Jigsaw Planning offers comprehensive planning consultancy services across the UK. Our chartered town planners and architects are dedicated to assisting clients at every stage of their projects. Whether you're exploring the need for planning permission, seeking pre-planning advice, or require assistance with applications, our expert consultants are here to guide you through the process.
Don't let planning hurdles impede your progress. At Jigsaw Planning, our experienced planning permission consultants offer expert guidance and insightful strategies to navigate the intricacies of the planning process.
Not only do some of the UK’s top planning consultants and architects work with us at Jigsaw Planning, but we also offer unbeatable pricing, which are backed by our price match guarantee.
If you instruct us to act on your behalf, our architects will work with you to prepare all the necessary architectural drawings, and our planners will prepare all the necessary supporting evidence to submit with your planning application.
We will manage the entire process from start to finish, keeping you updated regularly at every step of the way.
Planning Appraisals
A planning appraisal will give you all the answers you need including whether your project could be permitted development or needs planning permission and the likelihood of success if planning permission is required.
This will enable you to make an informed decision about whether you want to move forward with the project.
We hope that your project will be feasible but if it is not, we will give you frank and honest advice not to proceed, which could save you a lot of time, money, and stress.
Assuming your planning appraisal is positive we can quote for everything you might need including architectural drawings and the appropriate planning application.
Householder Planning Applications
Applying for planning permission is daunting and confusing for most homeowners. Our town planners and planning consultants work closely with our in-house architects, meaning we can manage the entire application process from start to finish saving you time, money and stress. Whether you are considering an extension, loft conversion, garage conversion or a new build house, we will give you the best chance of securing approval.
Pre-Planning Advice
Need help or advice regarding planning permission for your project? Our town planners can conduct a planning appraisal to establish whether you need planning permission, the requirements for an application, costs, and the likelihood of success. We aim to give you the answers you need in a day, potentially helping you to avoid the need for a pre-application with your local authority, saving you time, money, and hassle.
Before commencing any project, most of our customers ask us the same questions which are:
Is my project feasible?
Do I need planning permission?
What is required to apply for planning permission?
What is the process to apply for planning permission?
How long will it take to get planning permission?
How likely is the council to grant planning approval?
What happens if planning permission is refused?
How much will it cost?
These are exactly the right questions to ask, and it is very important to get the answers before either proceeding with a planning application or starting construction.
Option 1: Pre-Application Advice
To submit a pre-application for any type of development you will require architectural drawings including elevations, floor plans, block plans and a site location plan, to show the property before and after the proposed development.
You will also require a detailed written planning proposal. You will then need to submit the online form and pay the relevant fee, depending on the type of development. If your development proposal is vague or lacks the required detail then you can expect an equally vague and unhelpful response from your council.
It typically takes 4 to 8 weeks to get a response to a pre-application. It's important to bear in mind a pre-application does not grant any approval or pre-approval. It will simply be a written response to advise whether planning permission is likely to be required, what would be required to support a planning application, and an indication of whether in principle it is likely to be approved or not.
Many councils are significantly backlogged and have removed their pre-application advice service. The cost of a pre-application varies depending on the project type, size, and local authority fees. For smaller schemes such as residential developments, the cost is up to £600, although it can be a lot more for multiple dwellings or large commercial developments.
Option 2: Planning Appraisal
Alternatively, one of our RTPI-accredited town planners can conduct a ‘planning appraisal’ where we do the same checks as your council, including checking the relevant planning policies, planning history, and any planning constraints at the site address. The difference is that you don't need architect drawings, or a detailed written planning proposal and we can give you the answers in a day rather than 8 weeks.
First, one of our town planners will research the regulations required for your project, which usually takes an hour or more. Then you will have a pre-application advice telephone consultation with the town planner, which is usually about 30 minutes, depending on how complex your project is and how many questions you have.
At the end of the pre-application planning call, you will know whether your project is feasible, assuming it is, whether it needs any kind of permission, the likelihood of success, requirements, and timescales for the process.
One advantage of seeking pre-application planning advice is that it allows you to make informed decisions regarding any potential need for additional information. This may include specialist reports, extra planning statements, or supplementary drawings, which could potentially increase costs or cause delays. By having all the necessary facts beforehand, you can avoid any unpleasant surprises throughout the planning process.
Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas
It is a criminal offence to carry out any works to a listed building without first securing listed building consent and, in many cases, planning permission too. This is because listed buildings are often located within conservation areas. These areas are much more likely to have had permitted development rights removed, meaning planning applications can be much more difficult to get approved. Jigsaw Plannings consultants provide expert guidance and support to navigate the intricate process of securing the necessary permissions for alterations or developments involving listed buildings.
Permitted Development
As a homeowner, you are allowed to carry out certain types of work on your house without the need for planning permission. These are called ‘permitted development rights.’
Building work completed within permitted development will need to meet the specific criteria and standards. This can place limitations on the maximum size of the extension and conversions you may have planned.
The limitations are quite generous and there is a lot you can do to improve your living space without the need to go through planning permission application processes. There are many things that can be done under permitted development and do not require planning permission. However, this is only providing they meet all the necessary planning criteria and there are no hidden constraints that limit or remove permitted development rights.
It is very important to note that every project type has different planning and design criteria that must be met to be considered permitted development. In addition to this, there can be hidden constraints which remove your permitted development rights. This literally means there could be two houses in the same town both doing the same development, such as a 3-meter extension for example. One could be permitted development, while the other needs planning permission, even though they both meet the criteria for permitted development.
If you would like to find out whether your project could be permitted development, contact us for a free no-obligation consultation.
What Are the Risks of Getting Permitted Development Wrong?
There can be serious and costly consequences for getting permitted development wrong! If the council determines planning permission is required for something you have already done, you will receive a planning enforcement notice giving you 28 days to apply for retrospective planning approval or put the property back to its original state and use. Around 20% of our planning applications are retrospective and 90% of the UK's enforcement teams are significantly backlogged so, these issues are common. 99% of enforcement cases are for things people were sure did not need planning permission but got it wrong! We strongly recommend reading Common Permitted Development Mistakes: How to Avoid Them so that you don't make any of these common mistakes. We have also partnered with several businesses that can support you through the planning application process and provide additional services where needed.
Contact our Planning team all work falling under Planning & Development and we will help you every step of the way and stay with you on your journey until completion.
