Applications, appeals, permitted development, enforcement and planning strategy across England
Planning explanations, updates and practical guidance in video form
Planning Review: clear site-specific planning advice
A Planning Review is for times when you do not need a planning application or a large report. You need a clear answer to one planning question about a particular property, permission, condition or proposal.
A Planning Review is paid, site-specific work in which Planning Geek agrees the question with you first, checks the relevant documents and planning background, then gives you a concise written view and a recommended next step.
It is deliberately narrower than a full development appraisal. We are not promising to identify every possible development opportunity, maximise the value of a site or investigate every planning issue that might conceivably arise.
The PLAN route through Planning Geek
You do not have to complete every stage. Start at the point that matches where you are now.
If discussion would help, book a Zoom consultation and talk through the options with Ian.
For a defined site-specific question, we can undertake a Planning Review and give you a written view.
If work is needed, we can quote for the application, certificate, appeal, enforcement response or other agreed instruction.
What a Planning Review covers
The review starts with a defined question. We agree that question and the documents or planning background that need checking before the work begins.
Typical questions might include:
- whether a particular proposal appears to fall within permitted development rights
- whether a proposed film location can rely on Class B or Class E and whether unit bases, highway arrangements or drone constraints need separate attention
- what a planning condition actually restricts
- whether an Article 4 Direction affects the planning route you want to use
- whether a change to an approved scheme appears to need further permission
- which planning route appears appropriate for a rural or agricultural proposal
- whether an application you have been told to submit appears necessary
- what the planning implications are of correspondence from an enforcement officer
One question, not a whole-site appraisal
A Planning Review is not an open-ended development appraisal. We do not start with a brief such as “tell me everything I could do with this land” and disappear into days of research.
Instead, we agree the issue to be answered. If the review uncovers another matter that would materially change the scope, we tell you before expanding the work.
If you are at a much earlier stage and want to explore several possible development ideas, a planning consultation may be the better starting point. A broader development appraisal can still be scoped separately where it is genuinely required.
What you receive
The exact output depends on the question, but a normal Planning Review will give you:
- a concise written answer by email or short advice note
- a record of the main documents and planning background we checked
- our view on the agreed planning question
- the important risks, assumptions or uncertainties we think you should know about
- a recommended next step
The aim is to give you something useful enough to make a decision, without turning a straightforward question into an expensive report.
What is not included
Unless we specifically agree otherwise, a Planning Review does not include:
- preparing or submitting a planning application, prior approval application or Certificate of Lawfulness
- architectural drawings or measured surveys
- specialist technical reports such as ecology, highways, heritage, drainage or noise work
- legal advice
- negotiating or corresponding with the local planning authority on your behalf
- a valuation, viability appraisal or open-ended review of every possible development opportunity
If specialist input is needed, Planning Geek can help identify the right type of consultant and coordinate the planning side of the work where appropriate.
How much does a Planning Review cost?
There is no single fixed price because a question involving one decision notice is very different from a site with years of planning and enforcement history.
We will confirm the scope and fee before we start, so you know what question we are answering and what the review will cost. General information about professional and application costs is available on our planning fees page.
A Planning Review is a standalone piece of professional work and its fee is not automatically deducted from later work. If you later instruct Planning Geek, any subsequent fee will reflect work already completed where it can genuinely be reused. We will not charge twice for the same work.
What happens after the Planning Review?
The answer may be that no further planning work is needed. It might instead point towards permitted development, a Certificate of Lawfulness, a planning application, a revised application, an enforcement response or specialist evidence.
If you want Planning Geek to undertake the next piece of work, you can request a fee proposal. If a subsequent application is refused, we can also help you consider whether a fresh application or a planning appeal is the better route.
If you think a Planning Review may be the right starting point, use the dedicated form below and tell us the one planning question you want us to resolve.
Request a Planning Review
Tell us the one planning question you want the review to answer, give us the site address and useful background, and upload any relevant decisions, conditions, drawings or council correspondence.
We will review what you send and confirm whether it is suitable for a Planning Review, together with the proposed scope and fee. No paid Planning Review work starts until you have agreed that scope and fee.
Planning Review Page Updated: 29th September 2026