Ashton Graham Planning is an independent Town & Country Planning Consultancy providing specialist professional advice on all aspects of the planning system.

We are a commercially focused Town & Country Planning Consultancy that provides honest professional advice on planning related matters throughout the UK.

About Us

Ashton Graham Planning builds on our proven track record and experience dating back to the 1990’s. We have worked on numerous high profile and award winning projects. Our success is underpinned by our ability to understand and test the client brief, expertly navigating the complex planning landscape, and skillfully negotiating consents at a local level. If required, we take decisive action where an appeal or legal challenge is warranted.

We are a dedicated planning consultancy with a focus on delivering quality advice and permissions which enhance value for our clients. We manage each and every aspect of the planning process from the first meeting to discuss your objectives, to delivering the planning permission, and managing any subsequent conditions.

We regularly act for clients seeking to achieve planning permission for complex projects and successfully negotiate planning approvals. Our advice includes devising strategies maximising the prospect of securing the necessary consents. We work closely with multi-disciplinary teams, to ensure the best results are delivered to schedule and within defined budgets.

Whilst many of our projects are located in London and the Home Counties, varied client portfolios mean we cover a wide geographical area including Scotland and Wales.

Our clients cover a broad spectrum of the property world, from include private individuals or residential developers ,looking to maximise the amount of floor space on a site, to asset managers managing large portfolios. We provide advice and have a proven track record in the residential, retail, leisure, commercial, and education sectors. Nearly all our work comes from either repeat instructions or client referrals . We actively manage the number of projects we take on to ensure we provide the best possible service to our clients.

Laura Ashton

Laura is a chartered town planner with over 18 years professional experience in planning. Her career started in private practice and she went on to manage local government planning teams. Laura has also been employed as an in-house planner for a national housebuilder. Laura has a reputation as a calm and considered professional with clients valuing her expertise and advice. Laura has considerable experience of both small intricate sites as well as large scale urban extensions and solar farms. She is often called upon to represent clients as an expert witness at public inquiries.

David Graham

David is a chartered town planner with over 25 years experience in planning. Having started his career in Local Government, the majority of this time has been spent in senior roles in national planning practices and also as an in-house planner for a property developer. David has a thorough understanding of planning law and is able to provide clear guidance and advice on complex planning matters, together with mapping out strategies which deliver results. David has experience in delivering planning permissions for residential and commercial schemes on often challenging sites.

Services

Ashton Graham Planning is a consultancy that specialises in providing high quality town planning advice. From the beginning through to completion of a project, we are able to provide guidance in navigating our clients through the planning process.

We advise and assist in relation to a range of matters, including:

Planning appraisals

We provide tailored appraisals which assess the planning history, planning policy as well as other key factors which could influence the development of a site. We provide clear and concise advice that enable our clients to consider all options for their sites.

Pre-apps

The NPPF sets out how early engagement has significant potential to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the planning system. We regularly undertake pre-application discussions with local authorities which can be helpful in terms of understanding a council’s position. This provides the opportunity to review the strategy and provide the best chance of success for an application.

Planning Applications

We have significant experience in the preparation, submission and negotiation of planning applications. Working with Officers and consultees, we are able to ensure any issues that arise are addressed prior to determination wherever possible.

Discharge of planning conditions and s.106 legal agreements

The majority of planning permissions will be subject to pre-commencement conditions. We are able to manage the discharge of relevant conditions in a timely manner to ensure that proposals are not held up from starting on site. s.106 legal agreements also have certain clauses which need to be addressed either prior to or during the course of the construction phase. Again, this is something which we have experience in dealing with.

Securing Lawful Development Certificates

Having detailed knowledge of the relevant legislation we are able to prepare comprehensive and robust applications, backed up by the relevant case law, clearly setting out why a development is lawful. Whether it’s securing the implementation of a permission or an existing or proposed use/development which has either become lawful or would be lawful, we are able to guide clients through the process.

Appeal Services and Expert Witness Services

We have extensive experience in preparing and presenting evidence at appeals whether that is written representations, informal hearings or public inquiries. We can assist in all stages of an appeal from writing instructions for initial conference with Counsel to preparing and managing the appeal process up to determination. We are also able to apply for costs in relation to appeals and have a good track record winning cost applications.

Portfolio Review

Working on behalf of pension funds and asset managers we are able to devise strategies for maximising the prospects for securing consent and, in close liaison with other professionals in a team, ensuring the best results are delivered to schedule, and within defined budgets.

Heritage Constraints

A large part of our work relates to properties and sites either within or adjoining conservation areas or which are statutory or locally listed buildings. An understand of the heritage asset, and their significance is important in establishing the case for change. We have experience of working with buildings with the highest level of protection (Grade I listed buildings) through to locally listed buildings.

Local Plan Representations / Land Promotion

Working with individual or strategic land owners we are able to make the best case possible for the allocation of land for development through the local plan process.

Projects

Ashton Graham have a track record of delivering consents for property owners, developers and asset managers. A selection of projects have been highlighted which demonstrate our capability.