Retained Planning Support

Your Planning Consultant. Without the In-House Overhead.

Flexible retained planning support for architects, developers and property businesses that need expert advice available when projects demand it.

From quick planning questions and site reviews to applications, reports and development strategy, Cedar Planning becomes an extension of your team.

Discuss a Retainer View Packages

Direct access to an experienced Chartered Town Planner.

Cedar Planning retained planning consultancy
Direct Access
Dan Malloy MRTPI Chartered Town Planner & Director of Cedar Planning
Chartered Town Planner
Direct Consultant Access
Flexible Monthly Support
Projects Across England
Why Retained Planning Support?

From Planning Bottleneck
to Planning Advantage.

A retainer is not simply a block of consultancy hours. It gives your business access to planning expertise before an issue becomes a delay, additional cost or lost opportunity.

01

Are planning issues taking too much of your team's time?

Planning questions rarely arrive at convenient moments. A policy issue, site constraint, refusal or unexpected client query can quickly interrupt a project and leave your team searching for answers.

  • Re-briefing consultants every time a new issue arises
  • Waiting for advice before a project can move forward
  • Committing money to drawings before planning risk is understood
  • Senior staff spending valuable time interpreting planning policy
  • Different consultants giving inconsistent advice across projects
  • Ad-hoc consultancy costs that are difficult to forecast
↓
02

What if your planning consultant already knew your pipeline?

Instead of starting again each time a planning issue arises, Cedar Planning becomes an extension of your team — building an understanding of your projects, clients and commercial priorities over time.

  • Faster answers when planning questions arise
  • Early advice before design time and money are committed
  • Consistent planning strategy across multiple projects
  • Predictable monthly planning support
  • Less time spent explaining project background
  • Direct access to a Chartered Town Planner who knows your business
Flexible Monthly Support

Retained Planning Consultant Packages

Choose the level of support that reflects your workload, project complexity and development pipeline.

Advisory Retainer
Up to 10 hrs / month

Ongoing planning advice for architects and developers who need reliable strategic input without full application management.

Includes

  • General planning advice and project support
  • Permitted development reviews and constraints advice
  • Short written opinions and planning notes
  • Advice on refusals, pre-applications and appeals
Most Popular
Standard Retainer
Up to 20 hrs / month

A balance of strategic advice and hands-on delivery for practices managing a regular flow of development projects.

Everything in Advisory, plus

  • Site appraisals and feasibility reviews
  • Planning Statements for appropriate projects
  • Submission and management of applications
  • Liaison with specialist consultants and LPAs
Premium Retainer
Up to 30 hrs / month

Comprehensive planning support for developers and practices with active pipelines requiring ongoing management and strategy.

Everything above, plus

  • Full Planning Statements for larger projects
  • Full application management and coordination
  • Coordination with architects and consultant teams
  • Objection responses and appeal documentation
Bespoke Retainers
Need something structured around your business?
We can create bespoke retained arrangements for larger practices, developers and specialist operators requiring regular planning support across multiple projects.
Discuss a Bespoke Package
Across Your Pipeline

Planning Support Across Different Project Types

Your retained hours can support a wide range of planning matters rather than being tied to one particular application type.

Residential

Single plots, self-build proposals, apartment schemes and larger residential developments.

Commercial & Mixed Use

Commercial development, change of use, retail, employment, hospitality and mixed-use proposals.

Householder

Extensions, loft conversions, annexes, outbuildings and residential alterations.

Rural & Agricultural

Rural development, farm diversification, agricultural buildings and countryside proposals.

Simple Onboarding

How Your Retainer Works

Straightforward monthly support designed to give your team access to planning expertise without unnecessary administration.

01

Enquire

Tell us about your business, project pipeline and the type of planning support you regularly need.

02

Discovery Call

We discuss your requirements and identify the level of retained support that best fits your workload.

03

Use Your Hours

Use retained time flexibly across advice, feasibility, documents and application management.

04

Monthly Reporting

Keep track of hours used, work completed and upcoming priorities across your project pipeline.

05

Scale as Needed

Increase or reduce your retained support as your workload and project pipeline changes.

Your Retained Consultant

Dan Malloy MRTPI

Chartered Town Planner
Director, Cedar Planning
  • Direct access throughout your retainer
  • Public and private-sector planning experience
  • Experience working across planning authorities throughout England
  • Commercially grounded advice focused on moving projects forward
A Consultant Who Knows Your Business

No Helpdesk.
No Re-Briefing Every Time.

A retained relationship works because there is continuity. You work directly with Dan Malloy MRTPI, Director of Cedar Planning, who builds an understanding of your projects, clients and priorities over time.

That means less time explaining background information, quicker strategic decisions and planning advice that takes account of the wider commercial context of your pipeline.

About Cedar Planning Speak to Dan
Planning Expertise

What Can Your Retainer Be Used For?

Retained hours can be used across the planning work your business actually needs — from early feasibility through to applications and appeals. You can also explore our full planning consultancy services.

Planning Applications

Preparation, submission and management of planning applications across a wide range of development projects.

Explore service

Feasibility & Site Reviews

Early-stage assessment of planning constraints, development potential and likely planning strategy.

Explore service

Planning Appeals

Appeal strategy, policy rebuttal and robust written representations following planning refusals.

Explore service

Planning Objections

Structured, policy-led representations responding to development proposals and planning applications.

Explore service

Heritage Statements

Planning and heritage assessment for listed buildings, conservation areas and heritage-sensitive development.

Explore service

Local Plan & Strategy

Site promotion, Local Plan representations, policy review and strategic planning advice.

Explore service
Frequently Asked Questions

Planning Retainer FAQs

Clear answers on how retained planning support works and how it can fit around your project pipeline.

Is the retainer advice-only or full service? +

It can be either. Some clients use retained hours primarily for quick advice, strategy and written opinions, while larger packages can also cover planning statements, application preparation, submission and ongoing management.

What happens if I do not use all my hours? +

Up to 25% of unused monthly hours can roll over to the following month, subject to a one-month expiry. This provides flexibility during quieter periods without unused time accumulating indefinitely.

What if I need more hours? +

Additional time can be agreed where capacity allows. You can also move between retainer packages with notice as your project pipeline changes.

Which areas do you cover? +

Cedar Planning is based in the East of England but works with architects, developers, businesses and property owners on projects across England.

Can I change or cancel my package? +

Yes. Packages are designed to be flexible and can be increased, reduced or cancelled with the agreed notice period if your workload changes.

Who will I actually work with? +

You work directly with Dan Malloy MRTPI, Chartered Town Planner and Director of Cedar Planning. This continuity is one of the main benefits of retained support because your consultant develops an understanding of your projects and business over time.

Planning Expertise When Your Business Needs It.

Talk to Cedar Planning about creating a retained planning arrangement around your projects and workload.

Discuss a Retainer

Interested in finding out how we can help you?

Fill out our contact form for a no-obligation consultation on how we can help you and your business. Alternatively, email info@cedarplanning.co.uk

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