We provide planning advice and appraisals for a range of development types from new buildings to changes of use and everything in between.

Typically we will discuss your aspirations first, then undertake a desktop appraisal to identify constraints and opportunities. A site visit early in the process is then required for us to fully understand the circumstances.

We represent developers, householders, business owners and charities in the delivery of high quality new development at a scale ranging from single dwellings to strategic housing sites. 

We advise on planning strategy and the various options available to achieve your goals including planning permissions and lawful development certificates. We can also advise if planning permission is required or not and the steps involved.

We can produce and submit a wide range of planning application types to suit your circumstances and development ambitions.

We will advise you on your options, and recommend the most suitable approach, from a wide range including:

• Full Planning Application

• Outline Planning Application

• Householder Application

• Prior Approval Application

• Lawful Development Certificate

• S73 Minor Amendment Application

• Non Material Amendment Application

• Listed Building Consent Application

We work with you to produce the necessary documentation, ensuring compliance with local and national policy requirements, and manage the applications on your behalf. We represent you throughout the process and advocate for your case at all opportunities.

We provide heritage support from initial site appraisals and consultations, through to preparing and submitting comprehensive heritage documentation for planning applications.

We understand that heritage is integral to our environment and offer comprehensive heritage services are designed to support developers, private clients and local planning authorities.

Our heritage statements identify constraints and opportunities and provide recommendations for managing these effectively. We engage with statutory consultees and local authorities on your behalf to establish positions and improve the prospects for a successful application. Our team prepares all necessary documentation to support your application including the necessary Heritage Statements of Significance for any applications affecting a listed building or conservation area.

Our expertise spans architectural history, legislative frameworks, and relevant planning policies, ensuring our reports and advice are comprehensive and detailed.

We specialise in analysing building surveys, Historic Environment Records, aerial photographs, and LiDAR data.

For those wishing to learn more about their historic buildings, we offer detailed researched and illustrated reports on the history and evolution of these structures. We also prepare Conservation Management Plans for securing the future of historic houses, estates, landscapes, and gardens, aiding in funding and planning for future conservation projects.

Additionally, we support local planning authorities by outsourcing heritage work, including determining Listed Building Consent applications and updating Conservation Area Character Appraisals. Our illustrated appraisals identify areas for improvement, development potential, and detailed design policies, drawing on our extensive knowledge of architecture, archaeology, and the role of heritage in placemaking.

With Whaleback's heritage services, you can ensure a balanced approach to development and heritage conservation, safeguarding our cultural assets for future generations while enabling progress.

If a local authority has refused planning permission, you have the right to appeal to the Planning Inspectorate. Contact us without delay to discuss your options, as many appeal options are time-limited.

We can produce, submit and manage a wide range of appeal types (including written representations, hearings and public inquiries).

We will also discuss alternative options with you including amending the scheme to overcome identified issues, and potentially resubmitting a new application instead of appeal.

Whether you are being investigated, have received an Enforcement Notice or wish to raise an enforcement complaint against another party, dealing with planning enforcement can be an unsettling experience.

Let us take the stress out of this process by clearly explaining your rights and options, protecting your interests, and advocating on your behalf with the council’s planning enforcement team.

Our team of chartered town planners have extensive experience of planning enforcement matters. If you are the subject of a planning enforcement investigation, have received a Section 16 Planning Contravention Notice, or a formal Enforcement Notice, contact us for expert advice, advocacy and professional defence. 

Time is of the essence with a limited timeframe to appeal (if that is the right course of action) so contact us without delay to see how we can help. If you wish to make a complaint about a planning issue on someone else’s land, from unauthorised use to construction without planning permission, we can represent your interests and advocate on your behalf with the local authority’s planning enforcement team.

A comprehensive suite of professional planning services to support local authorities.

Application Backlog

Many of our planners have personal experience working within Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) across the southeast, giving us an unparalleled understanding of your unique challenges. We have a good track record of supporting councils overcome backlogs in planning applications

We offer a more reliable and cost-effective alternative to agency contractors. Choose from flexible solutions to fit your specific situation. We have highly competitive fixed fees for temporary support, ideal for covering staff absences. Alternatively, we can become a long-term partner, bolstering your development management strategy and building long-term resilience.

Council Land and Estates Teams

Our team of development experts can assist your Estate teams unlock the potential of the Council’s land holdings. We offer a comprehensive service, starting with a thorough appraisal of your land to determine its best use. We then guide you through the planning application process, preparing and submitting all necessary documentation to secure the necessary approvals for development. Our expertise extends beyond these core services, and we're happy to tailor our approach to meet your specific needs, whether that involves feasibility studies, community engagement strategies, or other bespoke instructions.

Councils developing their own land require objective, expert support. We act as your trusted planning agent, ensuring submissions benefit from a professional, commercial viewpoint. This transparency avoids any potential conflicts of interest and fosters public trust. We have a network of vetted specialists (architects, landscape architects, etc.) to guarantee high-quality, professional development proposals.

Appeal Services

We support councils to confidently defend their planning decisions at appeal. Our team of planning specialists can write Appeal Statements on your behalf, for example where a case officer has moved on or retired, or to cover periods of absence or high caseloads.

We also provide expert witness services to defend appeals through the public inquiry process.

Contact us to discuss your requirements and receive a no-obligation bespoke quote.