Planning & Architecture test

ABOUT US

Architectural services, planning advice, preparation, submission and monitoring of planning applications and appeals.

The Sheldon Bosley Knight planning and architectural team are skilled and experienced professionals in projects of all sizes and types.

From initial informal planning advice, through to the preparation, submission and monitoring of planning applications and appeals, we are here to guide you through the ever more complicated world of planning. Often we can steer you on the merits of a project in a matter of minutes.

Our award-winning planning and design team offers a full planning solution, including in-house architectural capabilities, all under one roof. We have represented landowning clients in their rural diversification projects for a number of years, with specialisms including barn conversions, new agricultural buildings, removal of occupancy conditions and a variety of other diversification projects.

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Contact our team

The planning and architecture teams are based in Stratford-upon-Avon. They will be happy to take your enquiry by either phone, email or by completing the simple form on our contact page.

SECTORS

The Sheldon Bosley Knight planning and architectural team are skilled and experienced professionals in projects of all sizes and types.

From initial informal planning advice, through to the preparation, submission and monitoring of planning applications and appeals, we are here to guide you through the ever more complicated world of planning. Often we can steer you on the merits of a project in a matter of minutes.

Our award-winning planning and design team offers a full planning solution, including in-house architectural capabilities, all under one roof. We have represented landowning clients in their rural diversification projects for a number of years, with specialisms including barn conversions, new agricultural buildings, removal of occupancy conditions and a variety of other diversification projects.

STAGES - RIBA 0-4

01.

Feasibility

Initial consultation to discuss your budget scope and design plans for the project.

02.

Concept Design

Discuss ideas and early design options, project constraints  & opportunities,

03.

Planning

Guiding you through the Planning requirements and process.

04.

Building Regulations 

Technical drawings and submission to Building.

OUR SERVICES

  • Pre-application advice and feasibility drawings.
  • Co-ordination of professional third party planning reports and assessments.
  • Bespoke architectural design drawing and 3D modelling.
  • Land and building surveys.
  • Planning application preparation, submission and monitoring, including design and access, policy and heritage statements.
  • Committee presentation and key stakeholder consultation
    construction design and management regulations.
  • Specialists in class Q and other permitted development applications.
  • Land registry plan production and boundary surveys.
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MEET THE PLANNING TEAM

Planning & Architecture News

Going, going, gone in Hinckley!

Buy-to-let investment opportunities, a former Methodist chapel and a grade II listed cottage are among the lots going under the hammer at Sheldon Bosley Knight’s ...
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World Architecture Day 2024

Today is World Architecture Day, a day in which we celebrate the beauty and creativity of the structures shaping our environment. From ancient wonders to ...
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Where there’s a will….

Proving where there is a will there’s a way, our planning and architecture team has obtained planning consent for a scheme not usually permitted. The ...
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Through these architect’s eyes

They say a direct approach is often the best way to get attention. That was certainly the case for aspiring architect, Noah Taylor, who has ...
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First approvals received under new Class Q and Class R criteria

Sheldon Bosley Knight’s planning and architecture team is celebrating after receiving the first approvals for clients under the updated Agricultural Permitted Development Rights. Changes to ...
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Overhaul of planning system to meet mandatory housing targets

An overhaul of the planning system to enable all councils in England to meet new mandatory housing targets has been given a cautious welcome. Announced ...
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Planning her career

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Successfully selling land with planning permission at auction

In the realm of property sales, navigating the sale of land with planning permission requires careful consideration and strategic execution. Such was the case with ...
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King’s speech gets mixed response

The government has prioritised economic growth, focusing on housing and planning reforms, as it promises to “get Britain building”. In a speech as part of ...
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New housebuilding and planning targets given the thumbs up

Britain’s new chancellor, Rachel Reeves MP, has hit the ground running, announcing a raft of targets for the housing sector. In her first speech in ...
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Be the architect of your own career

A passion for architecture has led one A level student to find out at first hand about life in a busy planning and architecture department. ...
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Planning team’s challenge accepted

Sheldon Bosley Knight’s planning and architecture team has successfully appealed a decision to refuse the building of a bungalow in a Worcestershire village.The application was ...
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photo of a finished barn conversion

Keeping up-to-date

Sheldon Bosley Knight’s (SBK) planning team is advising developers about changes to legislation involving Class Q and Class R conversions. Class Q relates to the ...
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Planning approval for new Evesham office

