Our Services
Town Planning Advice:
We offer FREE expert advice on how to resolve a refusal of permission or submit a revised-application of your current proposal
- Advice on the discharge of planning conditions
- Advice on permitted development rights
Planning Applications:
- Residential and Commercial
- Listed Buildings
- Conservations Areas
- Restaurants, cafes, hot food take-aways, pubs & clubs
Planning Appeals: - Written representation appeals
- Hearings
- Public Inquiries
- Instruction of planning barrister/QC
Development Appraisals:- Development Plan Policies
- Advice on the likelihood of obtaining planning permission
Direct Planning can provide a comprehensive range of planning services including the following:
Preparation & Submission of Planning Applications, Planning Appeals & Enforcement Notice Appeals, Lawful Development Certificates.
Design & Access Statements,
Land Development Appraisals,
Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas,
General Land & Property Development Advice,
Planning Drawings
Building regulations
Discharge of conditions
Premises Licence Applications
Direct Planning Consultancy provides advice in town planning and development control applications and appeals including:-
Site Appraisals
Comprises visiting the site to appraise the physical limitations and layout and meeting clients to establish their requirements; a review of the relevant past planning history and policy background and identifying constraints and opportunities for development.
Applications
Direct Planning Group has 24 years’ experience in submitting all types of applications including those seeking planning permission, listed building consent, conservation area consent, certificates of lawfulness for existing and proposed uses, applications to vary conditions (i.e. for later opening hours), licensing applications.
DPG will manage your application through all stages to decision and advise on the best approach for achieving a positive outcome. We are able to deal with the entire process or any part of it including:
Planning, Design and Access Statements - Planning applications must now be accompanied by a design and access statement. We produce a well-argued and persuasive supporting case for every application including not only the legislative requirements but also a thorough explanation of the issues to show why permission should be granted;
Negotiations with the local planning authority - The planning process is neither easy nor straightforward. DPG’s knowledge of policies, appeal decisions and development rights together with a clear knowledge of local authority planning systems allow us to carry out purposeful consultations aimed at obtaining a suitable result for the client.
Appeals
The best organised application can sometimes be refused permission at the local level. Planning requires those making decisions to weigh in the balance many challenging matters.
Often the decision makers at the local level fail to give adequate substance to important considerations or swayed by local opposition. The only option in cases like this is to appeal the decision to the Government Planning Inspectorate which runs independently of the Council.
Appeals are generally in written form or by informal hearing or public inquiry, depending upon the difficulty of the case, the level of public opinion and whether the evidence needs to be taken under oath.
DPG over the past 24 year has had experience in dealing with 1000’s of appeals for all types of developments, including informal hearing appeals and Public Inquiries and issuing instructions to Counsel (barrister/QC) in certain public inquiries.
Don’t worry, the vast majority of appeals are by written procedure and DPG do all the necessary work on your behalf.
Planning Enforcement
Planning can be complex and there are many examples of people having unintentionally carried out a development before getting correct planning permission. DPG has a great deal of experience in the successful resolution of enforcement cases by the submission retrospective applications or lawful use or development certificates.
Alternatively, if an enforcement case cannot be resolved, then DPG again has considerable past experience of successful enforcement notice appeals.
Architecture
DPG has an in-house architectural division plus an independent consultancy we work with a broad range of architectural practices. We are able to assist clients and will communicate closely with them during the planning process to ensure that full and proper plans are prepared and your proposal has the best chance of securing permission.
Advice
Permitted development rights
Managing the process of an application or an appeal
Whether to resubmit or appeal following a refusal
Enforcement notices
Appraisals
Appraise the development potential of sites
Appraise the relative likelihood of success of different types of application
Appraise the relative likelihood of success of an appeal
Consultations
Professional consultation prior to submission
Professional consultation during applications and appeals
Applicant’s Statements for Submission
Planning, design and access statements
Visual impact assessments
Other supporting information
Applications
Planning applications
Listed Building applications
Conservation Area Consent applications
Enforcement applications
Certificates of lawful development
Resubmissions following refusal
Mixed use development
Negotiations
Conditions of approval
S.106 agreements
Resubmission following refusal
During course of application
Revised plans
Appeals
Written Representations
Informal Hearings
Public Inquiries
Planning appeals
Advertisement appeals
Enforcement appeals
Expert witness (for public Inquiries)
Instructing barristers
We offer the complete range of professional planning services, from initial site evaluation through to overseeing the planning applications and appeals procedures.
Clients will receive regular progress reports and will be represented to the highest principles of professionalism and reliability.
Many clients’ first knowledge of applying for planning permission may have ended in an unsatisfactory result and they can feel confused by the planning system and unsure as to how to proceed.
The main aim of Direct Planning is to provide a straightforward and realistic assessment of the planning merits of a particular proposal and its chances of ultimate success.
A plan of action will then be formulated and agreed with the client. This could involve further negotiation with the local planning authority and a resubmitted application for planning permission. This application would be based upon revised drawings or a re-submitted scheme, an appeal to the Government Planning Inspectorate or a range of other solutions, individually adapted to the exact and exclusive circumstances of the development site and the proposal.
