Development Management

The core of the planning system is the management of land use through a regulatory process determined in legislation by Parliament and delivered by means of a range of Orders, Directions, and Guidance including the National Planning Policy Framework and the Planning Policy Guidance notes

Planning Applications

Planning applications can take many forms. DLP can advise in the first instance how best to advance, outlining the appropriate procedures and documentation that will be needed to ensure validation as well as the opportunities or limitations of specific courses of action.

Planning Appeals

DLP has a long track record of successful appeals, advising on procedural issues, tactics and timescales as well as preparing, submitting and supporting all planning evidence relevant to the conduct of an appeal, including the procurement and management of supporting evidence from other consultants, with the aim of maximising the prospects of a successful outcome.

EIA

DLP can advise on all aspects concerning development that may have potential to require preparation of an EIA, and can undertake the appropriate Screening as well as managing all aspects of the commissioning, preparation and publication of an Environmental Statement, instructing specialist sub-consultants as necessary, coordinating the results of baseline studies and preparing the resulting ES and its Non-Technical Summary.

Planning obligations S106/CIL advice

In all cases, DLP can advise on the implications of the Community Infrastructure Levy or the extent to which a Planning Obligation may be requested, whether such requests are reasonable, and will prepare and submit Heads of Terms as part of the application process. DLP will also brief an applicant’s legal advisors in the drafting of a suitable Agreement or Undertaking.

Discharge of Conditions and Reserved Matters

DLP Planning can advise on the reasonableness of all planning conditions and planning obligations, on their lawfulness and suitability. Where appropriate DLP can negotiate the final wording of conditions, advise on strategies for removing or varying planning conditions and tailor section 73 applications to help maximise the value of planning permissions.

Minor and non-material amendments

DLP can advise on the nature of any amendments which may be necessary or desirable to make to planning permissions, determining whether they can be deemed as minor or non-material and can prepare, submit and negotiate the appropriate scheme as necessary.

Enforcement

Enforcement action may take several forms. DLP is widely experienced in dealing with all manner of issues where enforcement is threatened or enforcement action has been taken and, where necessary, can also obtain expert legal advice on our client’s behalf in a quick and cost-effective manner.

Community Participation

DLP is well versed in undertaking a wide variety of public presentations for all types and sizes of projects, from an extension to an existing single dwelling house to major mixed-use development projects, collating and analyzing consultation responses and preparing an appropriate Statement of Community Involvement to submit with an application.