LASplanning
‘I’m extremely grateful to Lorna and Andrew for their excellent professional service at LAS Planning, obtaining planning permission for what I thought was a lost cause. The communication was good and the process was fast. I would highly recommend them to anyone seeking planning advice.’
‘This is the second time I’ve used Lorna and her team to obtain planning permission for my house. On both occasions, the process was handled professionally and completed in good time. I wouldn’t hesitate to work with LAS Planning again or to recommend them to others.’
‘Reflecting their impressive, wide-ranging backgrounds in the discipline, Lorna and Andy have always been first-class sounding boards and ‘critical friends’ on all aspects of planning practice. Whenever I have referred any clients onto LAS Planning, they have all been impressed by their detailed technical knowledge, their warm customer care and the ‘2 planning brains for the price of 1’ service that they provide. I have no hesitation at all in vouching for LAS Planning.’
LASplanning LLP provided planning policy support, through the preparation of a Planning Supporting Statement for a mixed use Holiday and Rural Enterprise development in the Falkirk Council area. The application (P/24/0076/FUL) has been granted planning permission and is a milestone consent for a rural destination in the making. This project has demanded significant cross-organisation working with a wide-ranging project team working tirelessly with the local authority planning officers to reach this positive outcome. The approval enables the applicants’ commitment to the site and ongoing financial investments to now be further progressed and for mutual benefits to arise for the local and visitor economy, in addition to the place.
You read more about it here!
If you would like to find out more about this project, or how we could assist you with your plans, please do not hesitate to reach out to LASplanning.
LASplanning LLP provided planning policy support, through the preparation of a Planning Supporting Statement for a mixed use Holiday and Rural Enterprise development in the Falkirk Council area. The application (P/24/0076/FUL) has been granted planning permission and is a milestone consent for a rural destination in the making. This project has demanded significant cross-organisation working with a wide-ranging project team working tirelessly with the local authority planning officers to reach this positive outcome. The approval enables the applicants’ commitment to the site and ongoing financial investments to now be further progressed and for mutual benefits to arise for the local and visitor economy, in addition to the place.
The proposal was led and project managed by LASplanning LLP, who provided planning justification, supporting information, and coordination of the project teams involved. The application site was a former Gypsy/Traveller site, in part, within land designated as countryside; therefore LASplanning required to regularly liaise with the planning authority and to work closely with an appointed design team to ensure a holistic, place-led outcome for the locale.
The planning application was compiled and submitted in line with the Client’s brief and to ensure compliance with the National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) and the Falkirk Local Development Plan (2020).
This development proposal at Birchwood Farm, responded directly to these national and local policy commitments by first, recognising that the site can offer sustainable and high-quality experiences for all visitors and can do so all year round. Further, the proposal now approved, provides the opportunity to increase the diversity and activity onsite – repurposing the location from its former productive use/s to meet modern rural enterprise demands in a sustainable and commercially viable manner. Accordingly the site has the potential to be transformed from the single consented use as a home for Gypsy/Travellers, to a multi- facetted, dynamic location which provides natural and commercial activity integrated into an arguably underutilised part of rural central Scotland.
The redevelopment of Birchwood Farm benefits the public interest in so far as it re-imagines a location that in its currently underutilised removing the potential for rural blight. Instead, the redevelopment now signposts an opportunity for investment and interest through the realisation of sympathetically sited rural holiday accommodation and linked investment in education, enterprise and leisure assets. Similarly, the role of ‘place’ is recognised through the design led vision to repurpose a fallow location into one that offers local or visitor facilities whilst remaining ‘nature-positive’ by ensuring that the site’s unique woodland assets and location are enhanced. This ensures that Birchwood Farm harnesses the site and locales strong and varied biodiversity quality in addition to harnessing built or natural assets.
Following submission of the planning application, LASplanning LLP worked with Falkirk Council, to achieve a positive outcome. This included working through issues identified with the submission of further technical information and in agreeing the type and nature of planning conditions. This collaboration enabled the applicant and planning authority to satisfactorily agree place and economic led outcomes in addition to agreeing on suitable planning conditions to safeguard and maximise opportunity from the new uses of the site.
In this regard, renewable energy generation has informed the overall site concept, with solar photovoltaic technologies identified for the chalets and heat pump technologies identified for the larger buildings. The potential well-being benefits of visiting or staying at a peaceful rural location with access to nature and the countryside are also recognised as are measures to support the sustainable travel hierarchy.
Ultimately, proposed land uses are configured via a design-led approach which ensures that the proposed development phases and respective components harness the imaginative character of the area with quality and sustainability at their core.
If you would like to find out more about this project, or how we could assist you with your plans, please do not hesitate to reach out to LASplanning.
It is gratefully acknowledged that the positive outcomes achieved at Birchwood Farm were initially informed by early and invaluable inputs by the Alan Seath planning consultant. LASplanning LLP were fortunate to work alongside Alan on this and other projects.
