Any individual who undertakes building work themselves can apply for planning permission. And some people even hand this process over to their architects since they’re best equipped to handle any design objections.
However, as neither you nor your architect is a planning consultant, going down this route is like putting a square peg in a round hole.
Why you need an agent to handle the planning permission process
As a general rule, if your application isn’t for a simple build requiring only the most basic forms, we’d recommend contacting a local planning agent early on.
Why?
Because their knowledge of the area and the local and national planning policies means you stand a better chance of your submission being accepted. They’ll also conduct impact and feasibility studies that will tell you the viability of your building project and help you with the following:
- Research
- Applications
- Appeals
- Urban and rural design
Submitting your plans without the expertise of an agent can lead to projects being rejected, making it harder to get the go-ahead down the line.
How much does a planning agent cost?
In truth, there’s no set industry price, so it’s not worth us quoting a cost here.
Costs vary depending on the workload, time and details required within the application submission.
Choosing the right planning agent
While cost might not be easy to pin down, what to look for in a planning agent isn’t.
When researching a reputable consultant, they need to be a chartered member of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI).
Why?
Because they are the only organisation that can give planning agents chartered status in the United Kingdom.
Also, membership is recognised internationally, which means its members must abide by a code of conduct that states they must act with diligence, integrity and be completely professional at all times. If they’re members, you can relax knowing that the agent has already met the highest standards needed to join the RTPI.
Getting the application completed to an acceptable standard that can be registered and reviewed by a local planning officer is an art form in itself. So, even though it’s possible to submit a successful planning application, the costs you’ll incur if it isn’t might be a lot more than if you’d paid an agent in the first place.
Talk to English Architectural
With more than 30 years’ experience in successful planning applications, the team at English Architectural can help. To find out more call us on 01787 275588 or email Mike@english-architectural.co.uk. We’d be delighted to discuss.