Planning Consultant Mole Valley

When it comes to making an application for planning permission on a new build, the initial approval (OPP) will need to address the following points:

Site of the dwelling, this would include the approximate size.
Access, not only for the construction of the dwelling, but longer term.
Design, including external appearance and landscaping. Although when applying for an OPP you really don't need to address the design issues in any great detail.

Outline planning approval can be awarded without some important issues being fully resolved, or even addressed in more than a cursory manner. Some planning authorities will demand that you supply additional information before granting outline permission. In some cases this is to determine whether you have considered a particular issue regarding the land. A common example is the drainage of the site, or confirmation that arrangements have been made for connecting the dwelling to mains drainage. While a local authority taking this approach isn't a statutory obligation at such an early stage, many find it wise to clarify any potential problems from the outset rather than leave them to a later date when the problems will grow and cause problems.

If you come to Architectural Design Solutions for planning consultancy, we will work with you to successfully complete the application process. As well as designing your new home to fit your taste and needs, we can help in dealing with all of the factors that a planning department will want solutions to, such as:

access to the site and what impact it would have on surrounding properties. In some cases there are also issues regarding highway safety as well as the general impact on the surrounding environment.
how the property will affect the natural features of the local environment. Not just on your land and surrounding area, for example the removal of any hedgerows or trees could have a detrimental effect on the drainage of rainwater across a much wider area.
how the new building will affect surrounding buildings, particularly the position of any windows, how the site is oriented and arranged, the size and height of your new dwelling. All of these factors will be considered by the planning committee when deciding on whether to approve your plans or not.
whether there are any natural or man made obstructions which will be affect any development. This can a wide range of things from overhead cables, and any structures needed to carry them (telegraph poles or electricity pylons) through to utility pipes or natural water courses that cross the land, either over or under the surface.

One thing we will work with you to avoid is repeating previous mistakes, we can establish is there have been previously unsuccessful applications made for the site, or similar applications in the local area. We have the experience to know how the planning committee would come to their decisions and using the knowledge of previously unsuccessful application, advise you how your plans would need to be altered to get permission. Remember that for the initial Outline Planning Permission, you don't usually need to have detailed plans, just enough for the planning committee to decide if they agree that you can build there.