1. HOW TO GET YOUR PROJECT APPROVED ON FIRST
APPLICATION!
Adrian Hunter
The Landmark Practice

2. Outline of presentation
• Advantages of getting approval first time
• Outline of changes to the UK planning
system
• Top tips for getting your application
approved first time

3. Advantages
• Save you time
• Save you money
• Put you ahead in the
market place and ahead
of your competition

4. Changes to the UK Planning System
• Draft National Planning Policy Framework
• Presumption in favour of sustainable
development
• Paragraph 19 of NPPF sets the overall tone:
‘Decision makers at every level should assume that
the default answer to development proposals is yes,
except where this would compromise the key
sustainable development principles set out in this
framework.’
• Localism

5. Top tips for getting planning right
• Consultation
• Preparation
• Allow time to get your proposal right
• Make the most of pre-application discussions
• Ensure there are no surprises
• Make sure you get the submission right
• Get professional support if needed

6. Consultation
• Scope key issues and identify
impacts to be addressed
• Help design iterations to
ensure impacts are designed
out or mitigated
• Address potential objections
before submission
• Speed up the process
• Improve the quality of your
submission

7. Preparation
• Know your strengths
• Support your case with
evidence
• Know you scheme and
ensure you can deliver
• Understand the key
issues - don’t get tripped
up by technical issues

8. Allow time to get your scheme right
• Start the planning
process early
• Allow time in your
programme
• Allow time for the
planning system to
work

9. Pre-application discussions
• Early indication of whether
your scheme is acceptable
• Scope out the submission –
technical supporting
documents, plans etc
• Guide on any consultation
that may need to be done
• Understand any specific
political issues or other
applications for similar
development that you may
need to consider
• Understand the determination
process

10. No surprises
• Thoroughness is good
practice – be well prepared
• Know the issues that are
going to come up.
• Know what elements of your
schemes are moveable and
those that can’t be changed
• Test alternatives –
demonstrate your proposal is
well thought through
• Ensure your submission
reflects your discussions with
LPA

11. Submission
• Get the basics right
• Make you application
carefully
• Consider planning
performance
agreements
• Do it online!!

12. Get professional support
• Get support early
• Technical support to
address environmental
issues
• Discussion with statutory
bodies
• Requirement for other
consents

13. Summary
• Submit a well prepared application, which is well
presented and well argued.
• Ensure you carry out an appropriate level of
consultation and that wherever possible you have
responded to the comments received.
• Give yourself sufficient time both to prepare the
application and to have it determined.
• No surprises on either side.
• Be patient.