C2J are a chartered town planning consultants who provide expert Town & Country Planning services throughout the UK. We draw upon over 30 years of experience to confidently deliver clients’ aspirations for the development and use of land and buildings in a timely and cost efficient manner.
In doing so our chartered town planners and town planning consultants work to stay at the forefront of current planning practice and seek to excel in an increasing range of circumstances, over an increasing geographical area and through partnership with those who have complementary skills.
The practice provides proactive expert advice on a wide range of development issues. We help our clients navigate through the increasingly complex and ever changing planning system, providing clear, considered and reliable advice based on a detailed knowledge of local, regional and national planning policy, in order to achieve a successful outcome; on time and within budget.
With our own in house Architects (RIBA), Building Technicians and Code for Sustainable Homes Assessors, we are able to provide our clients with an efficient, consistent and cost- effective service.
We have extensive experience in submitting all forms of application including those seeking the most common ‘outline’, ‘reserved matters’ or ‘full’ type planning permissions, to the more unconventional such as listed building consent, conservation area consent, certificates of lawfulness for existing and proposed uses, prior notification applications for agricultural development or demolitions and applications to vary conditions on existing consents.
C2J will manage your application from conception stage through to decision and advise on the best tactics to achieve your objectives. We can deal with the entire process or any part of it including:
Prior to or following the acquisition of a site, we are able to provide our clients with an appraisal of planning merits of the site.
Through appraising the site, we are able to provide a balance view on the likelihood of planning permission being granted on the site, and the nature and extent of development appropriate for the site.
Our appraisals include:
Appeals against refusal of planning permission, against unacceptable planning conditions, or against the many kinds of Planning Enforcement notices issued by local planning authorities, are the ultimate test of planning consultancy skill.
The best prepared application can, on occasion, be refused consent at the local level. Planning requires those making decisions to weigh in the balance many competing issues. Often the decision makers at the local level fail to apply sufficient weight to important considerations or within the planning committee forum go against the planning officer’s professional recommendation. Recourse in such cases is to appeal the decision with the Planning Inspectorate who operate independently of the local Council.
Appeals can take one of three formats depending upon the complexity of the case, the level of public opinion and whether the evidence needs to be taken under oath. C2J have an excellent track in dealing with all types of appeals including Public Inquiries and issuing instructions to Counsel where appropriate.
From 1 August 2016 all applications (Full and outline) for ‘major’ development and Developments of National Significance (DNS) in Wales must show how the pre-application consultation requirements set out in the Planning (Wales) Act 2015 have been adhered to. This includes a requirement to submit a Pre-Application Consultation (PAC) Report to the Local Planning Authority
Schemes considered as major development include:
For land owners, there is great value in ensuring their land is properly promoted through the development plan process. C2J has extensive experience in promoting development land through development plans within Wales and UK.
We are able to manage, represent and coordinate site promotion, through the submitting comprehensive representations at the ‘Candidate Site’ stage, ‘Preferred Strategy’ and ‘Deposit’ stages.
With our in house Architects, we are able to prepare detailed and graphical site development frameworks. The frameworks set a vision and aspiration for a site and provide a local authority with an indication of how a development could proceed.
Planning can be a minefield and there are numerous instances where people have inadvertently undertaken development in breach of planning control. We have a great deal of experience in the successful resolution of enforcement investigations through the submission of retrospective applications or lawful use or development certificates.
In cases where enforcement notices have been served, we have an excellent track record of successfully appealing against such notices.
C2J offer a comprehensive service to a range of third parties, from community action groups to companies and private individuals, helping them understand applications that may have an impact on their interests. We can assist with the submission of detailed representations, ensuring objections are relevant and focused and we are available to appear at planning committee meetings and appeal hearing. As a chartered Town Planning practice we will give you a realistic view of how an application may be determined and whether there are legitimate grounds on which to object.
The planning process is open, accountable and acts in the public interest. Public participation is a cornerstone of government policy. C2J has the skill and expertise to publicly engage with your community or to represent your group at Local Authority meetings.
