Maria Ferguson Planning

13/01/2025

Been for a cuppa with my friend and former colleague Jonathan Wallis Chartered Surveyor at his Barnard Castle office, to find they have a new receptionist, Mabel, who I have to say is most efficient

24/12/2024

A little testimonial from a client to end 2024, entirely voluntary, I didn't even twist his arm or anything. Makes all the effort worthwhile. From Sean Brown, Petsercise https://www.petsercise.uk/sean

"I am incredibly grateful for the invaluable support I received from Maria in securing planning permission for my dog walking and training fields in both Gateshead and Co. Durham.

Navigating the planning process can be incredibly complex, with numerous hurdles to overcome, such as biodiversity net gain requirements, noise concerns, and highway safety considerations, not to mention all the jargon and bureaucracy involved.

Maria provided expert guidance and unwavering support throughout the entire process. Her in-depth knowledge of planning regulations, proactive approach, clear communication and attention to detail were instrumental in ensuring a successful outcome for both applications.

I highly recommend Maria to anyone seeking professional assistance with their planning applications. Her expertise and dedication made a significant difference in achieving my goals."

Thank you Sean!

Sean Owner, trainer and grounds management Having had them as part of the family all his life, Sean simply loves to work with dogs. With over a decade of experience, he has a deep interest in training and rehabilitating dogs and is always willing to help, no matter how tough the case. Sean’s compa...

19/09/2024

Been to the little smoke for the very excellent Bank of England update seminar hosted by Women In Property, as usual Gareth Harrison’s presentation and economic summary of the past year and forecast for the next was very informative 💰

16/09/2024

Two years to get planning permission for the change of use of a commercial property in Hull to a large HMO, retail and offices. The delay principally was due to a noise issue raised by a neighbouring night club.

This was a classic ‘agent of change’ case, where an incoming noise sensitive development meant we had to prove there would be no harm to the night club business.

A quirk though was that the noisiest thing in the area wasn’t the club, it was the road. And the council would not allow noise levels internally to be achieved by closing the windows !

This site; believe it or not, was even allocated for housing in the local plan. Not that this made any difference whatsoever to the ease at which this scheme passed through the planning system 😩!

12/09/2024

Nice little win at planning committee this morning

09/09/2024

Happy to have obtained planning permission for Tori at Walworth Birds of Prey for the change of use of her land to enable her to host photography and falconry experience days !

I’m so lucky to help people with such interesting enterprises. It helps keep the drudgery away 🤗

Tori attends agricultural shows and fairs, even weddings!, with her many gorgeous birds of prey, and also carries out pest control. Many a time I’ve called her and she’s been on a roof with a hawk chasing seagulls away 😳

If you fancy having a go flying some birds of prey, or are just interested, check out https://walworthbirdsofprey.com

06/08/2024

Despite being very much a cat 🐈‍⬛ person, I was instructed by my client Sean, of Petsercise, to obtain planning permission on his land for dog walking and training fields.

Fun fact: Sean features on Channel 4’s ‘The Dog Academy’ as a trainer, helping to make dogs less naughty, alongside five of the UK’s top trainers.

Anyway, one planning application was granted last week in Gateshead, and one in Durham is (hopefully) imminent. They can be a bit tricky these applications, with biodiversity net gain, noise, highway issues to name a few things thrown our way. But after a long process, we are getting there 😀 https://www.petsercise.uk

04/08/2024

It’s been excellent to assist Adrian Keatley Racing in the planning stage of the improvement of their yard at Norton, near Malton. If you don’t know, Adrian is a successful racehorse trainer from Kildare, Ireland. He has a fantastic business in Norton, and it’s soon to be improved with more stables and facilities to help move the business to its next level. Planning permission was granted last week, and hopefully work will begin later this year www.keatleyracing.co.uk

24/06/2024

Breaking news (except not really news for those of us working here) -

Richmondshire (as was) ranked third in the whole country for the fewest major planning decisions made on time and even fell below the thresholds for special measures. Beaten only by Castle Point and the Isles of Scilly. Also FIRST in the whole country for super slow non-major planning applications.

