Early Planning Advice
Initial review of the proposal, likely planning route, key constraints and the issues that may need to be resolved before an application is made.
Pro Bono Planning Support · East Anglia
Pro Bono Planning Support for Community Projects
Professional planning help for good local projects where consultancy fees are becoming a barrier.
Cedar Planning offers discretionary pro bono planning consultancy support to a small number of charities, community groups, voluntary organisations and other not-for-profit projects, with priority given to East Anglia.
If your project is being driven by volunteers, grants, donations or community fundraising, and professional planning fees are making it harder to move forward, we may be able to help.
Chartered Planning Expertise
Professional planning support led by an MRTPI Chartered Town Planner.
East Anglia Priority
Focusing on projects across Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Essex.
No Cedar Planning Fee
Accepted projects receive the agreed Cedar professional scope without our normal planning consultancy fee.
Why We Offer It
Planning Expertise Where It Can Make a Genuine Community Difference
Community-led projects are often powered by volunteers. The time, energy and local support may already be there, while the available budget is focused on the building, facility or public benefit itself. Professional fees can become another barrier between a good idea and a deliverable project.
Our pro bono planning consultancy service is intended to help close that gap. Where a project is eligible and we have capacity, Cedar Planning can contribute the same planning expertise we bring to our commercial instructions without charging our normal professional planning fee for the agreed scope.
We particularly want to support projects in East Anglia, where our planning experience across Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Essex can be put to practical use.
Eligibility
Who Our Pro Bono Planning Service Is For
We deliberately keep the criteria focused. The aim is to direct limited pro bono capacity toward genuine not-for-profit projects where professional planning support could materially help a community project happen.
- Community or not-for-profit leadership. The project is led by a charity, constituted community group, voluntary organisation, sports or recreation body, place of worship, or similar not-for-profit organisation.
- Clear public or community benefit. The proposal creates, improves or protects a facility, space or service genuinely intended for wider community use.
- Demonstrable financial need. The organisation is dependent on grants, donations or public fundraising and cannot reasonably fund a planning consultant on normal commercial terms.
- A defined planning need. There is a specific project or planning issue where professional input can make a useful and proportionate difference.
- East Anglia connection. Priority is given to projects in Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Essex, or projects whose principal benefit is to communities in those areas. Projects elsewhere in England can still be considered.
Planning Support
What a Pro Bono Planning Consultant Can Help With
The right scope depends on the project. We agree what Cedar Planning will provide before starting, so both sides are clear about the support being offered.
Planning Strategy
Advice on how to shape and present the project, including the most appropriate application route and the evidence likely to be needed.
Pre-Application Support
Helping prepare for local authority pre-application engagement and interpreting the planning issues raised through that process.
Planning Statements
Preparing a proportionate, policy-led planning case explaining the community benefit of the proposal and addressing relevant planning considerations.
Application Preparation
Planning input into the application package and coordination of the planning case, subject to the scope agreed for the individual project.
Application-Stage Advice
Advice on consultee comments, objections, amendments and planning conditions where further professional input could help keep the project moving.
Important: pro bono support covers only the Cedar Planning professional work expressly agreed with you.
Local authority application or pre-application fees, drawings, surveys and reports from architects, ecologists,
arboriculturists, transport consultants, heritage specialists or other third parties are not automatically included.
Community Projects
The Types of Projects We Would Like to Support
There is no fixed project list, but our focus is on tangible local projects where planning support can help unlock a lasting public benefit.
Village halls & community centres
Sports clubs & playing fields
Youth facilities
Community gardens & open space
Local charities
Places of worship
Community asset improvements
Rural community facilities
Volunteer-led recreation projects
How It Works
A Simple, Transparent Application Process
You do not need a polished planning brief before contacting us — just enough information for us to understand the project, the community benefit and why pro bono support is needed.
1
Tell Us About the Project
Send a short outline of the organisation, location, proposal, community benefit, funding position and planning help required.
