Harriet is a Chartered Town Planner with over 6 years of experience in planning, predominantly with a planning consultancy. She has worked on a diverse range of projects, from strategic land and site promotion to residential, commercial and industrial development.
Having re-joined McLoughlin Planning from a regional housebuilder, Harriet brings valuable experience of the development process from both promoter and developer perspectives. Her work has included progressing sites from Reserved Matters approval through to delivery, promoting strategic sites through Local and Neighbourhood Plans, and reviewing emerging national and local policy to shape effective planning strategies.
She has also worked across a wide range of local authority areas, most recently throughout Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire.
Harriet is a huge rugby and cricket fan, often found at New Road or Kingsholm at weekends. She is also a keen traveller and aims to visit 30 countries before she turns 30!
We are delighted that following our involvement, planning permission has been secured for the erection of six new apartments in the heart of Cinderford.
It was an interesting site, located within the development boundary of Cinderford and previously associated with commercial uses. But it was also an irregular shape, bounded by commercial and residential units, and had a recent planning refusal for a similar scheme on site.
It seemed to be heading in a similar direction again as, prior to our involvement in the project, the applicant had received negative feedback from the planning officer on the latest application. Fearing a planning refusal and not sure how to most effectively respond to the comments received, we were approached and asked by the applicant to review the case officer’s commentary to date, provide guidance on how best to amend the scheme and to prepare supporting evidence/mitigation measures to help navigate the proposals to a positive outcome.
Given the complexities of the space, key planning considerations included:
We provided the project team with a critical analysis of both the planning policy requirements and the feedback from the officer and weighed this against the proposed development. Our input helped to ensure that the redesign met the technical requirements set out in both local and national policy documents.
It was great to be working on the scheme with Edge Design Workshop. Their considered revisions to the scheme included: removal of a disused MEB building to unlock more of the site; clever design of the housing units to ensure space standards and amenity space requirements were amply met; suitable parking provision for both existing and future residents; design amends to remove the risk of overlooking.
Alongside our advice to the architect, the applicant also commissioned us to write a planning statement, clearly highlighting the previous concerns from the case officer and how these have been addressed in the revised proposal.
The Council remained co-operative throughout the process and ensured a fair assessment of the Site and the revisions undertaken. The result was a positive conclusion, unlocking a valuable brownfield site for the delivery of much needed new homes in Cinderford.
We are so pleased with the outcome, and that through our careful analysis of planning policy and context, effective engagement with the project team and the presentation of a clear and considered planning strategy – this dilapidated site will now be regenerated to the benefit of the local area and will bring new, stylish apartments to a central and sustainable location.
If you have a brownfield site, are wondering about its development potential and would like a member of our team to review your case and explore whether there is a way forward to secure planning approval for your project, then please contact us through either our “Arrange a Call” tab on our contact page or via the email and telephone number provided below:
Chris Moore – Director
T: 01242895008
E: chris.moore@mplanning.co.uk
Image source: Edge Design Workshop (2024)
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