a very difficult and thorny subject planning
in all honesty any body that comes on a forum looking for advice on gaining planning is either trying to screw the system over or benefit from others long and hard work and using there info as a short cut
i have had dealings with the planners on several occasions and always came out on top why because i read all all the legality's on getting planning my first encounter i was advised to get a planning consultant he did no more than i would have done and £2500 poorer as a result the choice is yours it depends on your aptitude and if you are flush with cash and then the consultant claimed to be expert in getting planning on the issue that i had researched and written out for them as guideline and then used in finall presentation
my last two encounters i did it my way and very successful on both counts
now getting planning on small areas of grass/field or whatever can be financially rewarding if they are persistent enough or dodgy dealings one area was consistently applied for even with a planning consultant and failed even the appeal to the secretary of state at the time failed then a friend on the planning commite managed it but with one of the tightest section 50s ever drawn up this has since been rescinded at great cost and increased the value by £150000-200000 the second development was on the site of a previous house that was flattened because it was in the blast zone of a gas compressor station that was also built with a section 50 and also since rescinded also increasing the value both have set a precedent and will come back to haunt the planners 
I wouldn't disagree with your comments above Rob. All the info one needs is on the internet these days which gives anyone the chance to learn all the facts. I don't know so much about people asking questions on forums about planning, freeloading others information though. Most people I meet on F2F forum are trying to find out if the information they are using is right as it is not unknown for planning officers to misinform the public (intentional or not I couldn't possibly say!).
As for planning consultants, I've always advised those who are going to use one to make sure they are getting the right sort. Planning is a huge field, just like law. You wouldn't ask a lawyer who specialises in corporate law to defend you against a case of defamation. Likewise, don't expect a planning consultant who works on retail centres to be any good at agricultural stuff. Yes, I am an agricultural planning advisor though I do not get involved with intensive farming enterprises, preferring to work on ethical and small farming ventures only.
Topic: Getting planning permission? (Read 30754 times)
