By leading our clients from the earliest stages of a project, our experts identify opportunities not only to increase the certainty of approval, but also to reduce costs and accelerate development times.
Our planning services can be delivered independently or integrated with others. We work closely with environmental scientists, engineers, transport planners and sustainability experts to manage projects from inception to completion. We have delivered lead consent management and strategic advice on a wide range of infrastructure projects across the UK and internationally, including climate resilience, defence, highways, rail, education, health, housing, employment and mixed-use regeneration, water sector assets and waste focused schemes.
We have a large team focused on the development and delivery of the major infrastructure consenting process, and particularly development consent orders (DCOs), but our expertise covers a wide range of specific advice including:
- Statutory planning advice – we undertake planning appraisals, negotiate and submit major planning applications and secure listed building or conservation area consents for both private and public sector customers. In the UK, we help progress S106 and other planning agreements.
- Public inquiry and expert witness service – many of our staff are skilled expert witnesses, regularly called to present at major public inquiries.
- Master planning and urban design – we develop master plans including the layout and density of built form, development phasing, open space, infrastructure, public access and landscape requirements, as well servicing, highway or environmental considerations. During the West Croydon Gateway masterplan our land-use planners, urban designers and transport planners required strategic input.
- Site planning and development potential review – we examine site development potential, including issues such as parking, vehicle access and servicing, daylight / sunlight, density and plot ratio to establish acceptable site coverage and development value. For example, the Birmingham Eastside masterplan identified regeneration catalysts and development opportunities for land adjoining the central canal district.
- Public consultation – our town planners lead and support public consultation, including planning workshops, public presentations, awareness campaigns and media relations. We have a leading role on the HK$21.6 billion West Kowloon Cultural District development in Hong Kong, providing urban, environmental and sustainability planning and infrastructure design, developing a financial model for the district and setting out the spatial and functional requirements for all of the new venues. As part of this work, we assist stakeholder consultations enabling the West Kowloon community and wider public to express their ambitions and expectations for the area.
- Project management – our planners co-ordinate the various specialists through the planning application process to ensure that the project is delivered on time and on budget.
- Controversial applications – we help with development projects in difficult locations, including urban sites where local opinions are strongly held, and sites in designated green belt land and areas of outstanding natural beauty.