Planning Consultant in Brentwood

Brentwood Planning Consultant

I'm Andrew Ransome MRTPI, a chartered town planner providing planning consultancy services in Brentwood (including Shenfield, Hutton and Warley), Ingatestone and its surrounding villages.

Whether you are a landowner considering the development potential of your site, or a developer pursuing a residential or commercial scheme, I can provide clear, expert advice tailored to Brentwood's particular planning context.

Planning in Brentwood

Brentwood is one of the most tightly constrained boroughs in the country for development, with the majority of the Borough being the Metropolitan Green Belt.

For anyone with land or a property outside a defined settlement boundary, the starting point for almost every project is the same: does it represent inappropriate development in the Green Belt, and if so, are there very special circumstances?

Planning Services I Provide in Brentwood

Site Appraisal

Before any application is drawn up, I assess whether a site in Brentwood is realistically developable — checking Green Belt status, and any other relevant constraints.

Given how much of Brentwood sits outside defined development limits, an honest appraisal at this stage saves considerable time and cost later.

Certificate of Lawfulness in Brentwood

I prepare Lawful Development Certificate applications (existing and proposed) across Brentwood, including for extensions and outbuildings, where confirming lawful use or immunity from enforcement provides essential certainty, for example, before a sale, mortgage, or further works.

Prior Approval in Brentwood

Many householder and change of use projects in Brentwood can proceed through prior approval rather than a full application.

I assess eligibility against the relevant permitted development classes and manage the process from submission through to determination.

Planning Applications in Brentwood

I prepare, submit and manage applications ranging from householder schemes, replacement dwellings and infill plots through to minor and major residential and commercial schemes.

Change of Use in Brentwood

Change of use in Brentwood spans everything from rural diversification of agricultural buildings to town centre retail and office conversions. I build the planning case needed to support a change of use.

Planning Appeals in Brentwood

Where a Brentwood application is refused, I prepare and submit appeals to the Planning Inspectorate.

Following the reforms that took effect on 1 April 2026, most appeals against applications submitted after that date are decided on the original application material alone, with no opportunity to introduce new evidence or a statement of case.

This makes a robust, evidence-led case at application stage more important than ever.

Planning Enforcement in Brentwood

I advise landowners and homeowners facing enforcement notices or investigations in Brentwood. I represent clients through the enforcement appeal process where appropriate.

Local Plan Site Promotion

With Brentwood's Local Plan review and Green Belt study underway, I advise landowners on promoting sites through the plan-making process — assessing a site's prospects against the Council's emerging grey belt criteria and preparing the evidence needed to support an allocation.

Get in Touch with Me

If you have a planning matter in Brentwood (including Shenfield, Warley and Hutton), Ingatestone, and the surrounding villages, I would be happy to discuss it with you.

Andrew Ransome MRTPI - Email: andrew@andrewransome.co.uk

About me

Andrew Ransome is a Planning Director and a Chartered Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), with more than two decades of experience in town planning.

He specialises in delivering strategic planning solutions for complex developments across both rural and urban environments, helping clients navigate planning challenges and unlock development opportunities. Connect with Andrew on Linkedin.

Planning Successes in Essex

Get in touch for planning advice: Email: andrew@andrewransome.co.uk

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The content on this website is provided for general information purposes only and does not constitute planning or legal advice. Planning policy, legislation, and case law change over time, and every planning matter should be assessed on its own merits. No responsibility is accepted for any loss or action taken in reliance on the content of this site. The projects, planning applications and appeals presented on this website reflect professional work undertaken by, or involving me, throughout my career, including work undertaken in both my current and previous employment positions.