Our Services

Meadows is an independent, director-led planning consultancy providing specialist planning advice and land development services to landowners, developers, businesses, estates and individuals.

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Based in Norwich, Norfolk, we undertake projects throughout Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire and Hertfordshire, as well as further afield across England.

Our experienced Planning Directors provide practical, commercially focused advice on projects of all types and sizes, from initial assessments of development potential through to complex planning applications, appeals and strategic land promotion.

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Every project is personally managed by one of our highly experienced Planning Directors, ensuring clients benefit from specialist expertise, continuity and a dedicated professional service.

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What We Do

We provide a comprehensive range of planning consultancy and land services, including:

• Planning Advice & Strategy – Expert advice on planning policies, development opportunities, constraints and the most appropriate strategy for progressing proposals.

• Planning Applications & Planning Permission – Preparation, submission and management of planning applications for all types of development.

• Planning Appeals & Enforcement – Specialist advice and representation following planning refusals, enforcement action and other planning disputes.

• Land Development Advice & Site Feasibility – Assessing the development potential of land and buildings and identifying realistic opportunities for securing planning permission.

• Residential Development & Self-Build Housing – Planning advice for individual homes, housing developments, self-build projects and challenging residential sites.

• Commercial & Employment Development – Planning consultancy for business premises, industrial developments, commercial uses and mixed-use projects.

• Agricultural Planning & Estate Diversification – Helping farmers, estates and rural landowners develop and diversify their land and buildings.

• Tourism & Leisure Planning – Planning advice and applications for holiday accommodation, leisure facilities, visitor attractions and tourism developments.

• Strategic Land Promotion – Promoting land for future development through Local Plans, site submissions and strategic planning processes.

 

We also provide a range of additional planning and land-related services tailored to individual projects.

 

Our Planning Services in Detail Planning Advice & Strategy

Obtaining the right planning advice at an early stage can save considerable time and expense, particularly where development proposals involve complex policies, sensitive locations or uncertain planning prospects.

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At Meadows, we provide professional planning advice to clients considering the development, redevelopment or change of use of land and buildings.

We assess relevant local and national planning policies, identify potential constraints and opportunities, and provide practical recommendations on the most appropriate strategy for progressing a proposal.

 

Our advice can include initial planning assessments, planning policy reviews, pre-application strategies, development options and discussions with local planning authorities.

Whether you are considering purchasing land, developing an existing property or exploring a new business opportunity, we can help you understand the planning position and make informed decisions before committing to further expenditure.

 

Planning Applications & Planning Permission

Meadows provides a comprehensive planning application service, from initial advice and planning strategy through to the preparation, submission and management of applications.

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Our Planning Directors have extensive experience of preparing planning applications for developments of all types and sizes, including residential, commercial, agricultural, tourism and mixed-use proposals.

 

We undertake a wide range of planning submissions, including full and outline planning applications, reserved matters, Permission in Principle, prior approval applications, certificates of lawfulness, changes of use, applications to vary or remove planning conditions, and applications to discharge conditions.

 

We prepare detailed Planning Statements and other planning supporting documents, providing clear justification for proposals against relevant national and local planning policies.

 

Where additional technical information is required, we can assist in coordinating the involvement of architects, ecologists, highway consultants, drainage specialists and other relevant professionals.

 

Our aim is to present the strongest possible planning case, address potential issues at an early stage and guide applications effectively through the determination process.

 

Planning Appeals & Enforcement

A refusal of planning permission does not necessarily mean that a development proposal cannot proceed. Our experienced Planning Directors provide specialist advice and representation in planning appeals, helping clients challenge planning decisions where there are reasonable grounds for doing so.

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We undertake planning appeals through written representations, hearings and public inquiries, preparing detailed appeal statements, planning arguments and supporting evidence. Our expertise also includes enforcement appeals and advice relating to planning enforcement matters.   We undertake an initial assessment of the planning circumstances, relevant policies, reasons for refusal and prospects of success before recommending the most appropriate course of action.

 

In some circumstances, a revised planning application may offer a more effective route than an appeal. We provide clear and objective advice on the available options, associated risks and recommended strategy.

 

Our directors have considerable experience of presenting complex planning arguments and securing successful outcomes for clients.

 

Land Development Advice & Site Feasibility

Do you own land or buildings and want to know whether they could be developed?

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Meadows specialises in assessing the development potential of land and property, including sites where planning opportunities may not be immediately apparent.

We work with landowners, developers, farmers, estates and individuals to establish whether land may be suitable for residential, commercial, tourism, agricultural or other forms of development.

 

Our planning feasibility assessments examine relevant planning policies, settlement boundaries, site constraints, accessibility, development opportunities and other material planning considerations.

 

We can advise on the prospects of obtaining planning permission, potential development options and the most appropriate strategy for taking a site forward.

