Are Planning Consultants Worth the Money?

In order to understand the little details of planning permission, you may need to call on experts such as planning application consultants. But you may first want to know what they can bring to your project. Are planning consultants worth the money?

Whether you are thinking about building a single-storey extension, remodelling your house, or building a new property from scratch, at each step of the project you will need to check if planning permission is needed.

An expert planning consultant can help navigate and provide great service on:

• Organising and submitting planning applications
• Making appeals in the case of denied planning permission applications
• Client representation in public enquiries
• Conducting environmental impact assessment and feasibility studies
• Master plans & urban design studies
• Offering advice on potential development opportunities

Who are planning consultants?

Planning consultants are building professionals that provide great advice on all matters relating to the planning, construction, and environmental issues relating to building projects.

When you hire experienced planning application consultants in London (such as HumphreysandSons), they will use their expertise to ensure that your planning process runs smoothly and complies with UK building regulations.

Planning consultants make your planning application cost-effective and ensure that your dream project is realistic and goes well.

The services provided by planning professionals can range from being actively engaged with all planning stages to being outside experts providing guidance to help you with decision-making.

How much does it cost to hire a planning application consultant?

The costs vary depending on the scale of your project and the tasks you want to assign to the planning consultant. Their level of skills and experience in the job is also a key factor that could raise or lower the costs of hiring planning consultants.

For large projects that require advanced planning knowledge, you can expect some experts to charge you far higher fees. Try to ensure that you get a fair idea of the quotes you can expect for consultant fees before you strike any deal.

In England, it costs about £400 to submit a planning application for a new house build or conversion; outline applications are charged at £462 per 0.1 hectares.  It’s worth noting that in most cases, you may incur an additional £20 processing charge when submitting documents through an online portal.

Planning consultants that are asked to compose and submit planning applications normally charge flat fees, and they strive to get the project done within defined timescales.

When do I need planning permission?

In the UK, you need planning permission to carry out certain building projects, and this can be granted or refused based on whether you meet the conditions or not.

You may need to seek planning permission if you are putting up a new structure, remodelling an existing building, changing the purpose of a building, embarking on a mining or quarrying project. Before commencing your project, it’s vital to secure your planning permission first.

Local planning authorities are responsible for granting planning permission. Any failure to get the requisite planning permission risks you becoming liable for any costs and responsibility to take remedial action.