2
We Review Eligibility
We consider whether the project fits the purpose of the service and whether we have the right expertise and capacity.
3
We Define the Scope
If accepted, we set out exactly what Cedar Planning will provide pro bono and identify any work or costs that sit outside that scope.
4
Planning Work Begins
We deliver the agreed support professionally and work with your organisation as we would on any other planning instruction.
Local Focus
Pro Bono Planning Support Across East Anglia
Cedar Planning prioritises pro bono projects where our East Anglia base and local planning experience can be put to practical use.
Norfolk
Community planning support across rural and urban Norfolk.
Suffolk
Planning support for community projects across Suffolk.
Cambridgeshire
Planning support across Cambridgeshire and its communities.
Essex
Priority support for suitable community projects across Essex.
Projects outside East Anglia may occasionally be considered where there is a particularly strong community case and appropriate capacity, but our primary pro bono focus is Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Essex.
Professional Support
Pro Bono Does Not Mean a Lower Standard of Planning Work
Eligible projects receive professional planning input from Cedar Planning. We apply the same principles of clear advice, proportionate evidence, policy-led reasoning and practical project management that underpin our paid planning consultancy work.
We will also be clear where a proposal needs input beyond our own expertise. Planning applications can require architectural, ecology, highways, drainage, heritage, arboricultural or other specialist evidence, and accepting a project for pro bono planning support does not remove those requirements.
For examples of the planning documents we prepare commercially, view our Planning Statement service.
Clear Advice
We will tell you what appears realistic, what the risks are and what information may be needed.
Defined Scope
Every accepted project starts with an agreed scope so the pro bono commitment is transparent.
Professional Standards
Free of charge does not mean informal or second-tier planning work.
Limited Capacity
We take only a small number of projects so that accepted work can receive proper attention.
Frequently Asked Questions
Pro Bono Planning Consultant FAQs
Common questions about free and pro bono planning support from Cedar Planning.
Does Cedar Planning offer pro bono planning advice?
Yes. We offer a limited, discretionary pro bono planning consultancy service for eligible community-benefit projects, with priority given to East Anglia. Support is subject to project suitability, genuine need and our available capacity.
Who can qualify for a pro bono planning consultant?
Potentially eligible organisations include charities, constituted community groups, voluntary organisations and similar not-for-profit bodies. The project should deliver a genuine community benefit and there should be a real financial need for professional planning support.
Do you offer free planning advice to homeowners or developers?
Not through this pro bono service. Private residential and commercial development is outside the scheme. Cedar Planning separately provides paid professional planning services for homeowners, landowners, developers, architects and businesses.
What parts of East Anglia do you cover?
Our primary pro bono focus is Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Essex. We can consider rural, village, market-town and urban community projects across those areas.
Can you prepare a planning application for free?
Potentially, but it depends on the project and the agreed scope. Some matters may only require early strategy or a planning statement, while others may justify more extensive application support. We confirm what is included before work begins.
Are the council's planning fees and specialist reports covered?
No. Pro bono support relates to the Cedar Planning professional work specifically agreed with you. Local authority fees and third-party costs — for example architects, ecologists, transport consultants, heritage specialists or other technical reports — are not automatically covered.
If our project meets the criteria, is support guaranteed?
No. We can only accept a small number of pro bono instructions alongside our commercial planning work. Meeting the eligibility criteria allows a project to be considered, but does not guarantee that Cedar Planning will be able to accept it.
What should we send with an initial enquiry?
A short description is enough to start: who your organisation is, where the project is, what you want to do, who will benefit, how it is being funded and what planning issue or support you think you need. Existing drawings, a planning reference or photographs can also be useful if available.
Apply for Support
Tell Us About Your Community Project
If you think your organisation and project may qualify, send Cedar Planning a short outline. We will review it against the purpose of the service and let you know whether it is something we may be able to support.
Please use the subject line "Pro Bono Planning Support" so the enquiry can be identified quickly.