WS Planning & Architecture

27/08/2026

👉Welcome to this week's Project Post, the latest in our series that demonstrate how our Planning team successfully unlock the potential of land and property for our clients. 👈

🏗️ Resi Minor “The Iron Bungalow” Netherne-on-the-Hill, Surrey

Our team was instructed by our client who wanted to unlock the potential of their site with the demolition of a bungalow and retention of a flint clad outbuilding to make way for two well-appointed detached properties.

The bungalow was not on the Statutory or Local List of Historic buildings. However, the flint outbuilding wasn’t on the Local List of Historic Buildings and was proposed to be retained.
Our Architectural team proposed a high-quality design incorporating a palette of materials that respected the character of the area.

Acting as a one stop shop, our team of expert Planners, Architects and Heritage Consultants were able to help our client reach their objectives without the distraction of having to research and source consultants independently.

👏Planning was successfully granted. The project has since been built out and ready for occupation since August 2026.🙌

If you have a project that you would like to discuss, contact us for a no obligation consultation:

📧 [email protected]
📞 01737 225711
💻 www.wspa.co.uk

19/08/2026

This morning our team met our Preferred Partner, Chloe from Yellow Bolts - who popped into the office armed with lots of goodies - to tell us about the importance of getting the right insurance cover during renovation work. Some good takeaways like, with Renovation Insurance did you know that you can cancel your existing home insurance so that you don't pay twice during the work? Most homeowners aren't aware that their existing policy becomes invalid the moment work begins. Contact Chloe & her team to find out more about how they can protect you during work:
📞020 3927 4080
✉️[email protected]
💻www.yellowbolts.com

19/08/2026

👉Welcome to this week's Project Post, the latest in our series that demonstrate how our Planning team successfully unlock the potential of land and property for our clients. 👈

🏗️ Place of Worship Development in Kingswood, Surrey

Clifton Hill Gospel Hall Trust instructed us to support a detailed planning application for the change of use of an existing detached dwelling to a Place of Worship, together with a modest corner infill extension. The Trust is a registered charity providing Christian public worship and weekday Gospel preaching. Following the relocation of its congregation due to the sale of their former hall, new premises were sought.

The site represents a sustainable location and is considered appropriate for accommodating the congregation, with a proposed capacity of 50 people meeting twice weekly.

The proposals were carefully developed to respond to the character and appearance of the surrounding area while mitigating potential impacts on the Metropolitan Green Belt. The scheme included alterations to the entrance and window openings, with the principal front entrance removed and a new side entrance introduced, alongside the removal of existing chimneys to meet the Trust’s functional and design requirements. Internally, the dwelling was reconfigured to provide a larger meeting space, while the driveway was rationalised to incorporate additional parking and dedicated cycle provision. Together, the interventions sought to deliver a modest adaptation of the existing property with minimal impact on its surroundings.

👏Conditional approval was granted at local level.🙌

Our Preferred Partners offer their specialist advice required through the Planning & Design process and ensure that our projects get the best possible chance of success. Our Preferred Partner on this project:

🤝Motion for Highways

If you have a project that you would like to discuss, contact us for a no obligation consultation:
📧 [email protected]
📞 01737 225711
💻 www.wspa.co.uk

12/08/2026

👉Welcome to this week's Project Post, the latest in our series that demonstrate how our Planning team successfully unlock the potential of land and property for our clients. 👈

🏗️ 5 storey building comprising 33 self-contained apartments in South Croydon

Our Planning Team provided advice for two pre-application submissions and application processes on behalf of our client, Quantum Homes.

The project comprised the demolition of existing buildings and er****on of a 4 or 5 storey building with 5 one bed, 15 two-bed and 13 three-bed self-contained apartments. Planning included vehicular access, parking for 26 cars, cycle & bin storage, landscaping, boundary treatment and communal space.

A viability assessment was required to ensure 15% affordable dwellings on site.

We submitted and monitored the submission & application. We also supported it with a Planning Statement and advice on Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and spoke at the Planning Committee.

👏Outcome: Conditional approval at Local Level subject to Legal Agreement🙌

We regularly speak at planning committees on behalf of applicants, particularly where proposals face local opposition. This is recommended to highlight key benefits and address new points raised, although speaking rules vary by authority.

