Planning Voice is based in Nottingham and has prepared objections across both the East and West Midlands, working with major city councils, district authorities, and National Park authorities. Our Chartered Town Planners are familiar with the diverse planning policy landscape of the region, from the heritage sensitivity of historic market towns to the HMO pressures of university cities.
The Midlands encompasses a wide range of planning authorities — from major urban councils to rural districts covering agricultural land, Green Belt, and historic market towns. Each has its own adopted Local Plan, and the NPPF provides the overarching national framework that applies across all. The Peak District National Park straddles the border of Derbyshire and Staffordshire, engaging an especially demanding design and landscape framework for applications in or near its boundary.
Heritage considerations are significant throughout the region, with numerous conservation areas and listed buildings within historic market towns and villages. HMO applications are a major planning issue in university cities across the Midlands, where several authorities have adopted Article 4 Directions removing permitted development rights in areas of high concentration.
Planning Voice has prepared objection letters across both the East and West Midlands, including in Derby, Nottingham, Broxtowe, Rushcliffe, Bassetlaw, Mansfield, Ashfield, High Peak, Cheshire East, North East Derbyshire, Derbyshire Dales, South Derbyshire, Birmingham, Shropshire, Nuneaton and Bedworth, West Northamptonshire, Solihull, Dudley, Worcester, Bromsgrove, Redditch, Wyre Forest, Warwick, and Blaby. Our work in the Midlands has addressed loss of light, heritage harm, HMO concentration, overdevelopment, Green Belt impact, and loss of privacy. Being Nottingham-based gives us particular familiarity with East Midlands planning policy, though we apply the same rigour across the full region.
In Derby, we objected to a two-storey rear extension on the grounds of loss of privacy and overbearing impact. Our objection argued that the first-floor extension introduced a Juliet balcony providing direct views into the adjacent property’s conservatory, kitchen, and garden, that a first-floor bathroom window — even if obscure-glazed — was openable and would allow views into neighbouring private space, and that the depth and massing of the extension would create an overbearing presence along the shared boundary, contrary to Derby’s Policy GD5 on amenity. We have prepared multiple objections across Derby, including cases involving loss of light from extensions and demolition and replacement proposals.
In Broxtowe, we objected to a certificate of lawfulness for the conversion of a dwelling to a six-bedroom HMO in a quiet residential neighbourhood. Our objection engaged the Broxtowe Part 1 Local Plan’s recognition that the process of change brought about by increased numbers of HMOs had altered residential profiles dramatically and led to unsustainable communities. We argued that the site was not located in an area that would justify the conversion of a family home, that the introduction of a large HMO would fundamentally change the character of the neighbourhood, and that the transient nature of HMO residents would disrupt the community-focused environment.
In Nottingham, we objected to a loft conversion on the grounds of loss of light and impact on a garage conversion, and in a separate case to the demolition and replacement of a building within a heritage setting, raising harm to the significance of nearby listed buildings and the character of the conservation area.
In Cheshire East, we objected to new dwelling proposals on the grounds of loss of light and heritage harm, including cases involving outline planning applications and Green Belt impact. In one case, we contested an outline application for a new dwelling on the grounds that it would harm the setting of a listed building and cause unacceptable loss of daylight to neighbouring habitable rooms. In High Peak, we objected to proposals involving Green Belt and change of use, engaging the demanding policy framework of the Peak District fringe. Across Shropshire, Birmingham, and West Northamptonshire, we have prepared objections to heritage harm, HMO conversions, and loss of light from outbuildings and extensions.
Send us the application reference and your concerns, and we will assess the case the same day at no cost. Our objections are prepared at a fixed fee (from £250), delivered within three working days, and written by a Chartered Town Planner (MRTPI). There is no obligation to proceed after the initial assessment. Contact us to get started.
Or call: 01157 365085
Contact us with the application reference for a free, same-day assessment by a Chartered Town Planner.