Planning Consultancy

Talk to a planner before you talk to an architect
If you own land or property with potential, getting planning advice early gives you a straight view of what is achievable, what it will take and whether it is worth pursuing, before you spend any money on a design. Our Chartered Town Planners guide you through the process across Kent, Sussex and Surrey.

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Early advice changes what is possible

The planning system tends to reward people who engage with it early. Whether you are testing an idea for a residential or commercial project, or you have already hit an obstacle with an existing application, professional advice early on shapes what’s realistically achievable and how much risk you are carrying.

Our team is led by Chartered Town Planners accredited by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), and works alongside our Development Consultancy team, so you get advice on both sides of a project from one place rather than juggling separate advisers. Wherever it sits in Kent, Sussex or Surrey, you get the same local knowledge and the same straightforward advice.

Shepherd's hut in a rural garden setting with countryside views

Already had an application refused?

A refusal is not necessarily the end of the road, and it is often the point where the right advice matters most. We look at what went wrong, whether an appeal is worth pursuing, and what would give a revised application a stronger chance.

Speak to our planning team

Our range of Planning services include:

Please contact a member of our Planning Team to discuss how we can help you.

Offices in Battle, Haywards Heath, Pulborough, Surrey Hills and Tunbridge Wells.

Charlotte Catton-Giltinane

Senior Planner

Pulborough

Christine Dadswell

Christine Dadswell

Associate

Tunbridge Wells

Clare Bartlett

Clare Bartlett

Director

Pulborough

David Campion

David Campion

Planning Consultant

Tunbridge Wells

Harriet Richardson

Harriet Richardson

Associate

Tunbridge Wells

Kirsty Castle

Kirsty Castle

Director

Tunbridge Wells

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Common questions about planning

Most building work, changes of use, or new development requires planning permission, though some works fall under permitted development rights. It depends on your specific project and site, so it’s worth checking before you commit to any design or costs.

Most local planning authorities aim to determine a straightforward application within 8 weeks, and larger or more complex applications within 13 weeks. In practice, timescales can run longer depending on the authority’s workload and whether further information is requested.

You can usually appeal a refusal to the Planning Inspectorate, or in some cases submit a revised application addressing the reasons for refusal. Getting the right advice on which route to take can save significant time and cost.

It depends on the site’s location, planning designations and local policy. Land promotion, allocation through a local plan, or a considered planning application can all be routes to bringing undeveloped land forward.

You can submit a planning application yourself, but professional advice significantly improves your chances of success, particularly for anything beyond straightforward householder projects, and can save you money by avoiding an application that’s likely to be refused.