Sustainable Planning Consultancy

Do you handle the full planning application or just the sustainability reports?

Both. We are a full planning consultancy and can lead the entire application — site appraisal, pre-app, planning statement, D&AS, submission, determination and discharge of conditions. The sustainability reports (WLC, LCA, LCC, energy and circular-economy statements) are produced in-house as part of the same package, so the narrative and evidence are fully aligned.

Can you act as the lead planning consultant on our scheme?

Yes — we routinely act as the lead planning consultant, coordinating the architect, structural and services engineers and other specialists through to determination and post-consent.

Will you handle pre-application discussions with the council?

Yes — we lead pre-app engagement with the local planning authority, statutory consultees and (where relevant) the GLA, so the officer position is shaped before any application is submitted.

Can you discharge planning conditions after consent?

Yes — we manage the discharge of planning conditions, Section 73 variations and non-material amendments, and align as-built evidence with the figures submitted at planning.

What is a whole-life carbon (WLC) assessment?

A WLC assessment quantifies both embodied carbon (materials, construction, maintenance, end-of-life) and operational carbon (regulated and unregulated energy in use) across the building's full life cycle — typically 60 years.

When is a WLC assessment required for planning?

It's now standard in GLA / London Plan referable schemes and an increasing number of local plans (e.g. Westminster, Camden, Brighton). Many other authorities request it for major applications even where not formally mandated.

What's the difference between LCA and WLC?

LCA is the underlying methodology — assessing environmental impacts across a product or system's life cycle. WLC is the carbon-specific application of LCA at building scale, aligned to RICS Professional Statement guidance.

Why do we need life-cycle costing (LCC) alongside carbon?

LCC ensures that low-carbon decisions stack up financially over the full life of the asset — capturing maintenance, replacement and end-of-life costs that capex-only appraisals miss.

What is an EPD and how do you use them?

Environmental Product Declarations are third-party verified data sheets quantifying a product's environmental impact. We build an EPD register so the WLC and LCA models are evidenced by real product data rather than generic defaults.

Can you work alongside our existing architect and design team?

Yes — we can lead the planning application while plugging into your existing design team, or take on the sustainability specialist role alongside another planning consultant if that suits the scheme better.