JE, Plymouth
It would be quite normal to use an agent to make inquiries about obtaining planning permission. In fact, many people in this country prefer to use an agent to establish the development potential of their land in preference to making inquiries themselves, because they are not familiar with the complexities of the planning system.
The process of finding an agent is relatively straightforward. Your friend can contact the Royal Town Planning Institute (020 7929 9494, www.rtpi.org.uk), which has regional lists of planning consultants who can provide advice, and can also download the leaflet, Where to Find Planning Advice in the South West.
Costs are negotiable but, as a very rough guide, providing basic advice on the development potential of a particular site in a predominantly rural area would require about three to five hours’ work, at a cost of between £150 and £750. Preparing a planning application would incur additional fees.
Advertisement
However, your friend could first write to the planning officer of the council in whose area his land is situated, identify his land on a plan and ask for an informal opinion on whether or not permission for development was likely to be granted there. Alternatively, he could search the council’s website and establish whether or not his site is within a development boundary and the relevant local plan policies that apply to the site.
Most local authorities in England have now posted their development plans on their websites and it is fairly easy to obtain basic information about the planning policies applicable to a particular site, but professional assistance will almost certainly be required to interpret those policies.
Michael Haslam OBE is a past president of the Royal Town Planning Institute and a director of Michael Haslam Associates
e-mail your questions to propertyexperts@sunday-times.co.uk
Advertisement
Our experts cannot send personal replies. Questions may be edited for reasons of space, and advice is given without responsibility. Please do not send original documents or SAEs