EN-PLAN are based in Shropshire and are ideally placed to act as a local and responsive planning consultant to anyone requiring our services in the Oswestry Area.  Located in Bomere Heath we are only ten miles from Oswestry meaning site visits are no issue to us and we can respond quickly to any changes in circumstance that require our immediate attention.

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We have as full understnading of the Plannig Policy that covers Oswestry whether it is The PLace Plan for the town produced by Shrosphire County Council or the Oswestry  Town Counci Plan that presents their vision for the town.

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To understand Planinng Policy for the area we need to underdtand the spatial context of Oswestry which is located in Shropshire close to the English - Welsh Border, with excellent economic and transport links to both Shrewsbury and cross county to Welshpool, Wrexham, and Chester, and to the regional cities of Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham. The origins of the town are uncertain, although the town’s market dates back to 1190. Historically, Oswestry has also been an important coal mining area, with the large Ifton colliery closing in 1968.

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The area is steeped in ancient history, with one of the best-preserved Iron Age hill forts in the country, as well as Pontycyllte Aqueduct, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There is also a variety of industrial heritage and community attractions and assets, including Cambrian Heritage Railway, Montgomery Canal, and Llanymynech Heritage Site.

Most of Oswestry town centre has been designated a Conservation Area, conveying a mixture of architectural styles. There are many old timber framed houses, for example Llywd Mansion on Cross Street, the Heritage Centre, the Blackgate, the Fox Inn and the shops along Beatrice Street. Georgian architecture is also represented, particularly around St Oswald's Church, where there are a number of imposing town houses. The town also has a significant Victorian legacy, and many of the shop fronts and facades, terraced houses, churches and railway buildings reflect this period. There are further conservation areas nearby at Whittington Castle, Pant Glas and Brogyntyn.

Oswestry still functions as a market town, with regular events and markets in the town, and a nearby livestock market which preserves the town’s agricultural links. Oswestry is a good base for walking, with the Wilfred Owen trail enabling walkers to find out more about the famous war poet’s childhood in Oswestry. There are also plenty of opportunities for hiking or biking along the Offa’s Dyke Path.

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Bearing in mind the above the overarching aims of Planing Policy in the area are the following:

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• Oswestry will continue to act as a Principal Centre and contribute towards the strategic growth objectives in the north west of the county
• Development will balance the need for additional housing and employment, accommodating around 1,800 dwellings and around 19 hectares of employment development between 2016 and 2036.
• Additional development opportunities adjacent to the existing Development Boundary for Oswestry are now extremely restricted by the presence of physical, heritage, and environmental constraints such as Oswestry Hillfort, sensitive landscapes to the north and west, the Oswestry bypass to the east, and flood risk and accessibility issues to the south.
• Shropshire Council proposes to deliver the majority of the new housing required by responding positively to the principles outlined by the Oswestry Civic Society in its proposed Oswestry 2050 approach by reinforcing the existing urban fabric of the former Park Hall Camp.
• Within the Oswestry Place Plan area, 11 proposed Community Hubs have been identified, these are Gobowen, Kinnerley,Knockin, Llanymynech, Pant, Ruyton Xi Towns, St Martins, Trefonen, West Felton, Weston Rhyn, and Whittington.

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With the above points covering the historic environment, coupled with the need for growth this is where En-Plan can balance those oftern conflicting aims and deliver success in the planning system. From inception of the scheme, including drawings and planning/building control applications, through to completion we work on a range of schemes including; barn conversions, office refurbishment, agricultural buildings, new builds and listed buildings, and are adept at navigating complex planing issues.

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Our role is to take responsibility. We see securing planning permission as much more than just complying with the relevant planning regulations. We believe in providing clear and concise recommendations, which identifies planning risk and opportunities and is part of a comprehensive analysis of all options for the site in question.

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We have an excellent working relationship with Shropshire County Council who cover the Oswestry area as the Local Planning Authority and Oswestry Town Council , and we have a full working knowledge of the Planning Policy that covers the planning application process and adopt a collaborative approach when working with the Council and client to achieve a successful outcome.  Our close working relationships with local authority planning and conservation and building control officers enables us to adapt to fast changing regulations and complete projects in line with clients’ objectives.  We offer a complete range of  planning consultancy and architectural design services. This means we are one of the few companies that can offer a ‘one stop shop’ service from inception to completion in the Oswestry Area. 

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EN-PLAN routinely prepare and submit planning applications for a variety of proposals, ranging from small to medium sized redevelopments to larger development proposals and unique one-off projects for local developers and individuals. With a background in Local Authority Development Control, we have an excellent and up-to-date understanding of planning law and legislation. We also prepare listed building applications and Certificates of Lawfulness and can discuss any planning issues that may be affecting you as a third party

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Initial work often involves a planning appraisal, which will involve making an assessment of the physical aspects of the site and the relevant planning policies that apply. This background information allows us to develop a set of parameters that assist in the design process. Initially this may often be in sketch form in order to obtain pre-application advice from the local authority. Once we have established agreement relating to principles such as development, design, layout, scale, mass, density and form, we then progress with a formal planning application.

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Planning application submission can be more complex than people think and can often involve submission of a number of supporting documents in order for the local authority to register the application. In most cases a Design and Access Statement is needed to present the proposals and demonstrate how the proposal relates to the site and surroundings and complies with relevant policies.

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EN-PLAN are adept at drafting Design and Access statements and present these in a thorough, structured and professional way. Often presentation of proposals can be key to gaining a successful planning permission. 

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The documents normally required for a planning application include:

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• Site location Plan

• Block Plan

• Existing plans and elevations

• Proposed plans and elevations

• Design and Access Statement

• Energy statement

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Additional reports that are sometimes required:

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• Tree survey

• Flood Risk assessment

• Biodiversity survey

• Transport Assessment / Travel Plan

• Statement of Significance (Heritage assets)

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We work alongside a number of external consultants with the professional expertise to draft these reports and would be happy to assist you with this work as part of our services.

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Post planning apporcval we can also assist with Building Regulations Applications and the discharge or variation of planning conditions that may be required in order to achive the project outcome.

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As part of our service we offer a free no obligation consultation to discuss your proposal as not  all development requires planning permission as some development is allowed, this is called permitted development.  You can find out if you need planning permission on the Government’s Planning Portal website.

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Please get in touch for a FREE initial consultation.

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Tel: 07931 541 804

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We will be happy to assist with any planning and/or architecture related query to progress your project