About me and my service

I was a Chartered Member of the RTPI from 1996 to 2022. I obtained my Planning Masters degree (Strathclyde University) during 1989-92

I have amassed 26 years of planning experience in south east Scotland including private planning consultancy work in Edinburgh, Scottish Borders, West Lothian, East Lothian, Midlothian and Aberdeen.

I have handled every level of planning application from house extensions, through city centre commercial developments, to large scale commercial windfarms.

I have handled several public inquiries and numerous planning appeals.

My portfolio includes undertaking planning appraisals, negotiating and obtaining planning permission and advising on all aspects of planning policy, design requirements, mix of uses and planning conditions. I can also provide expert witness advice at appeal. I have handled a significant number of planning proposals in Edinburgh and the Lothians.

I can offer the following services:

• To assess the full development opportunities for land or buildings

• To promote development proposals through the planning system, applications and for development planning purposes usually in the form of a planning statement and liaison with officials

• The submission of pre-application enquiries involving presentation of proposal to the planning authority and meetings with the planning officers

• Preparation of planning statements and design and access statements

• Managing the submission of a planning application (an architect will be required for drawings#)

• The handling of appeals to Local Review Bodies and to the Scottish Government

• General liaison with planning authorities and other relevant parties

• Farm diversification

• Consideration of renewable energy devices

• Preparing objections to neighbouring developments

• Liaison with planning officials, politicians and government organisations (and ngo's)

• General Planning advice

Please take time to look at the separate pages for each of the services that I provide.

I am not an architect and I do not prepare the detailed technical drawings for applications, however I do have contacts who I can use or recommend for that aspect of your submission.

I have over the previous 26 years gained a valuable insight into the way that local authorities work and in particular I have gained a very clear insight into how proposals are handled, assessed and considered. I have a very good understanding of the relationships between the planners and the developers, as well as those between the planners and the public, the local members, other council departments and external consultees. I therefore have a very good understanding of how submissions will be perceived by a planning authority, and I am now using these skills more effectively from the private sector side. I understand the fundamental political, commercial and legal issues that impact on every form and scale of development.

I have always worked in the Scottish planning system, and both of my degrees have been in Scotland. I am therefore highly knowledgeable of the planning system here and of national trends policies and legislation.

I have gained experience of dealing with a wide range of major planning applications, and I have always maintained an interest in environmental management and sustainability.

Please feel free to contact me by phone or email to discuss a planning matter. You will not be charged for an initial discussion.

Thank you.