The Planning Permission Design Consultants for London & Essex

Our Planning Permission Stage Services

How Do I Obtain Planning Permission?

The process and requirements vary depending on your project, however in summary you will need to submit detailed drawings and specifications, and other supporting documents, to your local authority under a formal planning application.

Work with an expert planning permission consultant near you

A planning consultant is an expert with professional knowledge of the laws and regulations surrounding planning permission. Working alongside them are the architects, who will produce drawings, designs and specifications for your project, and also submit and manage your planning application of course. In many instances, the help of a good team of planning application consultants and experienced architects can be invaluable, as they can make all the difference between your building or renovation project application being approved or rejected by the relevant authorities. They will also ensure that you achieve all of your project objectives, and a fantastically designed building.

What does a planning permission consultant do?

Planning consultants are an important part of any building project, and their use has become even more widespread in recent years. The constantly changing nature and increasing complexity of the UK planning system now means that each application process requires some level of political thinking. When you’re dealing with a world of planning committees, environmental health officers, Section 106 agreements, Community Infrastructure Levies and appeals, it soon becomes clear that planning consultant fees are worth every penny.

Planning consultants near me

If you’re planning a new building project in the London or Essex areas, it can be invaluable to have a consultant on board from the get-go. From advising on whether a development site is worth purchasing to navigating the complex world of planning applications, the planning consultants fees you pay could actually save you money in the long run, and also yield a huge gain for a successful and maximised project of course.

If you’re searching for a “planning consultant near me”, the good news is that Humphreys & Sons has decades of experience in development and town planning, and we believe our track record speaks for itself. With a unique approach to planning consultation, we strive to not only understand your development goals, but to meet and exceed them through responsiveness, value for money and a desire to see your project through from conception to completion. For further information, why not contact our planning consultancy team today? We offer free help and advice on the following facets of planning permission, and more:

1. How to prepare for your planning application

2. How to appeal refusal of a planning permission

3. How to assess development opportunities via site appraisals/feasibility studies

4. Urban design studies

5. Master plans

6. Research of policies and local requirements

7. Public consultation

8. Certificates of lawfulness and enforcement notices

How to appeal your planning permission rejection

The average planning permission application process takes around eight weeks, although large or complex applications could take up to 13 weeks. During this process, your planning application must undergo public consultation. At this stage, anybody who feels like they will be impacted by your proposal will be able to liaise with local authorities to raise any concerns they may have.

After painstakingly putting together what you thought was the ideal plan for a building project, it can be frustrating to find out your planned application has been refused. Thankfully, there are several options to consider – but you’re going to want to work with a team of professional planning application consultants to achieve the best possible outcome.

Planning permission rejected: what’s next?

Most homeowners and developers agree that planning permission issues are a real stumbling block when it comes to renovating a property, extending a home or creating a new build. However, it’s important to not get too downhearted if your initial application has been denied. Planning appeal consultants appeal planning permission decisions all the time, and as part of your planning consultant fees, you can expect to receive a first-class service which will give the maximum possible chances of success.

Notwithstanding this, at Humphreys & Sons, our team is on-hand to ensure that your application is watertight from the very beginning, with the intention being that planning permission will be granted first time. Getting professional assistance will provide you with a much greater chance of having your plans approved. Our London/Essex planning consultants are here to provide you with the expertise you require to submit a successful planning application.

Planning permission for garage

“Do I need planning permission for a garage?” is a question often faced by professional planning consultants – and the answer can vary depending on many variables. Outbuildings such as garages are usually considered to be permitted development, provided they meet certain dimensional requirements in terms of heights and floor areas

However, this is where things can get complicated. When applying for planning permission for a new build garage, it’s important to understand that an outbuilding cannot take up more than half of the land which surrounds the original property. For further information, you may find it useful to contact your local authority or contact one of our planning consultants for some free, expert advice.

Do I need planning permission to convert my garage?

