Planning

We used the services of AFA planning consultants earlier this year for an appeal process and I have found the service to be very disappointing, impersonal and slow. We picked them for their locality in Croydon as using local firms is very important to us and for the glossy accreditation they give themselves on their website, particularly their boasts of success ratios of appeals. The planner we were allocated, turned up substantially late for the site visit and then a completely different planner was assigned to compile and write the report to the planning inspectorate. There was no level of continuity and local personal service as we had led to believe. When the appeal process was declined , we received a one line sentence from AFA saying that council had declined it and AFA expressed eagerness to quote for more works!! No guidance or next steps for us to consider were offered. This is not sour grapes on our part as we semi expected the appeal process to decline but we were led to believe by AFA that by going the appeal route and paying AFA , the specialists, a large sum of money to arrange the appeal on our behalf , that if it failed , the council would at least set the parameters/pointers of why and what we could potentially do in the future. We were just merely sent the councils decline report by AFA and the report mainly contained the same arguments that were made during the original rejection process , before we even went for appeal. In our opinion this was a complete waste of money to use AFA and they have acted unprofessionally , tardy, impersonal and ineffective .

Excellent service from start to finish. Beginning with a site visit by my appointed consultant, which to me is an integral part of understanding any planning application / appeal but is offered by surprisingly few planning consultants. Our appointed consultant, Neil Quinn, was diligent and patient and willing to update our appeal statement at short notice when new information came to light. I have no doubt the successful outcome of our appeal was due to the work of AFA and Neil Quinn in particular and we will certainly be using their services in the future.

AFA were professional, responsive and effective at all times. They helped us appeal an objection from the local planners for new PVC windows which we had already installed into a commercial building. AFA handled the whole process with minimal input and effort from us, and managed the process to a successful conclusion (our appeal was allowed and permission granted retrospectively for the window installation). The financial cost of losing the appeal would have been unthinkable, so it was reassuring to have AFA on the case.

AFA Planning provided an excellent and professional service with my proposed front railings installation. They assigned Myles, a professional senior Planner who was patient with me, and communicated efficiently with my local Council whereas I had failed with my own communication process with the Council. Thank you Myles and AFA Planning. I would certainly recommend AFA Planning and not just because my application was accepted, since many things may go wrong with any application to any Council for whatever reason, implying one needs to have as additional assistance a representative who knows well the subject of Planning to increase chances of Planning permission positive outcome.

“We were very happy with our engagement with Afa Planning Consultants. Through their assistance we were able to secure our appeal which many other advisors had suggested we would be unlikely to win. This success was down to the thoroughness of the work undertaken in both the appeal documentation and positioning, and addressing of the specific concerns raised. The process was very well managed from start to finish and we were delighted with the outcome.”

AFA Planning is a very professional company which communicated very promptly throughout the planning process. They provided us with an excellent document objecting to flats next door to us. We secured a favourable decision from the local planning department who rejected the developer's application. Excellent service.

AFA Planning were instrumental in securing a favourable decision from the local planning department. Their planners assisted in drawing up plans, submitting and handling all communication. They were quick to respond to my concerns and adjustments and clear in their communication with me. Furthermore the knowledge and experience of their planners was required in order to address some concerns raised by the planning department. Excellent service.

Dale and AFA were exceptional throughout the process. The planning statement was very thorough and Dale was in communication throughout the process and obtained the approval we had sought. High quality service.