Joe Seymour

BA (Hons) MSc MRTPI

Associate Director

Experience

Joe has an extensive background in the planning industry with ten years of local authority development management experience before joining McLoughlin Planning in 2019. He has worked on a wide variety of developments, including small, medium and large-scale residential, commercial, leisure, retail, equestrian and agricultural. Joe also undertakes work as a Planning Inspector on a contract basis, which provides McLoughlin Planning with a unique insight into the planning appeal process.

He has a particular interest in development management; listed buildings/historic environment; Green Belt sites.

Projects

Joe has successfully secured the following developments on behalf of his clients:

  • Conversion of Grade II listed pub into 4 houses in the Cotswolds.
  • Successful appeal for 45 dwellings outside of a settlement boundary in Tewkesbury.
  • Creation of a new farm shop in the Cotswolds.
  • Permission in Principle for a new dwelling near Bishops Cleeve outside the settlement boundary and within the Cotswolds AONB.
  • Large-scale redevelopment of Spriax Sarco in Cheltenham, including replacement extensions and historic timber windows on their principal Grade II listed Global Headquarters.
  • Permission in Principle for 5 dwellings on the site of a disused ecclesiastical building in the Cotswolds.
  • Permission in Principle for 2 dwellings in the non-principal settlements of both Cerney Wick and Driffield in the Cotswolds.
  • Retrospective approval of an equestrian stables and riding arena in Stroud.
  • Successful appeal for subdivision of a residential dwelling into two dwellings in Stroud.
  • Planning permission, listed building consent and advertisement consent for a new kitchen showroom in the centre of Cheltenham.
  • Removal of retail occupancy condition on a retail unit in Gloucester to allow unrestricted A1 retail to operate from the site.

Hobbies

In his spare time Joe enjoys playing golf, spending time with family, European city breaks and watching live sport (either in the stadium or in the pub!)

View Projects

Planning secured for 2x family homes near Cirencester following successful Permission in Principle application

McLoughlin Planning has successfully secured Technical Details Consent (TDC) to construct 2 x 4-bed dwellings in the village of Driffield, a non-principal settlement near Cirencester. This is following the successful grant of Permission in Principle (PiP) at Cotswold District Council’s Planning Committee.

What is Permission in Principle (PiP)?

Permission in Principle is a planning consent route which was introduced in 2018.  It is an alternative way of obtaining planning permission for housing-led development and it separates the consideration of matters of principle for proposed development (location, uses and amount of development), from the technical detail of the of the development (everything else, including planning conditions, s.106 and BNG).

The PiP stage acts like a watered-down outline planning application, and it can prove a useful tool if you want to get a clearer idea of whether development on site may be acceptable in principle, without the need for submitting costly reports from the outset.

The Technical Details Consent is more akin to a full planning application and as such, requires the submission of detailed reports, including full details of layout, scale, landscaping, appearance, and access.

Technical Details Consent (TDC) and Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG)

The most notable aspect of this TDC approval is that off-site Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) credits needed to be sourced from a third-party organisation. This is because the site was not large enough to achieve the statutory 10% BNG uplift within the site boundary. Once a quote for off-site BNG credits was obtained, this was enough for the Council to grant planning permission, subject to an informative stating that development cannot commence until a BNG Plan has been submitted to and approved by the Council.

This will now be commonplace for small-scale housebuilders and developers as the sites they typically develop will not be large enough to construct dwelling(s) and have sufficient residual space to achieve a 10% BNG uplift on site. Therefore, sourcing off-site BNG credits is now becoming an essential part of obtaining planning permission.

How we can help

Are you looking to obtain planning permission for small-scale residential development? Do you need to source off-site BNG credits for your development? If so, then please contact us through either our “Arrange a Call” tab on our contact page or via the email and telephone number provided below.

Joe Seymour – Associate Director

E:  joe.seymour@mplanning.co.uk

T: 01242 895 121

Project team

  • K-Ten Consulting (Drainage)
  • All Ecology (Ecology)
  • Wotton Tree Consultancy (Arboriculture)
  • Core Geotechnics Ltd (Geology)
  • Andrew P Jones (Development Consultants)

Image Source: Andrew P Jones Associates

 

About us

We are McLoughlin Planning, and our team has a simple objective: to get results for our clients by providing high quality planning consultancy.

Our reputation for integrity, innovation and intelligence means we are a growing business, thriving on personal recommendations from our loyal clients and trusted industry colleagues. Our team of chartered town planning consultants deal with a host of interesting planning projects from across southern England and Wales – from strategic promotions and commercial premises to private developments and rural projects.

We are a friendly and approachable team who care passionately about the built environment, always striving to get the best outcome for our clients and the community.

Please view our full ‘About Us’ page to view which of our planning consultants would best fit your needs.

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Replacement Dwelling Secured in the Green Belt and Cotswolds National Landscape

McLoughlin Planning has successfully obtained planning permission to demolish an existing dwelling and construct a larger replacement dwelling in the Tewkesbury Borough.  The site’s location within the Cotswolds National Landscape (formerly the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) and particularly the Gloucester-Cheltenham Green Belt presented significant challenges to achieving the client brief. In partnership with Coombes:Everitt Architects and Willder Ecology –we secured the demolition of a dilapidated dwelling dating from the 1920s, and the construction of a larger contemporary replacement dwelling.

Defining the term ‘materially larger’ in the Green Belt?  A holistic comparison can be key

Councils often provide inconsistent guidance or, more challenging still, no guidance at all in terms of the size of a replacement building one is allowed to construct in the Green Belt. The key planning policy test for this application was that the new dwelling could not be “materially larger” than the existing dwelling, which inevitably raised the question: what is meant by this subjective term?

