Planning permission was obtained some years ago for the replacement of an existing house in the Green Belt for a larger property. We advised the landowner regarding a series of amendments to that permission which obtained a larger house, including a basement and sunken patio area. This can be a difficult area of planning policy due to previous case law on what is allowed in Green Belt replacement schemes: court cases that we have been involved in over many years. Our advice led to planning permission for the scheme in this new case being granted under delegated powers.

Client: private developer

We were recently involved in regularising a breach of planning control at a property in the Green Belt. Planning permission had been granted for a replacement house with a planning condition removing permitted development rights. However, an extension had been built at the property. We managed to achieve a Certificate of Lawfulness that secures the permanent retention of that extension.

​Client: private householder

We were excited to be on site recently to help with last issues concerning the erection of a new house in the countryside in Berkshire. We have been involved in this project over many years and secured various permissions through applications, certificates of lawfulness and appeals. The work is nearing completion for this striking modern house, to be a family home for our long-standing clients.

Client: private householder

A couple of months ago we obtained planning permission for a new house on undeveloped, open land in the Green Belt. Another success for a similar scheme, this time on appeal. The client had a large garden, with the restrictions of Green Belt and protected trees. The Council refused permission but we argued at appeal how the erection of a new house on this land is consistent with planning policy: a complex area of planning policy and precedent.
​Client: private householder

We have obtained planning permission for a large detached house on an undeveloped parcel of land in the Green Belt, in a Berkshire village. The application raised a discussion as to whether the type of development was consistent with local and national planning Green Belt policy, and the site also was subject to ecological and drainage issues. We negotiated a permission that was approved under delegated powers by the Planning Officer, with no objections from neighbours.

Client: private landowner

Planning permission has been granted for the retention of three dwellings in the Green Belt, in Surrey. The client had converted three buildings to separate houses and enforcement investigations had commenced. We advised in relation to the lawfulness of the case, and then prepared a planning application to argue why permission should be granted for the retention of the dwellings. This was approved by the Planning Committee.

Client: private householder

Planning permission and listed building consent have been granted for the change of use of a redundant church in the Surrey countryside to five flats. The church, which lies in the Green Belt, had been vacant for many years but retained original features. We presented a case for the conversion to flats, with information relating to the historic interest of the building, impact on bats in the church and how the graveyard around the church would be retained. Permission was granted by the local authority.

​Client: private developer

Work has recently been completed on a project for the restoration and extension of a Grade II listed manor in a Cotswold village. The scheme saw renovation of the family house and its grounds, a rear conservatory and a contemporary extension within the former stable yards. The scheme was completed with Studio Indigo, and more details can be seen here.

Client: Private householder
Photo credit: Luke White Photography

We were pleased to attend the opening party for a new development of houses near Bagshot, Surrey. We obtained planning permission for this brownfield redevelopment scheme in the Green Belt, where there were many issues to overcome in order to gain permission under delegated powers.

We recently had success for local residents in objecting to new housing in a village in Oxfordshire, where planning officers had recommended approval but we helped persuade the Planning Committee to refuse. In that project the developer appealed and the appeal was dismissed, on the grounds we had given.
​
We have repeated the success for residents: again, an application had been recommended for approval, Councillors refused permission, and the subsequent appeal has been dismissed - and again for the reasons we set out.

This shows how presenting a careful argument based on thorough interpretation of planning policies can make the difference to whether permission is granted or not.

Client: residents' group