Ericht Planning & Property Consultants (EPPC) provides a broad range of Planning Consultancy services and we have over 20 years’ professional experience gained within the private, public and third sectors in Scotland. EPPC provides bespoke services to a wide variety of Clients with small to medium scale residential and commercial development projects in rural and urban settings. We represent Clients from the agricultural and rural estates sector as well as from commercial, professional and residential backgrounds.
Ericht’s two offices in the Scottish Borders and Argyll & Bute allow us to readily offer planning consultancy services in southern, central and western Scotland but we are pleased to work more broadly throughout Scotland.
SITE APPRAISAL
We provide a guide as to the prospects for Clients’ development aspirations in the short, medium and long terms, taking into account factors including site assessment, planning history, adopted and emerging planning policy and, crucially, our experience of working in the particular area.
PLANNING APPLICATIONS
We prepare and manage a wide variety of residential, commercial and agricultural planning applications for a diverse range of Clients. As Planning Consultant, we typically take the lead role in managing the wider process and co-ordinating the procurement of additional technical supporting documentation from specialist consultants.
Our range of planning applications includes:
- Single and multiple unit residential plots in rural and town locations
- Agricultural developments and re-use of surplus steading buildings
- Rural diversification opportunities
- Changes of use of land and buildings in the countryside and urban environments
- Applications for the removal of planning conditions
- Applications submitted in mitigation of enforcement action
- Applications to certify that an existing use is lawful
We will give Clients a realistic steer on prospects before taking on an instruction. Once submitted, we monitor all our applications closely and respond to consultations and representations, working co-operatively with the Planning Officer. We pride ourselves in positive working relationships with the several Planning Authorities to whom we make applications which can help to smooth the process. We will also provide advice on developer contributions which may be sought by the Authority towards affordable housing, education and other infrastructure.
PLANNING SUPPORTING STATEMENTS
The planning system is ‘Development Plan led’, thus all our applications are accompanied by detailed Supporting Statements to justify the acceptability of proposals in terms of adopted planning policy and guidance. This approach ensures that all potential hurdles are addressed and surmounted, placing Clients’ applications in as strong as possible a position.
PLANNING APPEALS
We prepare and manage planning appeals for submission to either Local Review Bodies or the Scottish Government. Each appeal is constructed with careful analysis of the basis of the Planning Authority’s decision and with robust grounds of appeal being formed. We will always offer our view on the likelihood of success before formal instruction.
PLANNING CONDITIONS AND RESTRICTIONS
We can advise on options for having planning conditions and other restrictions removed or altered and thereafter prepare and manage the necessary applications on behalf of Clients.
PROMOTION OF LAND FOR INCLUSION IN A NEW LOCAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN
We advise Clients on the opportunities for achieving an allocation for development within an emerging Development Plan and prepare submissions to the Planning Authority at an early stage in the process of the preparation of draft Plans. Planning Authorities are at different stages in forming their cyclical Development Plans and it is important to keep abreast of opportunities for putting land forward and to be pro-active in making submissions.
PLANNING OBJECTIONS
We can advise on appropriate grounds for objection to a development proposal which detrimentally impacts upon a Client and then prepare a formal objection to be submitted to the Planning Authority within the statutory timescales.