Our experience includes challenging countryside and edge-of-settlement sites, land outside development boundaries, rural housing opportunities and sites requiring detailed planning policy justification.

 

Where appropriate, we can also advise on alternative planning routes, including Permission in Principle, outline planning applications, pre-application engagement or longer-term land promotion.

 

We provide realistic, commercially focused advice to help clients understand the opportunities, risks and potential value associated with their land.

 

Residential Development & Self-Build Housing

Meadows has extensive experience of residential planning projects, from individual dwellings and small housing schemes through to larger residential developments.

We advise private individuals, self-builders, landowners and developers on the planning prospects of residential proposals, including sites within settlements, edge-of-settlement locations and the countryside.

 

Our expertise includes self-build and custom-build housing, new dwellings, residential redevelopment, housing schemes, countryside homes and other residential development opportunities.

 

We have particular experience of sites affected by restrictive planning policies, settlement boundaries and other planning constraints.

Our directors carefully consider the relevant planning policies, housing land supply position, site circumstances and other material considerations to identify the most appropriate approach.

 

We can assist from the initial assessment of a site's potential through to planning applications, appeals and the discharge of relevant planning conditions.

 

Commercial & Employment Development

Meadows provides planning consultancy services for commercial, industrial, employment and mixed-use developments.

 

We advise businesses, commercial landowners, developers and investors on proposals involving new premises, extensions, redevelopment, changes of use and opportunities to expand existing business operations.

 

Our experience includes industrial buildings, business parks, offices, retail premises, hospitality developments and mixed-use schemes.

We understand the importance of obtaining planning permission that meets the operational requirements of a business while addressing relevant planning policies and site constraints.

 

Our services include initial planning advice, development feasibility assessments, planning applications, supporting planning statements and representation where applications encounter objections or difficulties.

 

We aim to provide practical advice that supports business growth and investment while helping clients navigate the planning process effectively.

 

Agricultural Planning & Estate Diversification

Meadows has extensive experience of agricultural planning, rural development and estate diversification projects.

 

We work with farmers, landowners, estates and rural businesses seeking to develop land, make better use of existing buildings or introduce new commercial activities.

Our experience includes agricultural buildings, barn conversions, farm shops, cafés, restaurants, equestrian facilities, storage, rural employment uses and other diversification proposals.

 

We advise on appropriate planning routes, including agricultural permitted development and prior approval procedures where applicable, changes of use and full planning applications.

 

We also assist with proposals involving new development in the countryside, where particular planning policies and constraints must be carefully considered.

Our approach focuses on identifying realistic opportunities that support the long-term objectives of landowners and rural businesses.

 

Tourism & Leisure Planning

Meadows provides specialist planning advice for tourism, leisure and recreational developments.

 

We have extensive experience of proposals involving holiday accommodation, holiday lodge parks, glamping sites, camping facilities, visitor attractions, outdoor recreation, leisure facilities, hospitality venues and tourism-related development.

 

We advise existing tourism operators, landowners, estates and businesses seeking to establish new ventures or expand existing facilities.

Our services include initial planning advice, site feasibility assessments, planning strategy, changes of use, planning applications and appeals.

Tourism and leisure proposals can involve complex planning considerations relating to countryside policies, landscape impacts, access, ecology, flood risk and other environmental constraints.

 

We help clients identify the key planning issues, understand potential development opportunities and prepare robust proposals that address the relevant requirements.

Where separate licensing or other specialist approvals may be needed, we can help identify these requirements and coordinate with appropriate professionals.

 

Strategic Land Promotion & Local Plans

Meadows assists landowners and developers seeking to promote land for future residential, commercial or other forms of development.

 

Where land is not currently suitable for immediate planning permission, promoting the site through the Local Plan process may provide a longer-term opportunity.

We provide advice on development prospects, relevant planning policies, site suitability and the most appropriate approach to land promotion.

 

Our services include Call for Sites submissions, Strategic Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment (SHELAA) representations, Local Plan consultation responses, site promotion and objections to emerging planning policies where appropriate.

 

We can also provide strategic advice on the relationship between emerging planning policies, housing requirements, land supply and development opportunities.

Our objective is to help landowners make informed decisions about the longer-term development potential of their land.

 

Additional Planning & Land Services

In addition to our principal planning consultancy services, Meadows can assist with a range of other planning and development-related matters.

 

These include community consultation and engagement, discussions with parish councils and local authorities, coordination of technical consultants, advice on planning conditions and planning compliance, and support with the promotion or disposal of development land and self-build plots in conjunction with appropriate professionals.

We also assist landowners and businesses with identifying potential development opportunities and considering the planning implications of new commercial activities.

If you require assistance with a planning or land-related matter that is not specifically listed above, please contact us to discuss your requirements.