Our critical friend support offers expert and extensive knowledge of the local plan system to help you ensure that your plan will stand up well to testing, and be effective in delivery.  It can help at any stage, from the inception of a new or review plan, through to the draft plan and submission.

 

The critical friend role brings a fresh pair of eyes to what you have done to date and have in mind, to identify potential risks and how they might be tackled.  All relevant aspects of plan preparation will be covered, including:

 

• the duty to cooperate - will you be able to show genuine cooperation with others and determination to resolve differences, particularly in meeting housing needs?

 

• the evidence base - is it complete and will it stand up to testing?

 

• delivery and the 5-year supply - is the emerging plan readily deliverable, is the 5-year supply robust, and can the plan handle changing circumstances?

 

• methodologies - are methodologies for matters such as Green Belt assessment and site allocation soundly based and consistently applied?

 

• national policy - is the emerging plan consistent with the NPPF and national guidance, and does it effectively address the changes proposed in the Housing White Paper?

 

At the conclusion of a commission we supply a full report of the conclusions and the advice given, with recommendations which will be practical to apply.

 

In addition to critical friend support we specialise in advising on methodology for Green Belt assessment.