The services we offer comprise:
- Planning and development appraisals and planning applications
- Project management
- Land
- Appeals
- Local Plan representations
- Planning Enforcement
- Public Relations and Lobbying
- Opposing development
Planning and development appraisals and planning applications
Peter Court Associates (PCA) provides initial advice on the prospects of obtaining planning permission. This can then be extended into a written appraisal as to what could be achieved on the land or building in question.
In many instances clients are advised to have a pre-application meeting with the local authority in order to discuss both the principle and detail of the proposal. PCA has extensive experience of arranging and handling such meetings – and then advising clients how best to proceed.
The Government introduced a number of changes to the legislation covering the conversion of agricultural buildings to residential use. Whilst this has sought to simplify procedures in order to facilitate the conversions the regulations are anything but straightforward. Nevertheless, PCA has achieved such conversions on behalf of a number of private clients.
Project Management
When working on planning application, PCA is able to advise clients on what other professional consultants are required – such as architects, ecologists, engineers and solicitors. PCA has extensive experience on working alongside other professionals and acting as project manager for the application. Indeed, PCA has built up an extensive network of such professionals and is therefore able to recommend with confidence when such specialists are needed.
Land
Peter Court Associates promotes sites of all sizes on behalf of landowners and developers.
PCA have extensive experience of pre-application meetings and of promoting land through all stages of the Local Plan process – from submitting responses to “call for sites” to giving evidence at Local Plan examinations.
In addition to this PCA have successfully introduced land to house building companies, who have entered option agreements with landowners. For example, this has resulted in sites being allocated and/or permission granted at Oakapple Lane Barming, Cripple Street, Maidstone, Chartway Street, Sutton Valence, Main Road Sellindge and North Street, Biddenden.
Appeals
Despite working closely with local authorities, it is often the case that planning applications are refused – even when recommended for approval by council officers. In all circumstances PCA advise their clients on the prospects of winning an appeal and what type of appeal should be adopted. Where requested, barristers or Queen’s Counsel are directly instructed by PCA to provide opinions on such matters and, if needed, to advocate at appeals.
In a number of instances PCA have been employed specifically by housebuilders and developers to assess and provide evidence at appeals on the crucial issue of housing land supply.
PCA has a good record in successfully winning appeals including:
- residential development in Yalding on an unallocated site;
- two appeals upheld in Sutton Valence for housing on allocated sites – with costs awarded against the Borough Council in one case;
- residential development in Lenham with partial costs awarded against the Borough Council
- an appeal upheld for a domestic extension in Allington;
- residential development of single dwellings in Croydon and in Maidstone.
Local Plan and the promotion of land for residential development
Peter Court Associates promotes sites of all sizes on behalf of landowners and developers.
PCA has extensive experience of submitting response to “Call for Sites” which are now issued by local authorities and by Parish Councils when preparing respectively their local plans and neighbourhood plans. PCA then manages the promotion of sites through the local plan and neighbourhood plan process and specialises in the preparation and presentation of evidence at local plan examinations.
Planning Enforcement
Peter Court Associates has successfully acted for landowners who have been faced with Enforcement Notices from the local authority.
Public Relations and Lobbying
Peter Court Associates has advised clients on how to seek support for their development proposals from third parties.
Opposing Development
The Company has also acted for clients who wish to object to development proposals by neighbours which are likely to have detrimental impacts on their own properties.