Second Half of 2025 – Project Highlights
​The second half of 2025 has been particularly active and rewarding, with work undertaken on applications, appeals and pre-application discussions across a range of project types and local planning authorities. The projects below highlight both the breadth of instructions and the outcomes achieved for clients between June and December 2025.​
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June 2025 - Thanet District Council - Planning permission secured to extend worker accommodation associated with a cattery business, located within the curtilage of a listed building. The scheme required careful balancing of heritage considerations and operational need.
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July 2025 - Wealden District Council - Approval obtained for a ‘granny annexe’ outside the development boundary, despite constraints including protected trees and part of the site falling within Flood Zone 3.
August 2025 - Tunbridge Wells Borough Council - Retrospective consent granted for an ancillary outbuilding within a Conservation Area, regularising its lawful use as holiday accommodation for up to 90 days a year.
September 2025 - Tunbridge Wells Borough Council -Permission secured for an outbuilding accommodating a hydrotherapy pool and sauna within the Maderia Park and Warwick Park Conservation Area.
October 2025 - Wiltshire District Council - A positive pre-application response issued in respect of the proposed conversion of an existing annexe to a self-contained dwelling.
November 2025 - Wealden District Council - Securing pre-application advice confirming in-principle support for a replacement dwelling within the National Landscape, on the edge of Ancient Woodland.
December 2025 - Tunbridge Wells Borough Council - Submission made for an "exceptional house" in the countryside, under Paragraph 84(e) NPPF, following a year of detailed research, consultation and collaborative design development across planning, landscape, ecology and arboriculture disciplines.
Appeal Success – Shop Conversion, Change of Use and Extension - Tonbridge, April '25
Having had two schemes refused by Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council, the clients approached Candid Planning Consultancy to see if it was worth appealing their most recent decision. The reason for refusal related to the design of the development and the impact upon the character and appearance of the streetscene. Following a detailed review of the case, Candid Planning was of the view that the change in appearance to the shopfront to accommodate an additional dwelling would be acceptable. A robust and comprehensive appeal statement was subsequently prepared, and an appeal was lodged.
The Planning Inspector concurred with the points presented, making specific reference to the design rationale set out in the Grounds of Appeal. The appeal was allowed, granting planning permission to replace the vacant shop unit and extend the building into two dwellings.
Barn Conversion, Ashford Borough Council, Nov ‘24
Candid Planning Consultancy was delighted to secure permission to convert a disused agricultural building into a 3-bed family home in the parish of Egerton, near Ashford. Following a refusal for the same site in 2023, Candid Planning was approached to provide a fresh perspective. This involved a review of the site and its history and an exploration of planning options. A fresh planning application followed, with drawings prepared by Robinson Waters Architects and specialist input from other disciplines including highway engineers, ecologists, structural engineers and arboriculturalists. Permission was granted in November 2024 and involved successfully demonstrating that the scheme will achieve 10% Biodiversity Net Gain.
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Agricultural Development, Wealden District Council, Aug ‘24
Our client – a restauranteur and biodynamic farmer – acquired a 5-hectare site in the High Weald National Landscape on the edge of the Ashdown Forest in order to provide locally sourced “farm to table” food.To increase yields and crop diversity, the client wanted to build a large greenhouse (250 sqm), two polytunnels, a storage & packing plant room and an access track. Having reviewed the site and proposed designs, Candid Planning Consultancy recommended pursuing the quicker and more efficient prior approval route. A case was put together to demonstrate that the works were “reasonably necessary” for the purposes of agriculture, and the scheme was approved in 28 days. This effective strategy has saved the client having to go through the more formal and onerous planning application process and the scheme will ultimately have a positive economic, social and environmental impact on the area for years to come.
Office to residential, South Hams District Council, Sep ‘24
On behalf of South Western Fish Producer Organisation (SWFPO), Candid Planning Consultancy secured prior approval to convert offices into a dwelling under Class MA of the General Permitted Development Order.This was a potentially tricky permission given the property was in Flood Zone 3 and the office unit next door tried and failed to gain a similar permission couple of years ago. However, Polly identified recent legislative changes as well as a quirk in the building's planning history, to successfully navigate the scheme through the prior approval process, resulting in a positive outcome and very satisfied client.
Lawful Development Certificate, Basildon, Jul ‘24
Our client, with a growing family, wished to station a large mobile home in their garden. Based on knowledge of ‘The Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act’, case law and relevant appeals and applications, Candid Planning Consultancy was able to demonstrate that the development was lawful and did not require planning permission.