Holmes & Hills LLP’s expert Planning and Development Team is led by one of only several Legal Associates of the Royal Town Planning Institute (LARTPI) in the region and is unrivalled in Essex. They provide legal advice and services to a number of local authorities across East Anglia, construction companies, property developers and individuals.

The team offer no nonsense expert, practical legal advice and their early involvement can reduce your overall costs and assist in resolving your matter as quickly as possible.

Our team boast two experienced advocates which enables us to represent you personally at Planning Inquiries or in respect of Planning Enforcement matters (where appropriate) thus saving the cost of instructing Counsel.

Our planning services cover:

• Planning applications
• Strategic planning
• Core startegy/DPD’s
• Enabling development
• Pre-application and land law issues
• Planning Obligations
• Lawful Development Certificates
• Community Infrastructure Levy (“CIL”) Regulations
• Planning contributions
• Section 106 Agreements
• Planning appeals
• Breaches of panning control
• Planning enforcement
• Enforcement appeals
• Listed buildings
• Land drainage – Section 104 Agreements
• Highways law
• Highways Works Agreements
• Highways contributions
• Public Rights of Way – diversions/stopping up
• Common land and village greens
• Trees and hedgerows

The Planning & Development Team’s areas of work and experience cover all aspects of the Planning Law at all levels. We deal with matters from small-scale single house developments up to large housing and regionally important commercial developments. We also deal with a wide range of enforcement matters including advising on technical enforcement issues, engaging in detailed negotiations with local authorities and representing you at appeal or in court.

Meeting your needs and regulatory requirements:

The team has particular expertise in drafting planning obligations and highways works agreements acting for a number of local authorities, private landowners and developers in the South East. We provide a comprehensive service in relation to all aspects of non-contentious planning and highways matters being fully aware of the commercial needs of developers and the regulatory requirements of local authorities.

We are well practised in co-ordinating a team of professionals including planning consultants, architects and other experts to ensure our commercial clients receive the service that meets their needs and gives them the best opportunity of success.

Planning applications and appeals:

If your application for planning permission has been refused we can provide you with practical advice on the merits of whether the decision is worth appealing. Planning appeals are both uncertain and expensive and therefore seeking our advice at an early stage can save you considerable expense.