Planning consultants can range from being actively involved with all stages of the planning system, or merely be an outside expert who helps guide decisions.

A planning consultant can be as involved as you need them to be, but typically the main areas which they would look after are:

• A planning consultant can research and assess local, regional and national planning policy to assess the planning potential of sites. The results of this assessment will greatly sway whether or not the project will progress towards the submission of a planning application.
• Planning consultants can be brought into a project to write a supporting planning statement.  Supporting planning statements are increasingly required by Local Planning Authorities in the validation of planning applications.
• A planning consultant can act an agent to the applicant during a planning application by receiving all correspondence from the Local Planning Authority and interested parties.  The planning consultant can advise the applicant on any steps necessary to address any concerns or problems during the application process.
• A planning consultant can act on behalf of someone affected by inappropriate development and make objections to a planning application on behalf of that person or group.  This may involve addressing the planning committee before the determination of a planning application or at appeal if the applicant is seeking to overturn the Local Planning Authority's decision.
• A planning consultant can assess reasons for refusal of an application and can advise applicants whether an appeal against the refusal is appropriate and which type of appeal to make.  The planning consultant can represent the appellants from submitting the appeal paperwork to the discussion of the issues with an Inspector, through to advising appellants on the Inspector's decision.
• If the project is large and long term, then there will often be the need to make representations to the Local Development Framework, or public examinations of the Framework.
• Some consultants will assist with the discharge of planning conditons before development commences.