Understand the site
Review planning history, policy designations, neighbouring development and relevant site constraints.
Chartered Planning Advice Across Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire Planning Consultant
Clear, commercially focused planning advice for homeowners, developers, architects and landowners across Cambridgeshire.
Cedar Planning provides independent town planning advice from an MRTPI Chartered Town Planner, helping clients understand the planning potential of land and buildings, prepare stronger applications and navigate complex planning issues.
Whether you are assessing a site, preparing a planning application or deciding how best to progress a difficult project, we provide practical advice focused on the strongest realistic route forward.
Cambridgeshire
Planning advice for urban, village and rural development
Planning consultancy across Cambridgeshire
Cambridge
South Cambridgeshire
Huntingdonshire
East Cambridgeshire
Fenland
Planning Strategy
Good planning advice starts before an application is submitted.
Planning permission is rarely determined by one policy or one issue in isolation. Site location, planning history, surrounding development, design, access, heritage, landscape, flood risk, ecology and local planning policy can all influence the strategy for a project.
Identifying those issues early can help avoid unnecessary design work, surveys and application costs.
We therefore look beyond the question of whether an application can simply be submitted. Our advice considers the planning strengths, constraints and potential route forward so that clients can make informed decisions before committing further resources.
Test the proposal
Consider whether the proposed development is supported by policy and where changes may strengthen the planning case.
Choose the route
Establish whether the project should progress through planning permission, prior approval, lawful development or another route.
Build the case
Present the proposal clearly against the relevant planning policy and material planning considerations.
Planning Consultancy Services
Planning support from early feasibility through to determination
We can become involved at the beginning of a project or provide focused planning input where architects, developers or landowners already have a scheme in progress.
Before You Commit
Planning Feasibility Studies
Desktop site appraisals examining planning history, policy, constraints and development potential before significant professional costs are incurred.
View planning feasibility studies ApplicationsPlanning Applications
Planning strategy and application support for residential, commercial, rural and mixed-use development proposals.
View planning application services Supporting EvidencePlanning Statements
Clear, policy-led planning statements explaining the merits of a development proposal and addressing the key planning issues.
View planning statement service LandownersStrategic Land Promotion
Planning advice for landowners considering longer-term development opportunities, site promotion and emerging planning policy.
View strategic land services Planning PolicyLocal Plan Representations
Representations on emerging Local Plans, development strategies, allocations and policy where future development interests may be affected.
View Local Plan services Third Party ProposalsPlanning Objections
Professional representations for residents, landowners and community groups affected by nearby planning proposals.
View planning objection servicesAlready Received a Refusal?
A refused application needs a different type of review.
If a local planning authority has already refused your application, the next question is usually whether to challenge the decision through an appeal or amend the proposal and submit a new application.
We have a separate Cambridgeshire planning appeal service focused specifically on reviewing refusal reasons, appeal prospects, evidence and the Planning Inspectorate process.
Planning application refused?
Review your appeal options
Send us the planning reference or decision notice for an initial assessment of the refusal.
Cambridgeshire Planning Appeal Advice View our nationwide planning appeal servicePlanning Across Cambridgeshire
One county, several planning policy areas.
Development across Cambridgeshire is considered by several local planning authorities, each with its own development plan, planning history and local policy context.
That means advice for a site near Cambridge may require a different approach from a proposal in Huntingdonshire, East Cambridgeshire or Fenland.
Cambridge City & South Cambridgeshire
Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire operate a shared planning service while maintaining their own adopted development plan policies as the Greater Cambridge planning framework evolves.
Development proposals can involve matters including urban design, heritage, Green Belt, landscape, sustainable transport and the relationship between Cambridge and surrounding settlements.
Huntingdon, St Neots & surrounding settlements
Huntingdonshire includes larger towns, smaller settlements and extensive rural areas, resulting in a varied planning context across the district.
Settlement strategy, landscape, housing location, design, accessibility and the relationship of development with the countryside can all be important considerations.
Ely, Soham & surrounding villages
East Cambridgeshire contains a mixture of larger settlements, villages and rural areas where development strategy can vary significantly according to location.
The relationship of a proposal with settlement policy, rural character, heritage, landscape and surrounding development can materially influence the appropriate planning approach.
Wisbech, March, Chatteris & Whittlesey
Fenland has its own planning policy framework covering its main towns, villages and extensive rural areas.
Depending on the proposal, matters such as settlement location, flood risk, drainage, highways, design and the surrounding landscape can be important considerations.
Local policy is only part of the planning assessment.
Planning applications are determined against the development plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise. Depending on the project, national planning policy, neighbourhood plans, planning history, supplementary guidance and emerging policy may also need to be considered.
Who We Work With
Planning advice tailored to the project and the client
Homeowners
Extensions, annexes, replacement dwellings, changes of use, outbuildings and more complex residential planning issues.
