Challenge
Our clients had a site in the busy Thameside town of Grays, Essex - it was greenfield, but sat between a classic suburban development and an industrial area. Plus, it was in the borough of Thurrock, which was nowhere near meeting its housing targets. So, our clients wanted to build multiple flats to make better use of the plot, which would not only benefit them financially, but would provide much-needed housing in an area that needed it.
Approach
Rather than go down the traditional planning application route, on this project we made use of 'permission in principle'. Because we were aware of the risks of a skeletal application, we supplied more information than the rules insist on. In fact, we provided the same level of architectural drawings as we would for a standard planning application. The application also included a preliminary ecology assessment and transport statement, covering the two issues that we anticipated the council might have with the site.
Solution
Fortunately, Thurrock Council granted the permission in principle, agreeing that the basic idea of nine homes was the right one. This outcome showed that by pairing the right strategy with quality design, applications you might not have thought possible can be.