Pre application advice

 

An overlooked but effective mechanism to engage the planners is through a pre-application meeting.
This works in large and small projects and is very useful to ensure the planning officers and you are on the same page.

Although it is your home, planning officers may have a say on many of the things you do and hence it is best to build a strong line of communication and find a common ground from the start.

I used to work at a studio where planning appeals were considered part of the planning process . However, ... I would not recommend this route for the average homeowner or small business because time is money.

My top tip on this topic: do your homework before the meeting and make sure you are aware of what has been built in the area you are looking at, I order to gain an overview and prepare your list of Plan Bs to negotiate with

As always, if in doubt, contract a professional.