From single dwellings to large-scale Strategic Housing Developments, the planning issues behind residential proposals can be many and varied. This necessitates a strong working knowledge of governing legislation, adopted national and local policy and associated guidelines to deliver effective residential planning permissions. The experience of our team includes, but is not limited to, the following:

• Government commissioned research on prevailing national, regional, sub-regional and local social and economic issues relevant to housing markets;
• Preparation of county housing strategies on behalf of Local Planning Authorities, including drafting of development plan policies and housing objectives;
• Strategic land assessment, planning feasibility studies, and formal land zoning submissions;
• Preparation of masterplans for greenfield sites and development of design briefs for urban mixed-use regeneration projects;
• Coordination and submission of Strategic Housing Development (SHD) planning applications to An Bord Pleanála, including the preparation of Environmental Impact Assessment Reports, where required;
• Design and planning of social housing developments on behalf of Local Authorities and approved housing bodies;
• Management of S.96 obligations / Part V negotiations under the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended);
• Planning appeals and formal expert witness testimony.

This breadth of experience has contributed to our reputation for the delivery of high quality residential planning permissions in a time effective and cost-efficient manner.

Sample Residential projects.

At HW Planning, we provide a bespoke service tailored to meet the individual requirements of commercial projects. Our track record includes the successful delivery of international headquarters, strategic manufacturing plants, industrial parks and urban office developments, among others. We focus on providing comprehensive, commercially astute and results-driven advice, and strive to add value across all service areas.

• Planning feasibility and strategy development;
• Strategic site search, land assembly and planning suitability appraisals;
  Strategic site promotion via plan-making processes, including land use zoning submissions;
• Coordination of planning applications, including site masterplanning and preparation of Environment Impact Assessment Reports, where necessary;
• Preparation of specialist evidence-based planning support studies;
• Planning appeals and oral hearing representation;
• Management of public engagement exercises, information dissemination and feedback;
• Site acquisition planning due diligence.

Sample Industry and Employment projects.

We have significant experience of leading multi-disciplinary teams in the renewal of large development sites in Ireland’s towns and cities. Our approach is ground in considered strategy advice, maximising opportunities, consensus building between public and private sector stakeholders, and the preparation of robust planning applications which accentuate the economic, environmental and social gains to be achieved from projects.

• Site acquisition planning due diligence;
• Preparation of site Masterplans, including phasing implementation;
• Planning application preparation and negotiation;
• Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and sustainability appraisals;
• Support studies including socio-economic analysis, regeneration statements, Retail Impact Assessments, and Infrastructure Delivery Plans;
• Stakeholder, including community engagement;
• Planning appeals and expert witness services;
• Project implementation, including discharge of planning conditions;

Sample Regeneration projects.

National and international policy emphasises the critical importance of decarbonising energy usage via the development of renewable energy sources. Spatial planning has a fundamental influence on this in Ireland. Our experience includes shaping the policy which informs the approach and leading planning design teams on renewable energy projects to achieve delivery:

• County Development Plan energy policy development and implementation;
• Renewable energy strategic site searches and suitability appraisals using geographical information systems;
• Planning application preparation and negotiation;
• Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and sustainability appraisals;
• Stakeholder engagement;
• Planning appeals and expert witness services;
• Project implementation, including discharge of planning conditions;
• EU commissioned research on renewable energy technologies, energy consumption and ‘smart cities’.

Sample Renewable Energy projects.

Higher education is a key driver of economic growth and competitiveness across cities and regions. An increasing student population in Ireland’s cities places very specific pressures on the housing market which necessitates a targeted response. We work with commercial developers and third level institutions to identify and develop opportunities to meet student housing needs in sustainable areas.

• Strategic planning advice;
• Student need assessments, including bed-space requirements analysis;
• Site search, capacity and suitability appraisals;
• Planning policy representations and land-use zoning;
• Planning application management and preparation, including Strategic Housing Development Planning Applications for 200+ student bed spaces;
• Planning appeals and oral hearing representation;
• Planning compliance as part of project implementation;
• Ancillary infrastructure planning.