Sheldon Bosley Knight’s (SBK) Evesham-based teams will soon be moving into their new home. The property at 1 Bridge Street, a former bank, was granted ...
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SBK adds Loveitts to the fold

Sheldon Bosley Knight (SBK) is set to become a Midlands powerhouse thanks to its latest acquisition. In what is its largest and most prestigious acquisition ...
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Team work in action at Castle Farm

Two of Sheldon Bosley Knight’s teams were in action this week at an event in which they demonstrated how they work collaboratively for their clients. ...
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SBK’s planning team secures approval for residential annexe

Sheldon Bosley Knight’s planning team is celebrating after securing planning approval for the change of use of a Grade II Listed holiday let into a ...
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SBK Unplugged episode 4 has landed

Our fourth podcast has landed! In this episode, Kate Gould is in conversation with Dan Jackson and Charles Davis from our land and development team. As well as ...
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A missed opportunity?

In life there are always winners and losers. The spring budget, announced on Wednesday by chancellor Jeremy Hunt MP, was no exception. Amongst the winners ...
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The PPE pink tax

As it’s Women in Construction Week, our associate director, and head of the planning and architecture department, Natasha Blackmore da Silva raises the profile of ...
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The popularity of self and custom build housing

Sheldon Bosley Knight is fast becoming an expert in the emerging self and custom build housing markets.  These two housing models give buyers the principal ...
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Women in Construction Week

Women in Construction (WIC) week is an annual, global event which celebrates the achievements of women in the construction industry. It highlights their contributions, promotes ...
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Episode 2 of SBK Unplugged is live

Episode 2 of Sheldon Bosley Knight’s podcast SBK Unplugged is now live. In this episode Kate Gould talks to SBK’s associate director Natasha Blackmore da ...
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Mandatory wildlife protection for new developments

The protection of wildlife habitats has been given a boost thanks to a government strategy which has just come into force. Under Biodiversity Net Gain ...
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SBK planning team secures another Class Q approval

Sheldon Bosley Knight’s planning and architecture team is celebrating its latest Class Q replacement scheme approval. The proposal sought the change of use of a ...
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Meet the team – Natasha Blackmore da Silva

Natasha has worked as a town planner for more than eight years and gained a wealth of experience across a range of residential, commercial and ...
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Meet the team – Charlie Cartwright

Charlie has five years industry experience working as an architectural technician. He is currently studying Building Surveying part time at the University of The West ...
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Meet the team…. Laura Ulyett

Before working at Sheldon Bosley Knight Laura completed her masters degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Birmingham and an undergraduate degree ...
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Meet the team… Indujah Srikaran

Indujah Srikaran has recently joined the planning and architecture team at Sheldon Bosley Knight. Indujah is a newly ARB-registered and RIBA chartered architect, having completed ...
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SBK’s planning team celebrates success

Our planning and architecture team is celebrating after having secured planning approval for a new agricultural building. The applicant bought the land in 2020 with ...
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A day in the life…..

Our associate director and head of the planning and architecture department, Natasha Blackmore da Silva, shares a typical day in the life of a town ...
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Learn Globally, Apply Locally

SBK’s associate director and head of our planning and architecture department, Natasha Blackmore da Silva, explains more about the theme for this year’s World Town ...
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Celebrating World Planning Day

Today is World Planning Day. Originally known as World Urbanism Day, it was started in Buenos Aires in 1949 by Carlos María della Paolera, an ...
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More auction success for SBK

SBK is celebrating another successful auction. At the event in Stratford-upon-Avon, 21 lots were available including buy-to-lets and land. One of the most exciting lots ...
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Land and buy-to-let properties feature strongly in Sheldon Bosley Knight’s latest auction

Buy-to-let investment properties, homes and land are among the lots going under the hammer at SBK’s auction next week. A total of 19 lots from ...
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RTPI Awards Photo with Tasha

Congratulations to Tasha!

Our staff are the most important element of our business – without them we wouldn’t be here and so we are always delighted to be ...
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Natasha Blackmore da Silva

SBK’s Tasha up for a prestigious planning award

Sheldon Bosley Knight’s (SBK) associate director, Tasha Blackmore da Silva is celebrating after having been shortlisted for a prestigious planning award. Tasha, who heads up ...
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More than £4 million raised at our latest auction

An incredible £4.2 million was raised at Sheldon Bosley Knight’s (SBK) latest auction. A total of 18 lots from across Coventry and Warwickshire, Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire ...
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SBK’s growth continues with acquisition of two Leicestershire lettings businesses

Sheldon Bosley Knight (SBK) has finished the year with a bang by snapping up two more businesses. Leicestershire agencies, Fox Lettings and Bradgate Lettings join ...
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Climate Resilience

This year World Town Planning Day is focusing on resilience and how planning is key to enabling cities and communities to respond to the shocks ...
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What is World Town Planning Day?

