Highland Planning

TOWN and COUNTRY PLANNING SOLUTIONS FOR THE HIGHLANDS and ISLANDS

Dave Macdonald DipTP MRTPI

A native Highlander, I graduated in Town and Country Planning from Glasgow School of Art in 1977. I spent 12 years working in local authority planning departments within the Highland area and Aberdeen City. A combination of private planning consultancy and other business interests followed. My 'hands on' experience of the world beyond the public sector has afforded valuable insight into the development issues facing individuals, their families and the business community, allowing me to draw upon the fairly unique perspective of bridging the modern day needs of the Highland people and their businesses with the demands of an evolving, seemingly ever more complex planning system.

I am in regular contact with Local Planning offices across Scotland on Development Management and Development Plan issues and have contributed to various planning reviews conducted by Scottish Government

Services

Advice on Planning law and procedure
Pre-application negotiation
Submission and handling of planning applications

Mediation

Development Plan representation and negotiation

Applications for Review (Delegated decisions)

Appeals (Planning Committee decisions)

Project Management : appointment of consultants/contractors; timing of completions and delivery; liaison with Planning and Building Control

Planning and Development

You may be starting out on a project or have begun to lose some control of a planning application under determination. You may have land and ideas but uncertain how to progress. You may be a major player undergoing anexpansion programme and wish to benefit from local knowledge and input.

Whatever your situation I can work with you, first by listening to your needs and aspirations, then by moving your proposals forward or putting them back on track through relevant channels and negotiation, often seeking a path through the maze of Development Plan policies, Supplementary Planning Guidance, government advice etc ultimately striving towards a successful conclusion in the shortest possible time.

Planning Appeals and Applications for Review

I have considerable experience in both the conventional DPEA appeal procedures which follow a refusal of planning permission by a Planning Committee and the new Review Body system of challenging a delegated refusal made by an individual Planning Officer, with a decent success rate in both fields. Whilst reasons for refusal are designed to appear robust, the reasoning behind many such decisions can be found wanting and mostly all at least are open to re-interprepretation of relevant policy. It is important to remember the period for appealing either form of refusal has been reduced to only 3 months so it doesn't pay to dwell too long on a decision notice.

Committment

In all cases, I will offer an honest assessment of the chances of securing your desired outcome as there is little point pursuing lost causes through the planning system. This is appreciated by most clients but it is rare not to find some way forward. Once on board, I undertake my complete committment to the project.

Professional Fees

I offer a number of solutions here to suit the individual and the project. Fees for Appeal and Review cases are dependant upon complexity and circumstances but can be tailored for economy or incentivised for success. As is invariably the case with Planning, potential gains can far exceed cost. Please call to discuss.

Contact :

Highland Planning

Tigh na Greine

Quebec Bridge

Tain

IV19 1NG

Landline : 01862 892209

Mobile : 07778 194976

david@highlandplanning.co.uk