Do I need planning permission advice?

If you’re unsure whether your proposal requires permission or want to reduce risk and uncertainty before submitting an application, professional planning advice can save time, cost and avoid unnecessary delay. A planning consultant can assess the planning status of your site interpret local policy, identify constraints and recommend the most appropriate and cost effective route forward.

What is the National Planning Policy Framework?

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) is the UK government’s principal planning policy document for England. It sets out national planning policies to guide development and decision making. It shapes how local authorities prepare local plans and determine planning applications.

Can a planning consultant guarantee permission?

No planning consultant can legally guarantee planning permission, as decisions are made solely by the local planning authority. However, experienced consultants can significantly improve the likelihood of achieving consent through expert strategy, evidence and negotiation.

How much does a planning consultant cost UK?

The cost of a planning consultant in the UK varies depending on project complexity, site location and the level of service required. Fees typically range from a few hundred pounds for initial advice to several thousand pounds for full planning application management or complex schemes.

What is NPPF in planning?

In planning, the NPPF is a key material consideration used to assess planning applications and appeals. It helps determine whether development proposals are acceptable in principle, balancing economic, social and environmental objectives.

Planning Policy Advice

Shape the design of your project intuitively with our planning experts who will work with you to guide you through any complexities of development, based on the local environment and its potential impact.

Our experienced planning consultants work closely with landowners, developers, housebuilders, operators, investors and promoters across the public and private sectors to guide projects through the complexities of the UK planning system, responding intelligently to the local policy context, political environment and potential impacts on surrounding communities.

We regularly advise on managing policy conflicts, addressing competing planning considerations and preparing robust planning cases that justify development where departures from adopted policy may be necessary or appropriate. Through early engagement with clients, stakeholders and decision-makers, we help establish clear planning strategies that support sustainable and deliverable outcomes.

Whether your project involves residential, commercial, mixed-use or strategic land development, our expert planning advice provides a strong and resilient foundation for success. We also have extensive experience advising across the education, healthcare, data centre and retail sectors, allowing us to understand the operational requirements, investment drivers and planning challenges unique to each type of development.

Private Sector Services

Our teams regularly engage with local authorities and stakeholders across England, providing valuable intelligence on how community priorities, political context and policy direction may influence decision-making. This insight is a key advantage when navigating complex planning environments, including Green Belt sites, heritage assets and locations where development proposals require careful stakeholder and political management. Our understanding of local planning authorities, political priorities and evolving planning policy enables us to identify opportunities to influence emerging development plans and strategic growth locations. We regularly advise clients on site promotion strategies, policy representations and engagement with plan-making processes to maximise development potential and long-term land value.

Regardless of the nature, complexity, or scale of your project, from single site developments to strategic land holdings, we provide tailored planning strategies that reflect your objectives. We assemble bespoke, multi-disciplinary teams from across the Rapleys business, combining planning consultancy expertise with commercial property insight to deliver clear, practical and commercially grounded advice. Our clients include landowners, developers, housebuilders, operators, investors, education providers, healthcare organisations, retail occupiers and data centre developers.

Our services are delivered through a coordinated planning strategy, this includes:

Strategic planning advice and feasibility assessments
Pre application engagement and a planning application strategy
Advice on allocated and unallocated land
Representations to local plans and policy consultations
Guidance on site promotion and long term planning strategies

We regularly advise clients on the promotion of land and development opportunities through the Local Plan process. Our planning consultants prepare robust representations on emerging policy documents, site allocations and strategic growth proposals, helping clients maximise development potential and influence future planning policy. We act for landowners, developers, investors, operators, promoters and housebuilders seeking to secure site allocations, remove policy constraints and establish sustainable development opportunities through plan-making processes.

Our team has extensive experience preparing representations at both Regulation 18 and Regulation 19 stages of Local Plan preparation. We critically review emerging planning policies, assess site allocation strategies and prepare detailed evidence-based submissions designed to influence policy outcomes and protect our clients’ interests. By engaging early with local authorities and key stakeholders, we help ensure that development opportunities are properly assessed and represented throughout the plan-making process.

Evidence at Examination in Public (EiP)

Rapleys Planning has extensive experience representing clients at Local Plan examinations, including Examinations in Public (EiPs), Hearings and Inquiries. Our planners are skilled in presenting clear and credible evidence, responding to inspectors’ questions and negotiating constructively with local authorities in pursuit of preferred policy outcomes. We regularly prepare and present written and oral evidence. Our expertise includes promoting site allocations, challenging unsound policies, responding to housing and employment land evidence, and demonstrating the deliverability and sustainability of development proposals.

We regularly act on behalf of clients to:

Secure allocations or remove policy constraints
Challenge unsound or undeliverable policies
Support long-term development strategies
Present evidence at Examinations in Public
Respond to Regulation 18 and Regulation 19 consultations
Support strategic land promotion and growth strategies
Promote land through the local plan process

Our credibility, technical expertise and meticulous preparation ensure your case is presented with confidence, clarity and authority at every stage of the policy and examination process.

Public Sector Services

Economic growth and housing delivery remain central objectives of the planning system. Rapleys works with councils, landowners and developers to build compelling, evidence-led cases for development, helping clients navigate policy, demonstrate benefits and unlock opportunities for growth. Councils need a strong evidence base to turn planning policy into deliverable outcomes. We prepare housing, economic and retail studies, including HEDNAs, employment land reviews and retail assessments, helping authorities identify future land needs in line with national guidance.

We also help translate evidence into policy, supporting authorities through plan preparation, examination and appeal. We have a proven track record, with no local plan supported by our evidence ever withdrawn or found unsound.

Beyond providing robust evidence, Rapleys helps councils develop practical, deliverable planning strategies. Drawing on extensive planning and development experience, we focus on viability, delivery and risk, ensuring plans are not only sound in principle but capable of being successfully implemented.

Responding to a Changing Planning Context

Plan-making is becoming increasingly complex. Changing housing requirements, evolving economic trends and new land-use demands are reshaping the way councils plan for growth. Rapleys helps councils respond with up-to-date evidence and practical advice. Combining market insight with delivery expertise, we support authorities in adapting strategies, managing risk and planning confidently in a rapidly changing environment.

We work closely with councils, recognising that plans must ultimately be understood, owned and implemented by members and officers. Beyond providing advice, we work alongside officers to build knowledge and capacity, ensuring recommendations are understood, owned and capable of being delivered.

We advise councils on complex development management cases and challenges to adopted plans, assessing whether proposals genuinely align with local priorities, economic objectives and planning policy. Our experience includes reviewing evidence for major industrial, logistics, sports and leisure developments, where promoters seek to demonstrate significant need and public benefit.

We also support developers, landowners and promoters in engaging with the plan-making process. Drawing on extensive experience preparing evidence for councils, we identify weaknesses in emerging plans, challenge unsupported assumptions and build robust cases for development.

Our services include evidence base reviews, consultation responses, examination representations and matter statements, helping clients navigate and influence the planning process with confidence.

To get in touch regarding our public or private sector services, contact our team today.