Architectural Bulletins

Introducing Planning Genie – a new way of helping your clients demystify planning

The following sponsored content is provided by Planning Genie:

When embarking on a new project with a client, we all hope for the same outcome – brilliant proposals which achieve planning permission first time. But how can you help your clients increase the likelihood of achieving planning permission?

Pre-application advice, provided by planning officers at Local Planning Authorities, indicates the likely outcome of a planning application. Pre-application advice can highlight any changes that might be needed to give a scheme the best chance of securing planning permission.

In the words of the government, ‘Pre-application engagement offers significant potential to improve both the efficiency and effectiveness of the planning application system and improve the quality of planning applications and their likelihood of success’. ¹

Pre-application enquiries are often expensive. They can also delay the application process and in some instances offer little insight and provide little certainty around what may or may not be acceptable in planning terms.

Many Local Planning Authorities face the challenge of increased workloads and significant resourcing constraints. The determination of planning applications is taking longer, often beyond statutory timeframes. In some Local Authority areas, householder pre-application engagement has been withdrawn altogether as there simply isn’t the staff available to resource it.

The Government’s decision to abolish an applicant’s right to ‘a free second go’ (a practice which allowed applicants to withdraw their first planning application or accept a refusal, and resubmit a revised scheme, for free) on 6 December 2023, will only make it more difficult for architects, planning consultants, agents and applicants to get things right first time.

Without always being able to submit a pre-app to test the water, how can we provide guidance, reassurance and certainty for our clients, in a cost efficient and timely way?

Planning Genie (www.planninggenie.co.uk²) offers pre-recorded masterclasses, delivered by professionals, giving you and your clients instant access to expert planning knowledge and insight. By helping people better understand the planning system and the rules and requirements that apply to their proposed developments, Planning Genie provides an alternative approach to pre-application enquiries.

If you’d like to increase your clients’ likelihood of achieving planning permission, you can now offer them instant access to planning advice through the Planning Genie masterclasses.

For a limited time, and on a first come, first served basis, Planning Genie is offering 50 masterclasses at a 50% discount (reduced price of £122.50). You could offer the discounted price to your clients or make use of a masterclass yourself.

Head to https://planninggenie.co.uk/collections/masterclasses³ and enter the discount code ‘Architect50’ during the checkout process to access the discount.

Each masterclass focuses on the relevant planning policies and essential planning considerations for the project type, including information on the common pitfalls which often lead to planning refusal. As well as a downloadable checklist, each masterclass gives guidance on what to consider and what to include in a planning application submission to improve its quality and increase the likelihood of achieving a successful outcome.

Seven masterclasses are available initially, covering popular planning projects such as home extensions, house building, barn conversion and creating annex accommodation. There is also a masterclass on the planning application process, guiding applicants through the different types of application, key stages, timescales and validation requirements.

Planning Genie was created by Charlotte Watkins, a Chartered Planning Consultant with over 20 years’ experience working for both Local Authority and independent planning consultancies. Supported by fellow founder and entrepreneur Alice Porter MBA, Genie is challenging the planning sector by creating a new, quicker, cost effective and stress-free way of accessing planning advice.

Planning Genie’s range of masterclasses will continue to develop, to help as many people as possible navigate the planning system with ease.

1. http://www.gov.uk/guidance/before-submitting-an-application
2. http://www.planninggenie.co.uk
3. https://planninggenie.co.uk/collections/masterclasses