Our Preferred Partners offer their specialist advice required through the Planning & Design process and ensure that our projects get the best possible chance of success. Our Preferred Partner on this project:

🤝Base Energy Services Ltd (Daylight & Sunlight)

If you have a project that you would like to discuss, contact us for a no obligation consultation:

📧 [email protected]
📞 01737 225711
💻 www.wspa.co.uk

06/08/2026

👉Welcome to this week's Project Post, the latest in our series that demonstrate how our Planning team successfully unlock the potential of land and property for our clients. 👈

🏗️ Two dwellings in Finchley Road, London Borough of Camden NW3

The proposal comprised the demolition of garage blocks to erect a two-storey building with a basement to provide two 3-bedroom dwellings. The project also included the re-provision of 5 x garages to the rear of the site. The project followed extensive discussions with the Council at the pre-application stage, through which several provisions had been made.

Acting as the Planning Agents for this project, we liaised with the applicant and their external advisors to pull together the submission as well as producing a planning statement for the application. Due to several site constraints, including parking and the amenity of neighbouring residents, the proposal was heard at Committee after which it was granted approval with conditions.

Each Local Authority has a different set of criteria for speaking at Planning Committee. Acting as a Planning Agent it is important to register to speak at Committee if a third party speaks against the proposal, speaking in favour of the proposal will provide the best chance of a positive outcome.

Plans and drawings courtesy of Granit Architecture + Interiors

👏Outcome: Conditional approval at Local Level🙌

If you have a project that you would like to discuss, contact us for a no obligation consultation:

📧[email protected]
📞01737 225711
🖥️www.wspa.co.uk

29/07/2026

👉Welcome to this week's Project Post, the latest in our series that demonstrate how our Planning team successfully unlock the potential of land and property for our clients. 👈

🏗️ New agricultural machinery storage in Horley, Surrey

Our teams advised and supported the applicants through the planning process.

The proposal sought the er****on of a machinery shed for their farm. Despite objections from the local Parish Council the application was supported by the Council and their own Rural Planning Contractor who was consulted as part of the planning process.

Buildings for agriculture and forestry are considered appropriate development in the Green Belt. That said, Councils will still need to consider the character of the area and neighbour amenity as part of their planning assessment and will expect the proposed use to be necessary and connected with the agricultural use of the land. In this case the Borough Council’s Rural Planning Contractor assessed the size of the land holding and advised the Council that the building was necessary for the continued farming and maintenance of the relevant land concerned.

👏 Conditional Approval at local level 🙌

If you have a project that you would like to discuss, contact us for a no obligation consultation:

📧[email protected]
📞01737 225711
🖥️www.wspa.co.uk

29/07/2026

We are hiring!

23/07/2026

📢New Preferred Partner 🙌

22/07/2026

15/07/2026

👉Welcome to this week's Project Post, the latest in our series that demonstrate how our Planning team successfully unlock the potential of land and property for our clients. 👈

🏗️ St Thomas Orthodox Church in Acton, London W3

The Syrian Orthodox Church instructed us to submit a full planning application for the demolition of an existing vacant office building and the er****on of a Syrian Orthodox Church in Acton, London W3.

The application included the change of use of the land to class Dl (places of worship) with a residential unit (C3) at second floor level.

The proposed building would be of a similar scale to the residential scheme and doctors’ surgery permitted on the site and comparable with a two-storey dwelling in height. The submission followed the withdrawal of the previous application after which pre-application discussions with the case officer and the urban designer at Ealing Council took place.

The objectives outlined in the Design Statement included the particular care and attention given to the character of the surrounding area and how the proposed use would benefit the area by providing a community facility attracting people which would in turn increase the viability of the local shopping frontages along The Vale.

👏Outcome: the church was built out. Prince Charles attended the historic consecration in 2016 as Britain’s first Syriac Orthodox Cathedral, attended by 600 congregants🙌

If you have a project that you would like to discuss, contact us for a no obligation consultation:

📧[email protected]
📞01737 225711
🖥️www.wspa.co.uk