Eclipse Planning Services

Eclipse Planning Services provides a wide variety of town planning and development services for its clients, which include national house-builders, major landowners, renewable energy generators, schools and Academies, businesses, individual property owners and other development professionals, such as architects and surveyors who need planning advice for their clients.

If a project requires the input of other specialists, we can draw on the expertise of our professional Partners.

Site Appraisals

A site appraisal is the first step in the planning process for those that have found a site and want to understand its development potential. These assessments are prepared quickly and will highlight upfront what could be achieved. If the site has potential, we will advise on a planning strategy for delivering development.

Applications

The preparation and submission of applications is one of our core services, whether it be applications for planning permission for new development or changes of use, listed building and/or conservation consent, advertisement consent, certificates of lawful use, applications to modify existing planning permissions, discharge planning conditions or for prior approval.

At the outset we identify the planning issues and advise on the appropriate planning strategy. The information required to accompany the application will be identified, we’ll manage the development team and the preparation of the necessary supporting documentation. Pre-application advice and local community consultation events are considered on a project by project basis. Once submitted, applications are monitored and managed until determination.

We are experienced in identifying the range of other technical environmental services (e.g. transport, air quality, acoustic, landscape impact, masterplanning, ecology and archaeology expertise) that may be required to deliver a sites development potential and can provide specialist input through our professional Partners.

Project managing multi-disciplinary consultancy teams to ensure that planning and environmental issues are swiftly identified, costs are minimised and the timely delivery of projects is an integral part of our service to clients.

Community and Stakeholder Engagement

Positive engagement with Council’s, stakeholders and the local community is an essential part of the planning process. We consult with these parties on behalf of our clients, undertaking pre-application discussions with Council’s in respect of larger scale, complex or more sensitive development proposals.

Some types of development proposals may also require community consultation. The need for, type of and timing of any public consultation will vary between projects and we can advise on and manage an appropriate consultation strategy.

Planning Appeals

On occasion planning applications are unsuccessful or not determined within the required timescales and you have the right to submit an appeal to the Secretary of State.

When considering an appeal it is important to understand the probability of being successful. We advise on the prospects for a successful challenge and help you choose the appropriate appeal route. As well as advising on and preparing your appeal case, we’ll represent you at an informal appeal hearing and in the case of a planning inquiry, provide expert witnesses.

Strategic Site Promotion

Every Council has a Local Plan which at some point will be reviewed and consulted on. For those Landowners and developers that have land interests, it is important to get involved in the consultation process at the earliest opportunity.

Eclipse Planning Services will guide you through the process and advise on planning strategies to promote your site. We will assemble and coordinate environmental specialists if needed to demonstrate a site’s development potential and prepare representations that promote the site through the various consultation stages of the Local Plan, representing you at the Local Plan Examination as necessary.

Enforcement

Carrying out development without the necessary permission or failing to comply with any condition or restriction attached to the planning permission is a breach of planning control against which the Council can take enforcement action.

If you have received a Planning Contravention Notice, Enforcement Notice, Breach of Condition Notice or Stop Notice, don’t ignore it and seek our specialist advice quickly.

We’ll advise you on the process and on an appropriate planning strategy to respond to any action already taken by the Council.