How to choose a planning consultant (London / UK).
First of all, check out your local yellow pages and the search online, to see how established the consultants are. Look for recommendations from land agents or architects and then to check out references.
A few MUST ASK questions.
They need to tell you what experience they have
Ask the planning consultant the following questions:
- Have they worked in your local planning office?
- It’s no good if they have just moved into the area and have no prior contact with your local planning officers. - Do they work/live in your area?
- This is good to know as you want someone who actually knows your street/plot/ field. - Can they give you contact details of someone that they have done work for?
- You only want to hear from people who have had a successful outcome in
their planning process, it is of no use to talk to someone who has failed to
get planning, you need to know that his consultant has a winning formula.
They should, in all cases, give you a half an hour for you to explain your
project to them free of charge, and then they can give you a quick idea as
to the likelihood of getting it passed. This can be frustrating as with
many planning issues it’s not always cut and dry.
If you don’t like what they tell you try another one get a second opinion!
But remember using a planning consultant throughout London and the UK is the best way to go.
