Planning Services

We provide positive and pragmatic planning appraisals clearly setting out what is achievable on a particular site, often suggesting creative solutions for our clients.  Our site appraisals give our clients the power to make fully informed decisions when considering a land deal or the future of a site.

We often submit a pre-planning application to seek the informal opinion of the local Planning Officer or Conservation Officer (in the case of conservation areas or listed buildings). This helps identify matters relating to potential design issues or where applications do not fully sit within any particular planning context.

Reeve Brown specialise in the preparation and submission of a full range of planning applications. The submission of a well prepared and robust planning application significantly improves the chances of securing planning permission.  We deal with all types of application including:

• Major and minor residential development
• Commercial development
• Change of Use
• Householder applications
• Prior Approval
• Variation of conditions and non-material amendments
• Lawful Development Certificates
• Listed Building Consent
• Advertisement Consent and Shopfront Alterations

Reeve Brown has wide-ranging expertise in the planning inspectorate appeals process and drafting Statements of Case in support of appeals.

Our statements are prepared by experienced RTPI Consultants with the support of specialist consultants where necessary.

If you are contacted by the Council in relation to an enforcement matter or even a minor breach of planning control, we recommend contacting us at the earliest opportunity so that we can negotiate a solution that avoids the issuing of formal proceedings.

We can normally negotiate that a suitable planning application or Certificate of Lawfulness application is submitted for consideration, prior to the Council issuing any formal enforcement proceedings.

If an Enforcement Notice is served, we can submit an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate, which can request that planning permission is granted in any event, as well as usually delaying any further action taken by the Council until the appeal has been determined (which can be over 6 months).

We will tailor the advice and strategy to your needs, depending on whether it is a matter that you wish to resolve as soon as possible, or there can be circumstances where clients are actively looking to postpone any further action for as long as possible.

There is increasing emphasis on a ‘plan-led’ planning system, meaning the allocation of a site for a particular use in a Local Plan can drastically improve the chances of securing permission and adding significant value to the site.

Reeve Brown has extensive knowledge of the ever changing and often complex development plan system and can help put together the best possible case for promoting a specific site for development.

Whilst development including the change of use of land and buildings usually requires a full planning application, Part 3 of the Second Schedule to the General Permitted Development Order (GDPO) allows the change of use of certain types of buildings through permitted development. Examples of changes of uses permitted include:

• Agricultural buildings to Dwellings
• Offices to Dwellings
• Retail units to Dwellings

Permitted development rights are subject to conditions and limitations. While a full planning application is not required, it is important to highlight that, in some cases, the permitted development right will require the local planning authority to approve certain matters, commonly referred to as “prior approval”.