Planning & development advice
Planning and development decisions are rarely just planning questions. They are also questions of value, viability, timing, access, ownership, risk and the commercial terms on which a site should be promoted or sold.
Geering Chartered Surveyors provides property-led planning and development advice across Devon and Cornwall, from individual rural buildings and small sites to strategic land and larger development opportunities. We work with landowners, farmers, developers, local authorities and other organisations, coordinating specialist input where the project requires it.
Our role is not to pretend that every discipline can be delivered by one adviser. It is to understand the property objective, identify the work needed to test it properly and bring together the right planning, design, ecological, legal and valuation input.
Strategic land
Land with longer-term development potential needs careful handling. Value can be lost through poor agreements, premature decisions or a failure to understand how access, neighbouring ownerships, planning policy and infrastructure affect the opportunity.
- Initial development-potential and site strategy reviews.
- Local Plan and call-for-sites submissions.
- Advice on promotion, option and conditional-sale proposals alongside the client’s solicitor.
- Valuation of strategic and hope value.
- Land assembly, access and ransom considerations.
- Advice on marketing and disposal once a site is sufficiently advanced.
Development valuation and viability
We provide valuation input at different stages of the development process, including Gross Development Value assessments, residual appraisal and feasibility advice. The purpose is to test whether the assumptions being made about a site are commercially realistic and to show how changes in value, cost, planning obligations or programme can affect the land value.
For landowners, this can help when assessing an offer or deciding whether further planning expenditure is justified. For developers and public-sector clients, it can provide an independent property perspective on proposed schemes and delivery options.
Planning coordination
Some clients need help managing the process rather than a planning opinion in isolation. We have coordinated instructions ranging from works to listed buildings and rural conversions through to larger submissions requiring input on Biodiversity Net Gain, sustainability, design and phased delivery.
Where specialist planning judgment is required, we work with planning consultants and other technical advisers. Geering’s role is to keep the property and commercial objective in view and help ensure the different strands of the project remain coordinated.
Rural planning and diversification
Planning opportunities on farms and rural estates often sit at the intersection of the agricultural business, existing buildings, access, landscape constraints and future land management. We can advise on the property strategy around rural conversions, diversification, alternative uses and development potential, including permitted-development routes where relevant.
The right answer is not always to pursue the maximum amount of development. Sometimes the better outcome is a smaller scheme, a different use, or preserving flexibility until planning policy or market conditions improve.
When might you need us?
- You own land that may have development potential and want an independent first view.
- A promoter or developer has approached you with an option, promotion agreement or offer.
- You need a valuation, GDV or viability appraisal for a proposed scheme.
- A farm building or rural property may have conversion or diversification potential.
- A project needs several consultants and you want somebody to coordinate the property side.
- You are deciding whether further planning expenditure is justified before sale.
To discuss a site or development opportunity, or for an informal chat about how we can help, get in touch here.