Commercial planning can often be crucial for businesses. It can mean the ability to create new premises or the ability to extend and upgrade an existing commercial property. A big part of this process is commercial planning, so it is important to be aware of the legal issues around this.
Enforcement action
It may sound obvious, but it is vital that you secure permission before you begin building work. If you don’t comply, then there is the danger of fines and court action.
This can be easier said than done- the process of applying for planning permission can be very precise. There is the risk that you can go through the process and not get the verdict you want, based on the judgement of the local planning authority.
Essentially it is about looking at the needs of the developers, but also balancing this out with the issues that the local authority will need to consider. For example, there may be concern about how new commercial premises could affect local wildlife. There may also be objections from people in the local area if they feel the business is not appropriate to the local area (this can sometimes be the case with certain smaller villages and towns with larger chain stores and big-name businesses coming into their local area, or worse just outside their local area).
Listed buildings
Another potential complication is that your business is a listed building. This may restrict the kind of changes you can make to an existing property. In some cases, this may also conflict with other needs, such as improving disabled access (something that should be a consideration when planning a new commercial property).
Get advice
This is why it is worth talking to an experienced legal professional, especially when that legal professional is specifically qualified in commercial planning. The best representatives will be able to balance out your needs by addressing the responsibilities of the local council.
In some cases, it may be necessary to look at businesses in the local area and what impact new premises or an extension to your current premises may have on other companies.
It should be made clear- there is no guarantee when it comes to this kind of case. That being said, an experienced legal representative gives you the strongest possible chance of a positive verdict, as well as more importantly reducing the risk of you getting in trouble for illegal building work and avoiding fines and court action.
Talk to us
As stated before, there are a number of factors that can affect commercial planning, including the environment, the concerns of people in the local area and the need to comply with local authorities. If you wish to discuss this in more detail, please contact us today so we can put you in touch with our commercial planning specialists who will be able to give you more information on how they can represent you and give you the best possible chance of a positive verdict.