Planning and Development Services
Independent planning and development advice that is informed and ethical
which seeks to manage planning and development risk.
Our primary interest is to provide you with the best possible advice at the
outset. If you want to know whether your project has the legs to go all the
the way – then rely on our holistic planning and development knowledge to guide
your early decision-making on whether to pursue your development
aspirations.
Fixed Price - Initial Site-Specific Planning Advice
All our projects start with an initial free of charge telephone conversation to understand your planning and development aspirations. As part of this process an initial desk-top review is undertaken t identify the site and any non-starters highlighted.
If you wish to proceed following the initial consultation a project file will be set up, initial searches undertaken and a site visit arranged with you to discuss likely development options.
The matters that will be covered include: –
- Physical Constraints
- Local Planning Constraints
- Site Planning History
- Access and Roads Issues
- Flood Risk
- Conservation and archaeology issues
- Environmental Constrains
- Site Layout and development potential
This service has been tailored in a manner to provide quick advice to clients on whether to proceed or disregard development projects. We will always look at a variety of planning angles for that diamond in the rough. However, the main aim is to ensure you don’t waste time and money on sites that will likely fail.
Cost: £450 + Travel
All the deliverables as per Package 1 including a written appraisal. Verbal advice will still be provided at the site visit but a written report will be provided within 7 days.
Cost: £1250 + Travel
Planning Application Submissions
Obtaining planning consent. Our bread and butter.
Unless you are able to utilise permitted development rights most proposed building developments will require the attainment of planning permission. This can be a daunting prospect, particularly as the planning world presents a perpetually fluid landscape with amended legislation, changing development plans, revised supplementary guidance and new case law. Read here for more information or contact us here to ask a question or to make an enquiry.
With the help of Interurban, we were able to successfully submit our applications with confidence and efficiency. Guidance on the general permitted development order and use class order has also enabled some of our proposals to proceed without formal planning applications.
We work closely with John on every project. We know that when we engage with John, we are doing so with the primary objective of getting the best possible planning analysis and advice there is. John’s approach is honest, informative, and reasoned. The way in which he approaches each project is in a collaborative manner. The reports are created promptly with an attention to detail that are frankly forensic. I would and do recommend working with John at Interurban Developments to any person or business seeking to reduce the risk on any land or property investment. John works with integrity at the heart of everything he does and is an integral member of our team.
Prestige came across John Russell purely by chance around 3-4 years ago. John has give my companies invaluable information that undoubtedly saved money, time and stress in various formats.
From helping us with planning and development feasibility, input in negotiating land deals, to submitting full planning applications along with supporting statements, we take everything to Interurban Developments, we trust and have full confidence in John.
Prestige properties have used various consultants over the years, but none have come close to the professional credibility John Brings.
Change of Use Planning
Re-purposing existing buildings with a new use. When you change the use of a building or piece of land planning permission may be required. Read more here.
Barn Conversions
Class 18B allows the change of use along certain building operations to effect a change use from an agricultural building to use as a dwelling.
The change now allows modern agricultural sheds and traditional barns to be converted to houses via the General Permitted Development Scotland Order.
Class 18C allows the change of use along with certain building operations to effect a change of use from an agricultural building to a flexible commercial use. It forms part of Government plans to boost the rural economy.
The change now allows modern agricultural sheds and traditional barns to be converted to a flexible commercial use via the General Permitted Development Scotland Order.
Read more about Barn Conversions here.
28 Day Notice
Certificates of Lawful Use
Existing
A Certificate of Lawfulness for existing use or development is essentially a remedy for when building works have taken place without the benefit of planning permission or without complying with a planning condition.
Proposed
A Certificate of Lawfulness for a proposed use is essentially a means of obtaining a decision from the planning authority whether a proposed use or works does or do not require planning permission.
Interurban can help you acquire any certificate of Lawful use you need. Get in touch to see how we can help. You can read more about this here.
Agricultural Planning
Over 75% of the land in Scotland is used for some form of agricultural production. Despite the changes in Government policy and the withdrawal of some grant aid, there is a continuing trend toward larger buildings with wider roof spans, even if fewer are being built. These buildings are industrial in appearance and scale and can have a significant impact on the rural landscape and the visual quality of existing farmsteads. Especially given the diversity of landforms, types of agriculture and vernacular building design found in Scotland. Local Planning policies look for these distinctive local qualities to be respected. These issues become more critical in areas of environmental sensitivity. You can read more about Agrilcultural Planning here.
Working Arrangements
Interurban can undertake consultancy work on a time spent basis. These contracts are based on:-
- Our fees – Rates can be agreed per hour, day, week or month.
- Our Expenses – directly incurred on the project and reimbursable with a small markup/management charge.
- Daily allowance for living expenses – when working away from the office.
Time spent on a project or work is usually interpreted to include:-
- Technical work as defined by the contract or in agreement with the client.
- Surveys or data processing.
- Meetings with the client, advisers and external organisations.
- Site visits.
- Community involvement and consultation activities.
- Traveling in connection with the work.
- Production of outputs and deliverables e.g. reports, plans and drawings.
- Presentation of findings.
- Follow up work as agreed with the client.
Want to find out more? Get in touch.
Fixed price planning contracts can be offered to clients to provide certainty on costs up until planning submission.
Payments are usually linked to key deliverables.
- Initial site-specific advice.
- Pre-application submissions.
- EIA Screening.
- Planning Submissions.
Following the planning submission, the contract will revert to a time spent basis to take account of situations where changes beyond our control require extra work.
In certain situations, where greater certainty on planning outcomes is required Interurban can offer fixed price outcome incentivised fee arrangements.
Want to learn more about our fixed price consultancy work? Get in touch.
A fee basis can be agreed which takes account of the value of the work to the client, e.g. a percentage of the incrase in the development value of the site or property based on an independent vlauation or on profit. These outcome incentivised fee arrangements are for clients that we have a continual working relationship with.
If you are a landowner that we do not regularly work with and you are looking at adding development value to your land to then sell with minimal exposure to planning and development risk you may be intered in our land acquisition and promotion services. [LINK TO LAND LANDING PAGE]
Drone Photography
Aerial photography for planning and development is a vital tool to assess and identify land suitability for current and future use as well as managing development risk.
As part of an initial site assessment, the elevated perspective helps quickly identify land use opportunities, assess the feasibility of proposals and identify necessary changes to designs. While the drone can also be used to inspect areas of a building that are not capable of safe access due to height.
We offer competitive drone photography rates as a bolt to our fixed price – Initial Site-Specific advice and as part of our site inspections.