Carlos María della Paolera was an Argentinian professor in the post-war era with an international conscious who understood that the growth of international networks meant ...
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Architecture as a positive force for wellbeing

As well as World Mental Health Day, October saw World Architecture Day. It was established in 1985 by the International Union of Architecture (UIA) and ...
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Slow and steady wins the race

The Sheldon Bosley Knight planning and architecture department has won planning consent for a new residential development of four units at Lower Portway Farm, Sedgeberrow. ...
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Planning advice – it’s what we do

The planning process can be a minefield. A myriad of policy documents, sub-committees, design guides and confusing acronyms make it all but impossible for those ...
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A guide to Class Q Conversions

For farmers and landowners, unused barns or disused, dilapidated agricultural buildings represent a great opportunity. With their high ceilings, generously sized interiors, and exteriors made ...
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Class Q Development

Class Q Permitted Development allows redundant or disused agricultural buildings, a new lease of life. How can you make the most of an opportunity like ...
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World Planning Day

On Sunday 8th November planners and communities across the world will come together (virtually) and celebrate the improvements planning brings to the lives of people ...
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Natasha Blackmore da Silva Attains RTPI Chartered Town Planner Status

We are extremely proud to announce that a member of our planning team, Natasha Blackmore da Silva, has recently been accredited as a RTPI Chartered ...
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SBK Diversifies Cattle Building into Local Business Storage

Sheldon Bosley Knight have particular expertise in Class Q and Class R conversions, which are permitted development conversions for residential and commercial uses, respectively. There are ...
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Meet the Team: Dan, Director and Co-owner

What was your first job in the property industry? I was a developer at Greywell Property in Stoneleigh. After that I joined Sheldon Bosley as ...
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Planning During Lockdown

With coronavirus having a huge impact on most industries, it’s important to be aware of the changes and restrictions imposed on the planning system. We’d ...
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Sheldon Bosley Knight Planning Team Win Planning Inspectorate Appeal

The Planning and Architecture department at Sheldon Bosley Knight is celebrating after receiving Planning Inspectorate approval of an appeal against Stratford-on-Avon District Council’s refusal of ...
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Lucy Pierce Joins Our Award Winning Planning & Architecture Team

Sheldon Bosley Knight are delighted to welcome Lucy Pierce who joins the Planning & Architecture Team as Town Planner. Director Daniel Jackson said,  “We’re really ...
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Agricultural event

Making plans to strengthen the Sheldon Bosley Partnership

Sheldon Bosley are delighted to welcome Daniel Jackson to their ranks as an Associate Partner. Since his appointment as a Town Planner in December 2014, ...
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sheldon bosley jim richardson farewell party

Farewell to Jim Richardson

After 43 years with Sheldon Bosley, Jim Richardson has now stepped down from the Partnership, but will continue an active role with the company as ...
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Accreditations

arb
RTPI
RICS
RIBA

Class Q - Barn Conversions

A barn conversion is the conversion of a farm building into a habitable building for commercial or residential use. With rustic exteriors, high ceilings and large spaces once converted, they make extremely desirable places to live. The blend of contemporary interiors and traditional exteriors provides a wonderful juxtaposition of comfort and history.

There are two possible mechanisms for applying to convert a barn into alternative uses. Either the traditional full planning application route which allows for conversion into commercial or residential use, or the permitted development Class Q/Class R processes which enable conversion into specific uses.

Extensions

Extensions to existing buildings are a popular choice for those wanting more space without the hassle and expense of buying a new property. A good extension can enhance your existing home, providing additional space for new rooms or for reconfiguring the internal layout.

New build

Alongside conversions and extensions, we can also create buildings from scratch on vacant sites for new build projects. Such sites enable our architects to design a property(s) that is in keeping with the character of the area, but also meets the specific needs of the client.

Building something new presents a wonderful opportunity to create your dream home, meeting your individual needs, rather than trying to fit your vision into an already built box. 

If you are looking to sell a site with planning permission, new build schemes are also very interesting to developers who like a blank slate site to work from.

