application meetings with the Local Planning Authority and other interested parties
  • Filling out the application forms and acting as your agent in all correspondence with the Local Planning Authority
  • Writing the supporting Planning Statement for submission with a planning application
  • Writing the statutory Design and Access statement (if not compiled by an architect)
  • Providing a Heritage Asset Assessment (if necessary)
  • Represent your interests at any planning committee
  • Planning advice for all stages of the planning process

See why you might need a Heritage Asset Assessment here

Do you want to object to or comment on a planning application or appeal?

You may have a social, political, environmental or purely personal concern about a particular development proposal, but to be effective any objection or supporting statements must focus upon the 'planning merits' of the case. These would include the relevant planning policies applicable to the property and area concerned, as well as consideration of such matters as the impact of the scheme upon the local environment, highways issues, nature conservation, flood risk and many more detailed issues. 

c2c Planning Consultants can assist you in the preparation and/or submission of an objection or comment on a planning application or appeal.

Do you want to appeal a decision made by a Planning Authority?

If you (the applicant) have been refused planning permission by the local planning authority or you consider that the conditions placed on the permission are unacceptable, you have the right to appeal to the Secretary of State against that decision.  Any appeal must be made within six months of the local planning authority’s decision. In the case of failure to determine an application the appeal must be lodged within 6 months of the expiry date of the determination period (for most applications this is 8 weeks). The appeal involves a reconsideration of the application by an independent planning inspector and can take the form of written representations, an informal hearing or a public inquiry.

 

c2c Planning Consultants can assist by:

  • Advising on the reasons for refusal
  • Advising on the type of appeal to make
  • Fill out the appeal forms, formulate the grounds of appeal and act as agent on your behalf.
  • Write appeal statement
  • Respond to the Local Planning Authority's statement or other third parties
  • Attend any hearing or Inspector's site visit on your behalf
  • Help you assess the Inspector's decision

Do you want to make a submission to the Local Development Framework?

The documents within the Local Development Framework for your area set out the local planning authority’s policies and proposals for building and land use over the next ten years or so.

 

The Local Development Framework will affect where you live, work, shop, play and how you get around. If you are interested in your area, street, or own property, then this set of documents will be relevant to you. You should take every available opportunity to influence what it says. The earlier you get involved the better.

 

The only way the local planning authority will know what you want is if you tell them! And the more people who speak up, the more likely it is that the final plan will be a true reflection of local views.

 

c2c Planning Consultants can assist in the submission of representations at the appropriate time.

 

 

Horizontal Divider 26

Baring House  6 Baring Crescent  Exeter  Devon  UK   Phone: +44 (0)1392 457123 Fax: +44 (0)1392 411951 
c2c Planning Consultants Ltd (Company number 6468664)   Registed address  c/o 9 The Crescent  Taunton  Somerset  TA1 4EA