Laurence Associates speak at Groundsure Women in Property event in Truro

We were delighted to recently speak at a Groundsure’s Women in Property event held at The Alverton in Truro, following an invitation from Groundsure.

Planning Director Liz Alexander, supported by Associate Planner Sam Fuller, delivered two presentations covering key planning considerations in Cornwall and the latest changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

The event provided an opportunity to share our experience of working on planning and design projects across Cornwall, particularly those involving complex planning constraints and sensitive sites.

Planning constraints in Cornwall

The first presentation explored some of the key planning constraints found across Cornwall and beyond, including the World Heritage Site, Conservation Areas and the National Landscape.

For development proposals in sensitive locations, understanding the planning context at an early stage is essential. These constraints can have an important influence on the way a project is developed, from the initial design approach through to the preparation and submission of a planning application.

Liz and Sam discussed how we consider different planning constraints throughout the design process, rather than treating them as a consideration at the end of the process.

They also shared examples from a range of Laurence Associates projects located within constrained sites, demonstrating how planning and design can work together to respond to the individual characteristics of a site and its surroundings.

Understanding changes to the NPPF

The second presentation focused on the latest updates to the National Planning Policy Framework.

Liz and Sam talked through some of the key changes and considered the implications and challenges these may create when preparing planning applications.

Keeping up to date with changes to national planning policy is an important part of our work. The NPPF provides an important framework for decision making, alongside local planning policies and the specific circumstances of each site.

Understanding how these different factors interact helps us develop planning and design strategies that respond to the requirements of each project.

Sharing knowledge and experience

The morning generated plenty of questions and discussion, making it an enjoyable opportunity to share knowledge with other professionals working across the property, planning and development sectors.

We are always pleased to have the opportunity to discuss the practical challenges of planning in Cornwall and share some of the experience gained through our work across the region.

Thank you again to Groundsure for inviting us and to Women in Property for hosting such an enjoyable morning at The Alverton in Truro.

Truro: 01872 225 259

Exeter: 01392 979 135

Email: hello@laurenceassociates.co.uk

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