If you’re asking the question “do you need planning permission for a garage conversion?”, the answer is again dependent on many variables at play. For example, garage conversion planning permission is not usually required providing the work undertaken is internal and doesn’t involve the enlargement of the existing building. This would fall under permitted development regulations, provided that certain other requirements are met such as provision of sufficient off-street parking.

If your intention is to convert your garage into a separate home, planning permission could be required – regardless of who intends to occupy it. It’s also worth noting that permitted development rights have been removed from certain properties with regard to garage conversions (this is often the case on new housing sites and conservation areas).

It is therefore advisable that you liaise with your local planning authority and avail of the services of a planning permission consultant. At Humphreys & Sons, it’s our job to make your application for planning permission for garage conversion as simple as possible, without having to worry about rejections or associated legal disputes. Why not contact us today to discuss your project in detail?

Do you need planning permission for a conservatory?

Conservatories generally fall under the same permitted planning regulations as any other addition or extension to a house, with the same requirements and limitations. It is therefore accepted that a typical, single-story conservatory won’t require an application for planning permission, provided the limits and conditions of permitted development are met. However, if your design falls outside the conditions for permitted development, you may need to apply for conservatory planning permission.

Planning permission conservatory information

Permitted development allowances only apply to houses. If you own a maisonette, flat or other building and are wondering “do I need planning permission for a conservatory?”, the answer is yes. Before undertaking any work, you should check which permitted development rights apply, and if any have been removed under Article 4 directions. Don’t make the mistake of assuming that your apartment enjoys the same permitted development rights as your adjoining neighbour’s house, as carrying out building works on this false assumption can lead to some very costly mistakes.

If this is the case, you don’t need to end your dream of building a new conservatory just yet. Planning permission for conservatory builds can be easily gained with the right consultancy team behind you.

How big can a conservatory be without planning permission?

In most cases, a single-storey conservatory is classed as a permitted build provided it does not take up over half the exterior land surrounding the property and is less than four metres in height. However, it is important to understand that there are many variables which could impact upon your ability to build a new conservatory.

To gain a greater understanding of the complexities of local authority planning applications, we recommend getting in touch with us to discuss your project prior to any building work being undertaken. When building a new conservatory, adhering to regulations is half the battle. With decades of experience in local planning regulations, Humphreys & Sons is perfectly poised to help you gain planning application approval should you need it.

Do you need planning permission for a shed?

Sheds are typically classed as permitted developments. This means that you can build a shed on your property, provided it doesn’t contravene any of the regulations that apply to permitted developments. If you’ve been asking “do I need planning permission for shed?” the answer is no, provided it meets the following criteria:

• It is a single-storey construction.
• It is not being built on the property of a listed building.
• It is not being built in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty or National Park.
• It is not positioned forwards of a wall which forms the principal elevation of your property.
• It is within the size limits for permitted development.

What is the maximum size shed without planning permission?

To build a shed without planning permission, you will need to adhere to the following size limitations:
• Eaves height should not exceed 2.5 metres.
• Maximum overall height should not exceed 3 metres, or 4 metres if your construction has a dual pitch roof.
• If the shed is less than 2 metres away from any property boundaries, the overall height should not exceed 2.5 metres.

• There are also other requirements, and you should contact Humphreys and Sons for a free consultation to discuss these, and ensure that your intended project is compliant.

Do you need planning permission for a brick shed?

Brick sheds are also considered permitted development and subject to similar rules and regulations as wooden sheds. However, if you intend to use your brick shed as accommodation in any shape or form (for example, as a summer house for friends or family), then it is likely that you will require garden shed planning permission.

The planning application consultant you can trust

At Humphreys & Sons, we understand that no two building projects are alike. Each project comes with its own legal complexities, and as planning application consultants our role is to simplify the process as much as possible. Our fees are among the most competitive in the industry, and we’re happy to provide a free, no-obligation quotation – so why not get in touch with us today, and allow us to give your building project the kickstart it needs.