Understanding the political chances of a site receiving planning permission, helping you to decide whether or not to buy a new site

Green Issues is able to provide a full briefing service which indicates the political likelihood of whether a site will or will not receive planning permission. Our political consultants from a wide variety of backgrounds and political parties will predict the likely political challenges that your site will face, both at the local level and nationally from, for example, the DCLG. 

This approach is particularly helpful for large strategic sites which cost a great deal of money and could span out over a number of years. Ultimately in such situations, we can help save you a significant amount of time and money.

Case study:

Green Issues has recently completed a major piece of investigative research to determine the short and long term chances of a strategic site receiving planning permission. The client involved was considering buying this site and needed to know whether or not it was a worthwhile purchase. This project for the client would involve building approximately 10,000 homes. Our research has now been completed and will provide the client with valuable insight into whether or not to buy.

The action programme:

Two strands of work were undertaken:

·         Firstly, local research to determine the political views, key players and the history of political support for development in the area.

·         Finding out exactly what the local MPs have said on development

·         MPs' majorities were carefully studied as were previous local and general election statistics from the area.

·         This was used to devise the future political composition of the area (until 2020)

·         Secondly, a survey was drawn up consisting of relevant questions (importantly this did not identify the client).

·         Green Issues' specialist communications staff undertook the survey via the telephone speaking to councillors at the County and District level, scoring a hit rate of around 90%.

·         Having spoken to 26 councillors and a local MP, a report was drawn up also taking into account the research that had already been taken.

This was ultimately compiled into an advisory booklet with executive summary which broke down percentage likelihoods of the site being a success. Furthermore, it also included a list of nearby areas that Green Issues felt would be worthwhile the client investigating for development.