ABL Planning & Development

28/07/2026

We have recently achieve prior approval - approved, on a office to residential development in Northwich, Cheshire. Read our blog to see the pros ( and cons) of Class MA. A shout out to SBS Design for preparing the supporting drawings.

Why Class MA Prior Approval Is a Smart Route for Office-to-Residential ConversionTurning a tired, half-empty office block into homes sounds simple in theory — but in practice, the standard planning system can turn it into a slow, expensive gamble. That's exactly the problem Class MA of the General...

15/06/2026

Bit of a saddo but being a planner, we often get the LHA asking for cycle stands as part of our developments. A covered D loop / sheffield stand is the usual norm. So, when I seen something a bit different on my hols, I just had to take a snap.

15/05/2026

We have been out of the office for a few days attending the annual RTPI conference for Independent Planners. A great opportunity to keep up to date with what is happening in the industry as well as being able to network with fellow independent planners.

10/04/2026

Believe it or not, it is not often we get a thank you card from a client so this was a nice surprise after all our hard work securing numerous permissions at their commercial premises

31/03/2026

A delayed post but great to secure LBC for works to a Grade II LB in Cheshire. As a result of the proposed works, a retail unit will be able to be occupied on one of the Towns main high street, bring a vacant property back into use - a great public benefit.

23/03/2026

If at first you don't succeed, try and try...and try and try again...Stage 1 PIP approved for residential dwelling in Cheshire

11/03/2026

Friday 20th March, ABL Planning & Development will be presenting our business bulletin at our Cheshire Online network meeting, part of Network IN. So, if you want to come and see what online networking is all about and understand a bit more about us and what we do, come along a join us

10/03/2026

I've been running ABL Planning & Development for 6 years. I'm a Chartered town planner, with 15 years' experience across public and private sectors, based in and around the North West.

Those 15 years have taught me what matters most to my clients:

Being honest with you — even when the answer isn't what you want to hear.

I've told clients their scheme won't work. I've walked away from instructions where the red flags were waving. I've had people come back to me two years later saying, "You were right." — I didn't rub it in.

I don't do sugar-coating. I don't do telling you what you want to hear and I definitely don't work with people where the chemistry isn't right between us — nothing personal, but life's too short and well lets be honest, the planning system is complicated enough.

What I do: planning applications, appeals, advising on alleged breaches of planning control, objections (yes - objections), and navigating complex or sensitive sites — for individuals, businesses, and developers who want straight-talking advice and someone who'll fight their corner properly. I work particularly well alongside architects and surveyors who value a planning consultant who won't hold up their projects.

If that sounds like your kind of consultant, I'm not hard to find. [email protected]

and yes - the scale rule isn't just a prop - it does come out every now and then.

📞 07762 627 861 or DM me here.

06/03/2026

Fab end to the week. We have just secured permission for the creation of two new planning units within Use Class E (g) (ii) and (iii), within an existing building along with associated works in Salford. The development will bring underused industrial space into productive use. Moreover, these units will be great for start ups in the area.

A big thank you to Phil Hopkins of studioPH Architecture and our clients at Absolute Drainage for their support with the application.