20/05/2024

I'm really happy to have assisted the Wyvills of Constable Burton Estate with their planning application for 40 no. bespoke luxury lodges at Constable Burton. The development will really benefit the area, not least with its economic spin-off, but also a new footpath for locals, and an activity 'hub'.

The application has now been approved by North Yorkshire County Council and now the hard work begins for the family. I wish them every success in this exciting new development.

The application was not without its complexities, in particular its scale and its proximity to the Grade I listed Constable Burton Hall, a beautiful Georgian House set in formal parkland in the heart of Wensleydale. But this was a well-planned and considered proposal that the planners were ultimately able to support !

Big credits also to De Matos Ryan architects, GSC GRAYS and Southern Green Landscape Architects

Read more about The Estate here : https://www.constableburton.com/

07/05/2024

Plot 12 Quayside, the plot thickens. The story so far…

*Packaged Living submitted a planning application for the block of flats shown in the picture below right on the last vacant quayside site shown below left. I was instructed by St Ann’s Quay Management Ltd (SAQML) on behalf of residents of St, Ann’s quay neighbouring the site to object to it.

*planning officer recommended approval, but Newcastle Planning Committee refused planning permission on design and heritage grounds

*Applicants appealed. There was a public inquiry and SAQML requested and were afforded Rule 6 status (equal party in the appeal). I appeared as planning witness. The appellants won and the inspector granted planning permission

*the Council challenged the decision in the high court on a number of grounds. The council won on heritage grounds. The court found that inspector had erred in law by taking into account the fact that ANY scheme would harm the Grade 1 listed St Ann’s church seen in the photograph below left. The planning permission was duly quashed by the court and the matter sent back to a new inspector

*there was ANOTHER public inquiry. I appeared as planning witness again. This time the inspector found harm on a number of fronts and royally kicked the scheme out. He said it was poorly designed, harmful to the appearance of the Quayside, harmful to heritage assets, harmful to the living conditions of St Ann’s Quay residents, would provide a poor standard of amenity to its own residents.

I’m not sure if there’s any coming back from that, but we will have to see what unfolds … 🙌 but my clients are very happy with the outcome

26/04/2024

Big news! Yesterday the Government introduced secondary legislation changing the time limits for immunity against enforcement from 4 years (in the case of operational development and changes of use to dwellings) to 10 years. While that’s a long time as a planner I’m secretly relieved because the interface between the 4/10 year provisions can be dreadfully complex.

In reality the Courts and the Government have been clamping down on the use of the four year rule since the Fidler (house behind the haybales shown in pic below) and Beesley cases.

That said; there are transitional arrangements so it only applies to breaches of planning control commencing / completed after 25th April 2024, so with a bit of luck and a strong wind I’ll be nearly retired by the time it all takes effect 😇

26/04/2024

I’m a cat person but you have to love a bunch of dogs in a ball pool.

Thankfully this existing dog park was granted planning permission this week despite some issues that were raised 🙌

13/04/2024

This weekend Maria Ferguson Planning is 10 years old ! Happy birthday to me 🎂

It’s been the best time. I can’t let the day go by without reflecting on and being thankful for the support and encouragement of the fantastic professionals I work with - ‘work friends’ i like to think. And of course my tremendous clients. I am so fortunate that I work with pretty exclusively LOVELY people.

As anyone in the industry knows, the whole system is pretty awful just now. That’s right folks, planning has definitely NOT got easier, but the people and the projects make it a much happier place.

Here’s to the next 10 🙌

12/04/2024

“Everything Maria Ferguson touches turns to gold” …

…Client compliment of the century !!

08/03/2024

Happy International Women’s Day to all the amazing women out there achieving great things and to those on their journey to the top of their mountains, keep climbing 👏🏻

21/02/2024

A drive by past Penrith Castle on the way back from planning committee last week, where Westmorland and Furness Council granted planning approval for my clients’ on-farm wind turbine. Granted it took the council absolutely ages, but we got there in the end 🙌 and a nice little write up in the Westmorland and Cumberland Herald too

14/02/2024

The speaker’s chair, Penrith Town Hall. And why you never wear a skirt to planning committee.

Happy Valentine’s Day 💕