McLoughlin Planning successfully negotiated with the case officer to agree that the proposed dwelling was not materially larger, thus allowing planning permission to be granted. One of the key lessons learnt from this project is that it is not simply a question of comparing the existing and proposed floor areas. The Council will also take into consideration the differences in height, footprint, and volume, in addition to floor area, when deciding whether a replacement building is “materially larger”. Providing a holistic comparison can be the difference between approval and refusal.

I own a property in the Green Belt – how can I obtain planning permission for my project?

We are absolutely delighted with the positive outcome on this project, which will turn an almost unusable dwelling into a well-designed home.  The team at McLoughlin Planning are very experienced in the nuances surrounding these types of development projects and navigating the complexities of challenging land designations.   If you have a project that might benefit from our expertise, then get in contact with one of our planning consultants to find out how we can best assist you.

 

Joe Seymour – Associate Director

E: joe.seymour@mplanning.co.uk

T: 01242895008

 

Image source: Coombes: Everitt Architects (2024)

Project Team:

McLoughlin Planning (Planning consultants)

Coombes:Everitt architects (Architects)

Willder Ecology (Ecologist)

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Planning Success for a New Dwelling in Stow-on-the-Wold Town Centre

We are delighted to confirm that McLoughlin Planning was instrumental in obtaining planning permission for the change of use of a Bed & Breakfast (Use Class C1) into a new dwelling (Use Class C3).    

Securing a residential use in a town centre location 

The proposed change of use raised a number of key planning considerations which had to be carefully navigated, as the 18th century property is situated in a Conservation Area and within the Cotswold National Landscape.   

But the main planning issue was related to the Principle of Development, given the property’s location in Stow’s defined town centre. This area is zoned for commercial uses, meaning new residential development is not usually supported. Despite this constraint, McLoughlin Planning was able to persuade Cotswold District Council that in this case, a residential use in the town centre was appropriate.  

Our pragmatic approach, nuanced analysis of policy and site context, and the presentation of a strong fall-back position secured the planning approval for this change of use and the further evolution of this historic building, which will now become a family home.  

Moving towards a mixed-use High Street? 

Councils tend to have policies prohibiting new dwellings in town centre locations, mainly to ensure the ‘vitality and viability’ of the High Street is maintained. However, applications like this demonstrate it is possible to obtain permission for a dwelling in commercial centres. As our High Streets evolve, there is increasing recognition that the introduction of modest amounts of residential uses within town centres can contribute to, rather than diminish, the activity in town centres.  

How we can help 

Do you own or are you interested in purchasing commercial property in a town centre with a view to changing its use to residential? If so, then please contact us through either our “Arrange a Call” tab on our contact page or via the email and telephone number provided below. 

Joe Seymour – Associate Director 

E: joe.seymour@mplanning.co.uk 

T: 01242895008 

Image source: Knight Frank Estate Agency

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Grade II Listed Building Consent Granted for a 19th Century House in the Cotswolds

McLoughlin Planning with special thanks to Undercover Architecture, who worked with us on this project and provided the drawings, are pleased to have gained planning permission and listed building consent for the Grade II listed private house, Somerford Keynes House, in the Cotswolds.

 

Listed building features required for consent

The key areas that the owner wanted consent for were:

  • Erection of a porch extension and alterations to the main house.
  • Various alterations to Kings Cottage, the Coach House and adjoining outbuildings, which are separately listed Grade II.

Contemporary Changes to the Main House

Alterations to the main house included in this recent granted permission were an addition of a French door with side lights to the side elevation, installation of rooflights in the roof valley between rafters (blocking up of a staircase to the basement with new staircase constructed to access cellar), and other minor workings such as the removal of modern partitions to allow for a more open plan space. In 2011, permission was granted for a stone porch to be added. This time round, a contemporary frameless glazed porch extension, complimented with a living green roof with pressed metal oversailing porch has been proposed to the side of the building to enhance a light and elegant feel to the house.

Family Orientated Outbuildings

In order for the outbuildings to have a more homely feel, internal changes were made to create larger spatial areas, including a raised ceiling, to accommodate for more bedrooms and a cosier setting at Kings Cottage. Proposed changes to the Coach House consist of a casement window to allow for an en-suit, which is located on the first floor to the linking section of the building. Originally, this wasn’t the case to be implemented, but due to concerns of excessive fenestration, the size of roof lights had to be changed and the dormer windows to be discarded. To allow for a modern way of travel and a tranquil Cotswold setting by the pool, an EV charging point and several air source heat pumps (ASHP), that are to be screened with timber for aesthetic purposes, were proposed.

Maintaining Historic Value and Consideration of Planning Policies

Overall, the proposed scheme has considered the historic value and beauty of the building’s original structure and the modern elements added to it over the years, therefore justifying that the new considered extensions and alterations granted for this permission will preserve the listed building for years to come. Additionally, careful considerations were sought out to ensure the development was aligned with legislation and policies, such as Section 16 of the NPPF (National Planning Policy Framework) for works to take place.

I’m a Listed Building Owner – When do I need to Acquire After Consent?

If you are a listed building owner and are wondering whether and/or when you need to acquire for listed building consent, please get in contact and one of our planning consultants will be able to assist. Additionally, please view our article here about when to acquire for listed building consent.

Joe Seymour – Associate Director

E: joe.seymour@mplanning.co.uk

T: 01242895008

Find out more

Get in touch

If you are interested in finding out how we can help you please get in touch