Why Use a Planning Consultant?
When considering development and in particular planning permission, hiring a planning consultant will be to key success. A planning consultant can offer expert guidance on land use, ensuring you comply with legal regulations and planning policies. They can conduct feasibility studies to managing community and environmental considerations and overall play an essential role in securing approval for developments.
Whether you’re planning on a home extension, a private new build, a change of agricultural buildings, or an application on a large-scale, the support of a planning consultant could save you time, effort, and costly mistakes.
Here are the best reasons why you should use a planning consultant.
1. A smoother planning application
Our first reason to why you should use a planning consultant is that it will save you time. Time will be saved in the preparation of the planning application, and the process of consideration by the Council. Hire a planning consultant and they can manage the whole process from start to finish, meaning you get the time efficiency from an expert who will prepare documents, conduct feasibility studies, and coordinate with architects, surveyors, and local authorities.
Working with a planning consultant means you can reduce any delays that are likely to arise from incomplete or incorrect planning application submissions.
A good planning consultant will have a comprehensive understanding of the planning system, meaning your project stands a better chance of progressing smoothly and quickly without unnecessary hurdles getting in the way.
It’s worth nothing that you can use a planning consultant before this point. For example, with Intelligent Land, we can give you planning advice to help you decide whether to make an application. We pride ourselves on this approach as we will advise clients whether we believe the application will be successful or not, thereby saving them time and money by not submitting an application that is bound to be rejected.
2. Local knowledge and relationships
Many planning consultants have strong relationships with local planning officers and understand the specific nuances of local authority expectations, giving you a significant advantage.
At Intelligent Land, we have been helping clients with planning applications in the south coast counties for many years, so understand the nuances in Hampshire and Dorset.
3. The project complexity
The intricacy and complexity of a project will also play a crucial role in deciding whether to hire a planning consultant and the value you place on their advice and support. For large, intricate, or potentially contentious projects, such as new residential developments or commercial initiatives, their expert knowledge will be invaluable.
Why you should use a planning consultant can be answered alone on just this point, as their expert guidance, particularly when dealing with complex issues such as environmental impact assessments or heritage site regulations, helps you to manage any unique challenges.
4. An increased chance of success
One of the most obvious reasons to why you should use a planning consultant it should mean a significant increase in the likelihood of your application being successful. A good planning consultant will make sure the application is well-prepared, professionally presented, and meets the necessary requirements.
This expertise doesn’t just enhance the planning application quality but can also help to address any objections from local residents or stakeholders, thereby strengthening your case and improving your chances of securing planning permission.
It’s also worth considering how a planning consultant’s insight could support a successful project outcome by identifying opportunities for early and effective community engagement, and approaches that could boost the project’s viability.
They also play a key role in risk management, helping you avoid costly surprises. They will have a large network of professional contacts, including local architects, technical and environmental specialists, so a planning consultant can facilitate smoother project execution and potentially ease the approval process.
5. Helping with the appeal process
If your planning application is refused, a planning consultant can help with the appeal process. They will draft appeal statements, represent you at hearings and help prepare a strong case for approval.
They can look at resolving disputes with local authorities or neighbours, providing professional mediation and negotiation services that can get the project moving forward.
5. The cost benefit of using a planning consultant
You might think you could save money by not using a planning consultant, but the opposite could end up being true. Regardless, any possible cost saving should be weighed up against the potential benefits.
While there are fees involved in hiring a planning consultant, these expenses can be justified if the consultant’s expertise increases the likelihood of obtaining planning permission. This is especially true for large or complex projects, where the investment in a planning consultant could quickly pay off by helping to avoid costly mistakes and reducing delays.
You should also consider the potential long-term savings and returns from effective planning you get from using a consultant. A well-executed strategy can lead to reduced risks and earlier consent, giving you a higher ‘Return On Investment’ (ROI).
In conclusion
Hiring a planning consultant is an invaluable step toward the success of your development project. From offering expert advice and streamlining the planning process to increasing the likelihood of approval, a planning consultant can save you time, money, and unnecessary stress. Their local knowledge, strategic insights, and professional network can make all the difference in navigating the complexities of planning regulations.
If you’re considering a development project, whether it’s a home extension, a large-scale build, or converting agricultural buildings, Intelligent Land can help. With years of experience in Hampshire and Dorset, we can guide you from the initial feasibility assessment through to securing planning approval.
Contact Intelligent Land today to discuss your project and discover how we can help turn your vision into reality.