Planning
In the UK, the planning system is fundamental to building a sustainable urban environment and a sustainable future. However since the Planning Bill gained Royal Assent in May 2004, this very system that many developers have understood for so long is changing. The reduced role of the county, the possible advent of elected regional assemblies and the new local development documents will all introduce new challenges. The government’s plans for sustainable communities also have the potential to bring many new development opportunities. The planning system is effectively in a period of flux which many developers are keen to capitalise upon.
What we do
Sancroft has a small core team of individuals who give strategic planning advice to developers and companies with property development interests, working on all types of scheme – from residential to commercial and industrial. Over time we have assisted many clients to ensure that regeneration takes place and that town centres do not lose out to out of town developments.
We help our clients untangle the issues of a particular locality and the ways in which these intersect with government planning policy to help them towards gaining planning permission for their schemes. Our long-term professional involvement in development issues enables us to understand the particular concerns of local councils, English Heritage, and other consultees – from our small core we draw on a remarkable group of specialists with direct knowledge covering all the regions of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. As a result we can help to ensure that proposals meet planning requirements and commercial objectives while enhancing the built environment.
We also play an important mediation role where necessary: more and more it is clear that planning has to be a partnership between the developer, the local council, the advisory bodies, and the neighbourhood. Sancroft helps to make that partnership work and to speed the process to a satisfactory conclusion.
For further information on our key policy areas, please click on the following links:
- Supply chain management and sourcing
- Human rights and bribery
- Health and safety
- Waste management
- Health and nutrition
- Transport
- Planning