Planning Services
We provide a comprehensive range of planning and development services designed to turn your vision into reality. Whether you are exploring the early stages of a project or preparing to submit a full planning application, our team offers clear, practical advice and professional support at every step.
With specialist knowledge across residential, commercial, healthcare and mixed-use developments, we deliver tailored solutions that reflect your specific requirements. From pre-application guidance and lawful development certificates through to full planning permission and architectural design input, we make the process straightforward and effective.
Our approach is underpinned by decades of experience and a detailed understanding of both local and national planning policy. By working closely with you and engaging proactively with local authorities, we help unlock the full potential of your site and achieve the best possible outcomes.
Planning Applications
When your project requires formal consent, our team manages the full planning application process on your behalf. We begin by reviewing the scope of your development against local and national planning policies, highlighting any potential risks or challenges at the outset. From there, we prepare detailed submissions, coordinate the supporting documents required, and ensure everything is presented clearly and professionally to the local authority.
Our team handles a wide variety of planning applications, including residential developments, agricultural projects, commercial schemes, and change-of-use proposals. By anticipating what planning officers are likely to focus on, we address issues before they become obstacles, reducing the risk of delays.
With Wignalls by your side, your planning application has the best possible chance of approval.
Pre-application Advice
Pre-application advice is one of the most valuable tools available when planning a project. This early stage engagement with the planning authority allows you to understand how your proposals are likely to be received and gives you an opportunity to make adjustments before investing in a full submission.
We provide independent pre-application advice to help you shape your project effectively. Our team assesses your scheme against local planning frameworks and national policies, flagging potential constraints such as conservation designations, listed building impacts, or infrastructure limitations.
By entering the application process with this insight, you can save both time and money, while maximising the chances of success when your formal plans are submitted.
Lawful Development Certificates
A Lawful Development Certificate (LDC) provides formal confirmation from the planning authority that your proposed or existing works are lawful. This can apply where time limits have made past works immune from enforcement, or where new proposals fall within permitted development rights.
At Wignalls, we prepare and submit LDC applications with meticulous supporting evidence, including plans, photographs, and relevant documentation. This ensures your case is presented clearly and convincingly. Securing an LDC provides peace of mind, protects the long-term value of your property, and prevents future disputes with the council.
It is a practical safeguard for both homeowners and commercial property owners looking to confirm the legality of their developments.
Discharge of Conditions
When planning permission is granted, it often comes with conditions that must be satisfied before development can proceed. These might include requirements for landscaping, drainage details, materials, or ecological considerations. Failing to discharge conditions properly can result in costly delays or even enforcement action.
We manage the discharge of conditions process on your behalf, preparing and submitting the required details in line with the approval. Where specialist input is needed, we coordinate with trusted consultants to ensure compliance. By working closely with the planning authority, we make sure conditions are resolved efficiently, allowing you to keep your project moving forward without unnecessary setbacks.
Permitted Development Rights
Permitted Development Rights (PDRs) allow certain works and changes of use to be carried out without full planning permission, provided they meet strict criteria. These rights can cover a wide range of projects, from domestic extensions and loft conversions to the conversion of agricultural or commercial buildings.
Our team provides clear advice on whether your proposals qualify under PDRs, as well as support with prior approval applications where necessary. By using PDRs effectively, you may be able to progress your project more quickly and cost-effectively than through a full planning route. We help you avoid the common pitfalls of misinterpreting the legislation and ensure your work remains lawful at every stage.
APPEALS
Even carefully prepared planning applications can sometimes be refused, delayed, or approved with conditions that restrict your development. When this happens, the appeals process gives you the opportunity to challenge the decision and seek a fairer outcome. At Wignalls, we provide expert advice and representation throughout every stage of the process, ensuring your case is presented clearly and persuasively.
We look at:
- Refusals of planning permission
- Enforcement appeals
- Appeals against failure to determine applications within statutory timeframes
- Appeals in relation to restrictive planning conditions
- Written representations
- Formal hearings
- Public inquiries
There are several routes to appeal, depending on the circumstances. These include written representations, formal hearings, and public inquiries. We guide you through the most suitable option, prepare the required documentation, and liaise with planning inspectors and legal representatives where necessary.
Our goal is to address the reasons for refusal, strengthen your arguments, and maximise your chances of success.
PLANNING STATEMENTS
A strong planning application is often underpinned by clear, well-structured supporting documents. Planning statements provide the evidence and justification that local authorities expect, demonstrating how a proposal aligns with planning policy and addressing potential areas of concern. At Wignalls, we prepare comprehensive, persuasive statements tailored to your project and the specific requirements of your local authority.
We prepare and coordinate a wide range of documents, including:
- Planning Statements
- Design and Access Statement
- Drainage Statement
- Sustainability Appraisals
- Environmental Impact Assessment
- Transport and Travel Plan
- Retail Impact Assessment
- Sequential and Exceptions tests
- Affordable Housing Statement
- Heritage / Listed Building / Conservation Statement
- Ecological Statements
- Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG)
- Statement of Community Involvement/Public Consultation
- Very Special Circumstance Statements
DEVELOPMENT PROMOTION
If you are a landowner seeking to maximise the value of your site, development promotion offers a strategic way forward. This involves working with developers and local authorities to secure future development potential through planning allocation and promotion strategies.
We advise landowners on how to position their land for inclusion in local plans and represent their interests throughout the process. Our expertise ensures that opportunities are identified early and pursued effectively, helping to unlock value that might otherwise be overlooked. Development promotion is particularly important for larger or longer-term projects where planning strategy can have a major impact on value.
Architectural Design
High-quality architectural design is central to the success of any planning application. Well-prepared drawings and proposals not only demonstrate the functionality of a scheme but also show how it responds to local policy and design standards. Poor design, on the other hand, is one of the most common reasons for refusal.
We work closely with trusted architects to deliver schemes that are visually appealing, practical, and policy-compliant. Whether you are extending a home, delivering a new commercial scheme, or converting existing buildings, we ensure your design supports the planning strategy from the outset. By integrating design and planning expertise, we provide a smoother path to approval and a development you can be proud of.