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Training Programmes

Events held at the Jurys Hotel, Bristol

Character and Appearance as a Material Consideration

The most common “main issue” identified by Planning Inspectors is the effect of a proposal on the character and appearance of the area.  Despite this, many planners only regard the issue as of importance in Conservation Areas and do not properly understand its use in both urban and rural surroundings with no special protection.  This workshop looks closely at the use of character and appearance as a material consideration, and provides practical advice on how to successfully consider it as an issue, when and how to use it as a reason for refusal, and how to defend it if necessary. It will also help participants to better advise Councillors on the most common reason given by Committees for overturning an officer recommendation for permission.  The workshop will benefit anyone involved in development control and should also be of interest to conservation and urban design staff, whose role it is to advise DC officers on the subject.

Download a leaflet/booking form here

The Basics of Planning

This practical workshop is designed as an introduction to the planning process for enforcement, administrative and technical staff in LPAs and support staff working in private practices. As well as providing an introduction to anyone who is new to planning, it will also be relevant for experienced staff who want to set their job in the wider context of the planning process. The workshop deals with the key elements of the process: development control, enforcement and development planning, incorporating group exercises and case studies where appropriate. It also provides participants with a valuable opportunity to meet and share experiences with colleagues from other authorities and other parts of the planning process.

Download a leaflet/booking form here

Being Effective at Enforcement Inquiries

Enforcement appeals (s174) are a complex and often misunderstood element of the planning process. This recently developed workshop focuses on enforcement appeal evidence and helps participants to better prepare for an Inquiry and in turn to present their evidence to best effect. A key element of this involves looking at what to include and, equally importantly, what not to include in evidence. As well as outlining the statutory requirements, the workshop explores some of the practicalities including how to actually write the evidence; how it should be presented; and how to work as part of a team at an appeal.

Download a leaflet/booking form here

Design in Development Control: adding value to mainstream applications

All planners are familiar with applications which are "acceptable" but which they feel somehow miss out on the opportunity to make a real, positive difference. However, it is not always easy to come up with practical suggestions for improvements to put to applicants. This extremely popular workshop is designed to help participants with this problem. It is uniquely related to design issues at the scale of everyday development control. The workshop aims to: demystify the design process; equip participants with an understanding of some basic elements of "good" urban design; explore what is meant by "sense of place" and how this can be translated into contemporary design; consider some of the techniques that can be used when assessing the design merits of a proposal; and exchange ideas on how planners can work positively with designers towards an improved end product. No specialist design knowledge is needed.

Download a leaflet/booking form here

The Essential Elements of Development Control Support

This popular workshop is designed to give support staff a contextual understanding of the complexities of the DC process, so that they can develop their knowledge and confidence and see the importance and relevance of their jobs. It focuses particularly on issues surrounding validation, calculation of fees, notification and consultation requirements. Practical work demonstrates how to scale and read plans. Through a mixture of presentation and group-work, participants learn how applications are determined, enabling them to deal with some of the more general enquiries. The importance of decision notices, maintaining the Register, and issues of access to information is also be considered.

The Basics of Planning Enforcement

The credibility of the planning system is increasingly reliant on effective enforcement of planning control. This workshop is aimed at development control staff who are either directly involved in enforcement work or who wish to have a contextual understanding of the system, as well as relatively new or less experienced enforcement staff. Specific aspects covered include: what can be enforced - the definition of development and what constitutes unauthorised development; the immunity rules; how to deal with complaints; evidence collection; the effective use of the enforcement toolkit; and practical steps to make enforcement more efficient and effective.