Planning Consultant in Thurrock
Planning consultant in Thurrock providing advice on planning applications, appeals, Green Belt and development opportunities in Grays, Tilbury, Purfleet and across Thurrock.
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Andrew Ransome
8/22/20263 min read
Thurrock Planning Consultant
Planning in Thurrock is shaped by a combination of major infrastructure, established urban communities, industrial and logistics development, regeneration and large areas of protected countryside.
If you are considering development in Thurrock, Grays, Tilbury, Purfleet-on-Thames, Stanford-le-Hope, Corringham, South Ockendon or Aveley, I can provide independent planning advice tailored to the particular circumstances of your site.
I am Andrew Ransome MRTPI, a Chartered Town Planner with more than two decades of experience in planning. I advise homeowners, landowners, developers and businesses on planning applications, development potential, planning policy and appeals across Thurrock and Essex.
Planning in Thurrock
Thurrock is unusual within Essex because of the scale and strategic importance of development taking place across the borough.
Its location alongside the River Thames, close to London and with direct connections to the national motorway and rail networks, has made Thurrock an important centre for ports, logistics, manufacturing and employment.
At the same time, the borough contains established residential communities, historic settlements and extensive areas of Green Belt and countryside.
This creates a planning environment where development opportunities and constraints often sit very close together.
Green Belt in Thurrock
Green Belt is an important consideration across much of Thurrock, particularly around the edges of its established settlements.
A Green Belt designation does not mean that every form of development is prohibited. National planning policy identifies circumstances in which development may be acceptable, while recent changes to national policy have also introduced the concept of Grey Belt.
The planning position needs to be considered on a site-by-site basis.
I can provide an initial appraisal of Green Belt land and advise on whether there may be a realistic planning route.
Planning Services in Thurrock
I advise on a wide range of planning matters in Thurrock including:
Site and land appraisals to identify potential development opportunities.
Pre-application to prepare and submit pre-application submissions to the council.
Planning applications for new homes, extensions, redevelopment and changes of use.
Planning appeals following refusals or non-determination.
Permitted development and Prior Approval advice.
Lawful Development Certificates for existing or proposed development.
Planning strategy for landowners considering the longer-term development potential of their land.
Planning Appeals in Thurrock
If your planning application has been refused by Thurrock Council, I can review the decision and advise on whether an appeal is appropriate.
From April 2026, the planning appeals process has been simplified, with most appeals relating to applications submitted from 1 April 2026 initially following a new Part 1 written representations procedure.
The intention is to make appeals quicker and more proportionate, with the Inspector generally considering the evidence and information that was before the Council when it made its decision.
This makes the preparation of the original application particularly important. Planning arguments and supporting evidence should, wherever possible, be properly addressed before the Council reaches its decision rather than relying on an appeal to introduce material that was absent from the application.
I can advise on the reasons for refusal, assess the planning case and prepare an appeal where there is a reasonable prospect of success.
Planning Advice in Thurrock
I provide independent planning consultancy across Thurrock and the wider south Essex area, including Grays, Purfleet-on-Thames, Tilbury, Stanford-le-Hope, Corringham, and surrounding areas.
Whether you are a homeowner looking to extend your property, a landowner investigating development potential or a developer bringing forward a larger scheme, obtaining planning advice at an early stage can help identify the most appropriate way forward.
If you are considering a planning application, development opportunity, Green Belt proposal or planning appeal, contact me to discuss your project.
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.