P&D MANAGEMENT

Question 1

What is planning appraisal and how is it used?

Answer 1

An assessment to evaluate the development potential of the site in planning terms.

Analysing planning policy and site contraints.

Question 2

What is development control?

Answer 2

Local authority department that regulates land and building developments. Ensuring that new development complies with planning laws and policy.

Question 3

Tell me about your understanding of the key principles and processes used to determine the need for planning consent

Answer 3

Assessing Permitted Development Rights

Checking Local Planning Policies

Pre-app

Submitting a Planning Application

Public Consultation and Decision

Question 4

How do you analyse environmental features and issues?

Answer 4

Conduct Site Surveys

Review Environmental Data

Prepare an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA): If required, document findings and propose mitigation strategies to minimise negative impacts.

Question 5

How long does it take to obtain a planning decision

Answer 5

8 weeks for standard planning applications.

13 weeks for major developments.

Question 6

What are the different types of planning appeals and when are they used?

Answer 6

Written Representations to PINS: The simplest appeal method, suitable for straightforward cases.

Hearing: For with some complexity that requires discussion but not a full public inquiry.

Public Enquiry: For large complex cases. These are a court-like hearing with the evidence presented.

Question 7

Tell me about planning policy and procedures relevant to your
locality/region of working.

Answer 7

NPPF, PPG in viability Local planning policy. Crucial for the context of FVAs e.g. amount of affordable housing / policies with an impact on viability.

Question 8

Tell me about your understanding of the role of supplementary planning documents, design guides and codes in guiding planning applications and their consideration.

Answer 8

Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs), design guides, and codes provide detailed guidance on specific planning issues and design standards.

Question 9

What precedent was set in Hillside Parks Ltd (Appellant) v Snowdonia

Answer 9

Precedent that previous planning consents cannot be implemented when a new planning consent supersedes it.

Question 10

What is Permitted Development?
How are Permitted Development rights affected by a local Article 4 designation?

Answer 10

Article 4 Direction is a local planning control in the UK that can restrict or remove Permitted Development rights in specific areas.

Question 11

Tell me about an example of when you have submitted a planning
application

Answer 11

I have submitted a full planning application for Kelham Central - scheme with 114 residential units. I coordinated the relevant reports required such as flood risk, ecology and archaeology.

I have submitted various applications for planning condition discharge.

I have submitted a section 73 application to amend the wording of the planning condition.

Question 12

Tell me about an instance of when you have interpreted strategic planning policies.

Answer 12

Sheffield’s planning policy to encourage sustainable development within the local plan. Our development provided a new sustainable development.

Question 13

How have you supported the making of planning applications and/or appeal documentation?

Answer 13

Submitted various planning applications, along with procurement of relevant planning required reports.

Completed FVAs on behalf of developers to go into a planning application.

Question 14

How have you selected, researched and analysed information and data and writing reports in support of or in response to planning applications?

Answer 14

FVA process both in submitting for developers and reviewing on behalf of local authorities.

Detailed research is completed into values, build costs and other appraisal assumptions

Question 15

Long Wittenham, Didcot
How did you go about assessing the viability of the scheme?
What was the purpose of your instruction?
How do you verify the inputs such as build costs?
What was the policy compliant requirement for the site?
What was your reasoned conclusion and advice to the client?

Answer 15

I completed a review of the applicant’s FVA, doing research into the appraisal assumptions to understand if they are reasonable.

Purpose was to understand if the scheme could provide affordable housing, given it was providing a new school and community centre.

Advice that the scheme could not provide any affordable housing.

Question 16

Tell me about when you have provided reasoned client advice on a planning application (including potentially advising on an appeal).

Answer 16

Pollington, viability assessment that the residential development was required to fund the remediation of the site.

Moorfield House - Viability assessment showing that no affordable housing could be provided.

Barnsley (Woodhead Hall farm)- enabling development. Grade 2 listed building could not be refurbished without providing additional residential units.
Historic England guidance, various options with more development

Question 17

Tell me about an instance of when you have advised a client on the reasonableness of planning conditions.

Answer 17

I have received draft planning conditions from the local authority.

I advised to my director that some of the conditions were unreasonable, for example providing certain reports and drawings pre commencement rather than pre-occupation.

I liaised with the council to amend these.

Question 18

Tell me about an example of when you have overseen the work of external consultants in relation to the planning process.

Answer 18

Instructed architects for planning drawings, then going forward through plans on condition discharge.

Commissioned flood risk assessments, wind assessments, ecology assessments.

Noise verification.

Question 19

How have you provided reasoned advice in the preparation, presentation and/or negotiation of planning application and/or appeals documentation?

Answer 19

I have prepare full planning applications along with the relevant and required reports / supporting info.

I negotiated on specific points such as the urban design - use of a shared surface street and narrowness of streets.

Question 20

Kelham Central, Sheffield

Tell me about the consultant team for the application preparation?

What was the planning policy context?

Explain your involvement in the preparation of the DAS.

What were the key planning conditions that you were involved in discharging?

Did any complications arrive during the application or discharge of conditions and how were you able to address this?

Answer 20

Citu Design architects, Civic engineers, IDP planning and heritage consultants, various other smaller reports.

Allocated for residential development, brownfield site transitions area. Recommended medium density (flats/houses).

Internal architects that provided plans but I completed DAS in terms of development/wider context.

Specific design details such as cladding, drainage, landscape, cycle parking. Sound verification tests.

Had to provide further details on specific drainage measures given it was in a flood risk area. Site remediation was required, this was conditioned.

Question 21

Almshouses, Sheffield

Why didn’t the architect prepare the design and access statement?
What information did you include in the sustainability statement?
What were the key arguments of the planning statement?
Was the scheme in accordance with planning policy?
Explain the heritage status of the building.
What was the overall outcome of this project?

Answer 21

Internal architects provided the design side but I completed the development context.

Sustainability statement showed how the development complied with local plan policy. Energy, carbon output and water usage detailed.

Planning statement showed how the scheme was restoring a heritage building and complied with the policy allocation.

Following minor amendments to further protect the heritage details, the scheme was approved.