Our Services
We offer a wide range of services tailored to meet your individual needs:
Consent strategies
We work with you to devise a strategy and timeline for how to secure the consents you need for your projects, taking account of your needs and the available consenting options. This includes using permitted development rights, certificates of lawfulness and consent applications. We ensure that consent risks are fully understood, and that a focus on how the project will be consented and implemented is maintained throughout its life.
Applications
We prepare and submit applications for planning and related consents, including Development Consent Orders. Working with you, your architects or engineers and technical and environmental consultants, we co-ordinate the required application plans and documents. We focus on Planning Statements, need and alternatives, and the robustness and consistency of the suite of application documents.
Engagement
We consult and engage with relevant stakeholders and affected communities before submitting applications for consent, enabling their views to be taken into account. We can devise engagement strategies or work with in-house or external communication specialists. We use pre-application engagement to identify and agree key policy and other relevant issues that will be critical for the project.
Negotiation
We always work hard to secure consent, negotiating with objectors, consultees and consenting authorities to overcome barriers to achieving a successful outcome. We advise where amendments can overcome objections, avoiding a refusal of permission or appeal. We advise on planning conditions and risks of implementation delays arising from them.
Expert witness
As an experienced expert witness at appeals, inquiries and DCO examinations, we work closely with in house and external legal teams and barristers to prepare and present evidence. From statements of case to detailed proofs of evidence, rebuttals and statements of common ground, or DCO examination written responses, all are approached with robustness and a focus on the policy tests for a successful outcome.
Plan making
We can assist local authorities with their development plan preparation, evidence base and examinations.
We work closely with water companies and regional bodies to prepare and consult on water resources management plans and drought plans, ensuring relevant guidelines and policy requirements are met, and that option appraisals incorporate planning consent risks.
Responses
We analyse and draft responses to consultation and engagement feedback received. Working closely with client and legal teams, we provide robust analysis and responses to meet regulatory requirements. This includes for individual development projects and also water resources management plan and drought plan Statement of Responses.
Training
We can provide bespoke training to clients and their project teams on town planning and related issues. Topics include infrastructure consenting, permitted development rights in the context of environmental impact and habitats regulations assessments, and on the nationally significant infrastructure processes.