Getting proposals through planning
Solmaz helps clients secure planning permission in London, from a home extension to a change of use or a new development. We work out what a proposal needs, prepare the case, and manage it through the local authority. Because we also design and build, our planning advice is tied to what can actually be delivered, so a permission is one you can use rather than one that only looks good on paper.
Good planning consultancy is mostly about knowing the ground before you start. Every borough reads its policies a little differently, and what passes in one street can be refused in the next. We look at the local plan, recent decisions nearby and the constraints on your site, then shape a proposal that has a real chance rather than submitting and hoping. Where the odds are poor, we say so early and suggest a version more likely to succeed.
Reading the council before you apply
A planning application that is put together well is far more likely to be approved, and far less likely to drag. We make sure the drawings, the supporting statements and the details all line up before anything is submitted, so officers are not left guessing. Throughout the process we deal with the council on your behalf and keep you informed. A planning application handled this way avoids the common delays caused by missing information and invalid submissions.
Pre-application advice
Where it helps, we test the idea with the council first, so the formal application is not a shot in the dark.
Drawings and documents
We prepare or coordinate the drawings, statements and forms an application needs to be validated and understood.
Dealing with the council
We handle the back and forth with planning officers, keeping the case moving and answering queries promptly.
Realistic advice
You get an honest read on what is likely to be approved, so time and fees are not spent chasing a refusal.
Planning help we offer
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Householder and extensions:
Advice and applications for extensions, loft conversions and alterations, aimed at gaining planning permission with the least fuss. -
Change of use and new build:
Support for conversions, changes of use and small developments, from feasibility through to submission. -
Drawings and statements:
Preparation or coordination of the plans, design and access statements and forms a case needs.
Common planning questions
Do I need planning permission?
Not always. Some work falls under permitted development, and some needs a full application. We check where your project sits before you spend on drawings, so you only apply when you have to.
What does a planning consultancy actually do?
A planning consultancy reads the policy and the local picture, shapes a proposal that fits, prepares the case and manages it through the council, so your chances are as strong as they can be.
How long does a decision take?
Most householder cases run to about eight weeks once validated, with larger applications taking longer. Delays usually come from incomplete submissions, which is what careful preparation avoids.
What happens if it is refused?
We look at the reasons, and depending on them either revise and resubmit or advise on an appeal. Often a refusal points clearly at the change needed to succeed.
Can you do pre-application advice?
Yes. For anything sensitive or borderline, testing the idea with the council first is usually worth it, and we handle that step for you.
Do you handle the building work too?
We can. Once a planning application is approved, the same team can take the project into technical design, building control and construction.