LASplanning LLP provided planning policy support, through the preparation of a Planning Policy and Design Statement for the erection of 2 no. glamping pods in Midlothian. The application (24/00212/DPP) has been granted planning permission and is an excellent example of collaborative working with local authority planning officers resulting in positive planning outcomes.
The work undertaken by LASplaning LLP, provided planning justification and supporting information for the erection of 2 glamping pods and associated works. The application site was formerly open land within the countryside, generally flat, and used for rough grazing.
The planning application was compiled and submitted in line with the Client’s brief and to ensure compliance with the National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) and the Midlothian Local Development Plan (2017).
In recent years the Scottish holiday market has changed. Specifically, over the past 5 years, the demand for holiday accommodation, in the form of chalets, has increased. Most recently, with an emerging increase in staycations, due in part to the legacy of the Coronavirus pandemic, the demand has surpassed previous supply. The focus on wellness during the pandemic has now moved on to connecting with local communities and minimising environmental or health footprints in travelling in different ways. These trends have led to a rise in demand for new styles of accommodation such as glamping, cabins and eco-pods. The ongoing cost of living crisis for many UK residents has also exacerbated such behaviours and lifestyle changes, as people seek to find more cost effective ways of holidaying. In an effort to meet this surge in demand the Applicant secured planning permission for the erection of 2 no. glamping pods and associated infrastructure.
Following submission of the planning application, LASplanning LLP worked with Midlothian, to achieve a positive outcome. This included working through issues identified with the submission of further technical information and in agreeing the type and nature of planning conditions. This collaboration enabled the applicant and planning authority to satisfactorily agree place and economic led outcomes in addition to monitoring the new use of the site.
If you would like to find out more about this project, or how we could assist you with your plans, please do not hesitate to reach out to LASplanning.
LASplanning LLP provided planning policy support, through the preparation of a Planning Policy and Design Statement for the erection of 2 no. glamping pods in Midlothian. The application (24/00212/DPP) has been granted planning permission and is an excellent example of collaborative working with local authority planning officers resulting in positive planning outcomes.
You read more about it here!
If you would like to find out more about this project, or how we could assist you with your plans, please do not hesitate to reach out to LASplanning.
‘LASplanning made the whole planning process effortless. They word hard to fully understand the brief and communicate effectively throughout. Brilliant professional service – Thank you.’
– Emma Gillespie
LASplanning LLP scoped, assessed and compiled a change of use application from a hairdressing salon to art studio/workshop with art classes and wine shop. The proposal enabled the renovation of a vacant shop unit. The application site related to a lower floor C-listed property within a 2-storey terraced building located in Markinch, Fife. The application site was also within the Markinch Conservation Area.
You read more about it here!
If you would like to find out more about this project, or how we could assist you with your plans, please do not hesitate to reach out to LASplanning.
LASplanning LLP scoped, assessed and compiled a change of use application from a hairdressing salon to art studio/workshop with art classes and wine shop for a new business enterprise Phemie Loves. The proposal enabled the renovation of a vacant shop unit and the enhancement of a C-listed building. The application site related to a lower floor C-listed property within a 2-storey terraced building located at the junction of Croft Road and Commercial Street, Markinch, Fife. The terrace is characterised by some lower storey commercial/shop premises and upper storey dwellings. The application site was also within the Markinch Conservation Area.
The work undertaken by LASplaning LLP, provided planning justification and supporting information for the change of use. The proposal was considered to be modest and to ensure betterment to the C-listed building. The property was vacant and the front façade to be in a poor state of repair. The Applicant’s proposal provided betterment for the area, the C-listed building and the Conservation Area. The proposal also reintroduced a viable economic use to a vacant business premise.
The planning application was compiled and submitted in line with the Client’s brief and to ensure compliance with the National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) and the FIFEplan Local Development Plan (2017).
The submitted application responded to National and Local policy considerations in so far as the proposed development brought positive economic benefits to a local centre by virtue of revitalising a currently redundant commercial unit within the Markinch Conservation area. The change of use proposed retains the business and commercial nature of the extant use albeit that it also now enables the Applicant to repurpose enterprise activities to meet changing lifestyle and retail habits. This includes supporting the Arts and Crafts sector in providing gallery space in addition to complementing the demand for specialist retail via wine sales and tasting or art class space.
As the proposed use has been operating as a class 1A for many years, it is self-evident and proven that a commercial demand has been met and that there is a positive economic benefit for Markinch. This application therefore also sought to make a further positive contribution to the vitality and viability of the area by increasing footfall locally in addition to providing further opportunity for new or additional employment within the area.
Following submission of the planning application, LASplanning LLP worked with Fife Council, to achieve a positive outcome. LASplanning LLP worked closely with MS Design who compiled the drawings required for submission.
If you would like to find out more about this project, or how we could assist you with your plans, please do not hesitate to reach out to LASplanning.