South West Region Planning Services

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

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

Areas We Cover in the South West

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

Counties

• Cornwall
• Devon
• Dorset
• Gloucestershire
• Somerset
• Wiltshire

Unitary Authorities

• Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole
• Cornwall Council
• Isles of Scilly
• North Somerset
• South Gloucestershire
• Swindon
• Wiltshire Council

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 South 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.
• Coastal & cliffside developments – proposals requiring careful design, flood risk assessment and visual impact mitigation.
• 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.
• New build homes & infill developments – single plots, backland schemes and small residential developments.
• Tourism & hospitality projects – holiday lets, guesthouses, farm stays and coastal accommodation.

Key Planning Considerations in the South West

Across the South West Region, we routinely address:

• Coastal & flood risk – especially in Cornwall, Devon and Somerset.
• AONB & landscape impact – including the Cotswolds, Cranborne Chase, Blackdown Hills and Dorset AONBs.
• Design & character – ensuring proposals respect local character, scale and materials.
• Heritage & conservation – listed buildings, conservation areas and historic town centres.
• Residential amenity – daylight/sunlight, overlooking, privacy and overbearing impact.
• Parking & highways – on‑plot parking, access, servicing, cycle storage and transport statements.
• Ecology & biodiversity – protected species, biodiversity net gain and ecological assessments.
• Tourism‑related constraints – seasonal occupancy, access, parking and landscape sensitivity.

What Planning World Provides in the South 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 (AONB, coastal, heritage, 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 South 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 South West.
• What Planning World provides for South West projects.

Explore Other Regions

• View all UK regions & Combined Authorities
• South East Region Planning Services
• East of England Region Planning Services

Ready to discuss a project in the South 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.