North West Region Planning Services

Planning applications, drawings, surveys & compliance reports across the North West of England.

Planning World supports householder, commercial and regeneration projects across the North West Region. We prepare planning applications, architectural drawings and technical reports that align with local plans, design codes and validation requirements across all North West authorities.

Areas We Cover in the North West

We work across all counties and unitary authorities in the North West Region, including:

Counties

• Cheshire
• Cumbria
• Lancashire
• Greater Manchester
• Merseyside

Unitary Authorities

• Blackburn with Darwen
• Blackpool
• Warrington
• Halton
• Westmorland & Furness
• Cumberland

Each authority has its own local plan, supplementary planning documents and design guidance. We ensure your drawings, statements and technical reports are tailored to the specific requirements of the relevant council.

Typical Projects We Handle Across the North West

• Householder extensions & alterations – single and two‑storey extensions, rear/side additions, dormers and roof alterations.
• Loft & garage conversions – additional bedrooms, home offices and ancillary accommodation.
• Barn conversions & rural redevelopments – traditional agricultural buildings converted to residential use.
• HMOs & flat conversions – small and large HMOs, subdivision of houses into flats, and associated amenity/parking considerations.
• Change of use – retail to café/restaurant, office to residential, agricultural to residential (Class Q) and other use‑class changes.
• Urban regeneration & mixed‑use schemes – particularly in Manchester, Liverpool, Preston and Carlisle.
• New build homes & infill developments – single plots, backland schemes and small residential developments.
• Coastal & estuary developments – projects in visually sensitive or flood‑risk areas along the Mersey, Ribble and Cumbrian coast.

Key Planning Considerations in the North West

Across the region, we routinely address:

• Design & character – ensuring proposals respect local character, scale and materials.
• Heritage & conservation – listed buildings, conservation areas and historic town centres.
• Landscape & visual impact – especially in rural, upland and coastal locations.
• Residential amenity – daylight/sunlight, overlooking, privacy and overbearing impact.
• Parking & highways – on‑plot parking, access, servicing, cycle storage and transport statements.
• Flood risk & drainage – particularly in river corridors and coastal areas.
• Ecology & biodiversity – protected species, biodiversity net gain and ecological assessments.

What Planning World Provides in the North West

• Planning applications – householder, full, outline, prior approval and change of use applications prepared and submitted on your behalf.
• Architectural drawings – existing and proposed plans, elevations, sections and roof plans, prepared to local validation standards.
• 3D visuals & massing – optional 3D views to help explain scale, form and design intent to officers and neighbours.
• Planning statements – clear, policy‑led justification explaining how your proposal meets local and national policy.
• Technical reports – coordination of flood risk, transport, daylight/sunlight, ecology, heritage and other specialist inputs.
• Legal & compliance drawings – lease plans, title plans and party wall drawings where projects move into legal or construction stages.

How We Work With You

1. Initial review – you share your address, outline proposal and any existing drawings or photos.
2. Feasibility & risk – we flag key constraints (heritage, landscape, flood risk, design, highways) and outline realistic routes to permission.
3. Scope & fee – we confirm the drawings, reports and application type required, along with a clear fixed fee.
4. Design & iteration – we prepare draft drawings, refine them with you, and ensure they align with local guidance.
5. Submission & liaison – we submit the application, respond to validation queries and support you through determination.

Downloadable North West Planning Summary (Optional)

If you’d like a printable overview, we can provide a PDF summarising:

• Authorities covered and typical project types.
• Key planning considerations across the North West.
• What Planning World provides for North West projects.

Explore Other Regions

• View all UK regions & Combined Authorities
• North East Region Planning Services
• Wales Region Planning Services

Ready to discuss a project in the North West? Share your postcode, a short description of the proposal and any existing plans. We’ll confirm the likely planning route and the drawings and reports you’ll need.