Developers
Site appraisals, residential schemes, planning strategy, applications and policy-led supporting statements.
Landowners
Early development potential, strategic land, Local Plan promotion and advice before committing to a development team.
Architects
Planning input alongside design teams, including policy review, application strategy, statements and appeal support.
How We Work
Clear advice at each stage of the planning process.
The scope is tailored to the project. Some clients need a focused desktop review; others need planning support from feasibility through to determination.
01
Initial review
We establish what you want to achieve, review the site and identify the planning route and principal issues.
02
Planning strategy
We advise on policy, constraints, development potential and any issues that should be addressed before submission.
03
Application preparation
Where instructed, we prepare or coordinate the planning case and identify other information needed to support the proposal.
04
Submission & determination
We can remain involved during determination to respond to planning issues, officer comments or requests for further information.
Buying or Developing Land?
Understand the planning position before making a major commitment.
A site may look suitable for development without necessarily having a straightforward route to planning permission.
Settlement boundaries, previous refusals, heritage constraints, landscape designations, flood risk, access, neighbouring uses or restrictive planning policies can materially affect development prospects.
A planning feasibility study provides an early desktop assessment before you commit to architects, detailed surveys or a land purchase.
View our planning feasibility studiesWhy Cedar Planning?
Professional planning advice without unnecessary complexity.
We focus on explaining the planning position clearly, identifying the issues that actually matter and helping clients choose a proportionate way forward.
MRTPI
Chartered town planning advice
125+
Local Planning Authority areas worked across
Fixed
Fee quotations and defined scopes
Clear
Practical recommendations and next steps
More Planning Support
Find the right planning service
Application Refused
Cambridgeshire Planning Appeals
Already received a refusal? Get advice on whether an appeal or revised application is likely to be the stronger route.
Review your appeal options CambridgeCambridge Planning Consultant
Planning advice specifically for sites in Cambridge and the Greater Cambridge area.
View Cambridge planning advice Application SupportPlanning Statements
Policy-led planning statements for development proposals and planning applications.
Planning statement service Early AdviceSite Appraisals
Understand planning potential and key constraints before investing in detailed design work.
Planning feasibility studiesFrequently Asked Questions
Planning consultants in Cambridgeshire
What does a planning consultant do?
A planning consultant advises on the planning policy and procedural issues affecting land and development. This can include assessing development potential, reviewing planning history, preparing planning applications and statements, advising on Local Plan policy and helping clients respond to planning problems as a project progresses.
When should I appoint a planning consultant?
Early advice can be particularly valuable before buying land, commissioning detailed architectural work or submitting a planning application. Identifying significant planning constraints at an early stage can help avoid unnecessary costs and allow the design and planning strategy to respond to those issues from the outset.
Which parts of Cambridgeshire do you cover?
Cedar Planning advises on projects across Cambridgeshire, including Cambridge, South Cambridgeshire, Huntingdonshire, East Cambridgeshire and Fenland. This includes towns such as Ely, Huntingdon, St Neots, Wisbech, March, Chatteris and Whittlesey, as well as villages and rural sites throughout the county.
Can you assess a site before I buy it?
Yes. A planning feasibility study can review the planning history, policy position and principal constraints affecting a site before you commit to a purchase or significant professional expenditure.
View planning feasibility studiesCan you prepare the planning application?
Yes. Depending on the project, Cedar Planning can advise on the application strategy, prepare planning statements and coordinate the planning submission. Where specialist drawings or technical reports are required, these can be prepared by the relevant members of the project team.
What if my Cambridgeshire planning application has already been refused?
A refusal should be reviewed before deciding whether to appeal or submit a revised application. We have a dedicated Cambridgeshire planning appeal service which examines the reasons for refusal, the evidence before the Council and the realistic options for progressing the proposal.
Cambridgeshire planning appeal adviceDo you provide fixed-fee planning advice?
Yes. We normally provide a defined scope of work and fixed-fee quotation once we understand the site, proposal and planning advice required.
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Planning Consultants by Council Area in Cambridgeshire
Local planning advice for each council area in Cambridgeshire, covering the adopted Local Plan, key constraints and emerging policy.
CambridgeCambridge city · Chesterton · Cherry HintonElyEly · Soham · Littleport · Burwell · Haddenham · Sutton · BottishamHuntingdonshireHuntingdon · St Neots · St Ives · RamseyMarchWisbech · March · Whittlesey · Chatteris · Doddington · Manea · WimblingtonPeterboroughPeterborough · Hampton · Werrington · Orton · Eye · Thorney · Castor · GlintonSouth CambridgeshireCambourne · Sawston · Histon & Impington · Cottenham · Great Shelford · Northstowe · Waterbeach