Sample Student Accomodation projects.

A successful retail sector is essential to the economic as well as social development of areas. From shopping centres to retail parks and town centres, we have worked with international and independent traders to deliver competitive and commercially viable projects which meet their distinct needs, including customer requirements. Our retail experience is broad and diverse, just like the sector itself. This gives us insight and equips us to meet the challenges in what is a changing retail planning environment. Our practical project involvement extends to the following:

• Preparation of County Retail Strategies and related Local Authority Development Plan policy objectives;
• Evidence-based studies including Town Centre Health Checks, needs assessments and centre strategies;
• Coordination of retail planning applications, including site masterplanning and preparation of Environment Impact Assessment Reports, where necessary;
• Commercial Retail Impact Assessments, including sequential testing;
• Planning appeals;
• Alterations to permitted schemes and discharge of planning conditions;
• Retail signage and advertising consents;
• Development exemption appraisals, including Section 5 Declarations under the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended).

Sample Retail & Town Centres projects.

All of the senior staff at HW Planning have previously worked in public sector planning roles, and as such, have a firm appreciation of the unique financial and other challenges facing the delivery of related projects and services. We provide support across all land use sectors in the preparation of evidence-based studies to inform policy direction, as well as development management support on Part 8 and other local authority planning projects.

• Preparation of Housing and Retail Strategies to support County/City Development Plan polices and objectives;
• Evidence-based studies including socio-economic analysis, Retail Impact Assessment, Social Infrastructure Audits, Infrastructure Delivery Plans, health and equalities impact assessment;
• Masterplanning and specialist regeneration site studies;
• Preparation and coordination of Part 8 Planning schemes and other local authority planning applications, including environmental assessment;
• Asset disposal and planning due diligence exercises;

Sample Public Sector projects.

Significant contributors to Ireland’s economic and social development, we work with clients in the public and private sector to plan and grow destinations for tourism, leisure and recreation. Our experience spans the wide range of hospitality and sports industry assets, from hotels and restaurants to sports clubs and stadia.

• Asset acquisition and planning due diligences;
• Project planning feasibility and strategy advice;
• Strategic site searches and suitability appraisals;
• Site promotion via plan-making processes, including land use zoning submissions;
• Preparation of site masterplans, including phased implementation frameworks;
• Coordination of large scale planning applications for commercial developers, including the preparation of Environmental Impact Assessment Reports, where required;
• Key statutory and public stakeholder engagement exercises;
• Planning appeals and formal expert witness testimony.
• Project implementation, including discharge of planning conditions;

Sample Tourism & Leisure projects.

Good planning and high-quality design are critical to the success of viable health care and education facilities and services. Our team has a strong reputation for successful partnership working with government departments, local authorities and private social infrastructure providers, administering wide-ranging support at all stages of the development process. This includes the following:

• Preparation of Social Infrastructure Audits to support local authority plan-making processes and forward planning for future health and education (among other) infrastructure needs;
• Preparation of other specialist evidence-based support studies, including Health Impact Assessments and Equalities Impact Assessment;
• Co-ordination of complex planning and development projects for the public and private sectors comprising strategic site selection exercises, planning due diligence, land-use zoning, site masterplans, planning application preparation and management, planning appeals, financial contributions negotiations and post-decision consent compliance;
• Key statutory and public stakeholder engagement.

Sample Health & Education  projects.

The advancement of the State’s infrastructure is key to realising the objectives of the National Planning Framework. At HW Planning, we have aided our clients develop infrastructure projects of regional and national significance, providing extensive support throughout all stages of the development process. We have consulted on a variety of public and private sector led infrastructure projects to date, offering some of the following services to our clients:

• Asset acquisition and planning due diligences;
• Project planning feasibility and strategy advice;
• Strategic site searches and suitability appraisals;
• Site promotion via plan-making processes, including land use zoning submissions;
• Preparation of other specialist evidence-based support studies, including Health Impact Assessments and Equalities Impact Assessment;

Sample Infrastructure projects.