An initial review of planning opportunities, constraints and the questions to raise with the council.
When this service may be useful
An appraisal is a practical first step where you want planning advice before deciding whether to seek formal council feedback. It helps establish the main questions, potential constraints and information needed to test a proposal.
How the work is approached
We assess your objectives against the available site information, planning history and surrounding context. We identify matters that may require design development or specialist evidence and suggest which issues would benefit from a pre-application discussion.
What you receive
You receive a concise appraisal and recommended route forward. The review is based on the agreed desktop information and highlights uncertainties that need further investigation.
What we need to start
Site address, development objectives and existing information.
We review the site, proposal and planning stage to agree the appropriate scope. Specialist surveys and assessments are coordinated where needed.
Front cover and contents page examples. The document structure is tailored to your instruction, site and relevant planning requirements.
Front coverContents page
What the report should contain
This outline explains the purpose of each section. The final contents depend on the agreed scope, available evidence and requirements of the local planning authority.
Document control & executive summary
Project details, reference, revision, date, author, reviewer and a concise summary of the key findings.
Site information & development brief
Establish the address, boundary, existing use and proposed objectives.
Planning history review
Check relevant decisions and any earlier council advice.
Policy & designation review
Identify the policies and designations most relevant to the proposal.
Opportunities & constraints
Highlight development potential and limiting planning considerations.
Initial development options
Review potential uses, capacity and scale without implying a completed design.
Technical information gaps
Identify surveys and reports needed to test the options.
Issues for pre-application discussion
Prepare focused questions and identify consultees.
Recommended planning strategy
Explain the preferred next step, risks and dependencies.
Appendices & evidence register
Index relevant plans, photographs, calculations, surveys and source documents; include only the evidence relevant to this instruction.
Does an appraisal include a submission to the council?
An appraisal is an initial review of opportunities, constraints and next steps. A formal pre-application submission, council fees and meetings are included only where they are expressly part of your appointment.
What information should I provide to get started?
Site address, development objectives and existing information.
How is the fee for this service confirmed?
The price shown is a starting estimate for the stated scope. We review the site, proposal, available information and required deliverables, then confirm the fee, exclusions and programme in a written quotation before appointment.
How do your specialists work together on a project?
We bring the relevant planning consultants and specialist providers into a coordinated project team. They work from an agreed brief and current proposal, with dependencies and design changes discussed across disciplines. Each consultant remains responsible for their own professional advice and agreed deliverables.
PART OF A COORDINATED APPOINTMENT
Your specialist evidence, connected.
This service can form part of a wider coordinated planning appointment. We bring the relevant consultants together to work alongside your design team, discuss assessment findings and identify how recommendations affect other reports and the proposal.
Your fee proposal confirms who prepares each document, the information it relies on and the limits of the instruction. A report provides evidence for the council’s assessment; the planning decision remains the council’s. Explore how our consultants work together or discuss the team your project needs.
YOUR NEXT STEP
Discuss your requirements.
Tell us about the site, what you want to achieve and any deadline. We will review it and suggest an appropriate next step.