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Measured Building Surveys

Measured building surveys involve taking measurements of buildings and their surrounding sites in order to produce accurate drawings to scale. They are usually specified to an agreed level of detail, to acceptable accuracy tolerances, scale, delivery times and costs. 

These surveys provide the existing details of a structure upon which all subsequent phases of planning, design and development are based.

Land Registry plan/lease plans

A Land Registry plan is a title plan providing a graphical representation of a property’s boundaries and any other features relevant to its title such as easements, covenants and rights of way. Title plans are an essential part of the land registration process in England and Wales. They are used by Land Registry to record ownership of land and property and can be used to prove ownership of property, resolve disputes and obtain planning permission. There are a number of reasons why you might need a title plan. For example, you may need a plan if you are:  
  • Buying or selling a property
  • Applying for a mortgage
  • Applying for planning permission
  • Dividing property into two or more plots
  • Registering a property with the Land Registry
  It is important you have a title plan that meets the Land Registry’s requirements.  In the case of lease plans, any new lease lasting for seven years or longer must, by law, be registered with the Land Registry. It must also have a lease plan providing a detailed and scaled floor plan of the property plus any shared common spaces. A lease plan is a drawing showing which part of a property is included in a lease. It shows all parts of the property included in the lease as well as any land, garden and outbuildings associated with it.  Similar to title plans, lease plans must also be compliant with Land Registry requirements. We can supply Land Registry compliant title plans and lease plans to accompany a submission to Land Registry.

Building regulation drawings/submissions

Building regulation drawings are technical drawings of the proposed build. 

Whilst planning drawings focus on the design of your project, the drawings produced for building regulations are far more complex. They factor in things such as structure, fire safety, drainage, moisture resistance, soundproofing, ventilation and more.

Building regulation legislation sets out a list of statutory requirements buildings and extensions must adhere to, to ensure future occupiers of the buildings have a safe and healthy environment. 

Once approved, they can be use by your builder, giving them detailed instructions on meeting all legal requirements during the construction process.

Tender packages

Tendering is the process by which bids are invited from interested contractors to carry out construction work. A tender pack is a document with all the necessary materials required for the build phase, including number of bricks, cement mix, insulation types and finishes. 

As it specifies all the necessary materials, this will make it much easier to control the progress and costs of the build project.

The tender package will be given out to different contractors to obtain a like-for-like quote for their construction fees. This ensures the contractors’ quotes include everything specified in the package and stops additional fees from being levied during the process as the agreement has been set out in detail prior to any works starting.

Agricultural notifications

In many cases new agricultural or forestry buildings, extensions and tracks can be given consent under a streamlined agricultural notification process and do not require full planning permission.  This process allows specific works and operations, subject to a list of criteria, to be considered under a shorted 28-day notice rather than the traditional eight-week determination period.   Agricultural notification applications can be used to create:
  • New agricultural buildings
  • New agricultural tracks
  • Agricultural extensions
  • Ponds for fish farming
  • Livestock buildings – under certain circumstances
  • Certain excavations and waste disposal 
Evidence will be needed to confirm the proposed works are ‘reasonably necessary’. We work closely with our rural department to provide agricultural appraisals to justify the need.

Permitted development rights

The General Permitted Development Order sets out various permitted development rights which effectively grant planning permission for certain classes of development subject to various conditions. Whilst full planning permission is not required, you are required to notify the relevant planning authority of the proposed development before exercising these permitted development rights.  

There are numerous types of permitted development rights which allow for the extension, conversion and/or alterations to existing buildings as well as the erection of certain types of building or outbuilding, subject to criteria.

This also protects you in the event the property is later sold, as it provides a paper trail which demonstrates to the prospective purchaser the subject building, conversion or extension is lawful and immune from enforcement action.

3D visualisations

3D visualisation is the process of creating and displaying digital content using 3D software. Such 3D visualisation translates 2D technical drawings into a visual story which allows projects to be designed, revised and refined in real time prior to building. 

It also enables easier communication with councils and neighbours and can also help to eliminate unnecessary costs and time spent on project changes.

Our architects and technicians can model your projects into 3D, enabling a more realistic feel to the project.

Pre-application advice

The pre-application process is where advice is sought from the council before a full planning application is submitted. 

This process allows you to understand how development policies will apply to your project, gain advice from planning officers, and identify any potential problems which can then be rectified before full planning permissions applications being submitted. 

It is particularly effective in situations where there are difficult issues to be considered and allows problems and solutions to be discussed in detail before final drawings are prepared and submitted.