Hard to believe, but it is a year since the establishment of Sulis Public Affairs and what a busy year it’s been, with a number of planning successes under our belt!

 

Consent for 300 new homes in Wiltshire

Our planning team hit the ground running shortly after launch, carrying out pre-committee political engagement for an outline scheme of 300 homes, railway bridge and sailing club in Westbury, Wiltshire on behalf of Square Bay, with Alder King acting as planning consultants.

In addition to building good relationships with political decision-makers and the local press to foster political support for the plans, we spoke at planning committee on behalf of the client. A decisive committee vote to grant planning permission for the development.

 

Consent for 58 new homes in Bath

We assisted Acorn Property Group with political and community engagement as they sought planning consent for 58 new homes at Hope House, Lansdown, Bath.

Resistance to the scheme from planning officers (an amendment on a previous planning consent at the site) was overcome through engagement with senior political leaders on the local planning authority to negotiate viability and affordable housing, resulting in planning permission being granted.

 

A new hotel and student accommodation in Hertfordshire

We’re very proud to be based in the West Country, but by no means do we limit ourselves to the region. In the summer of 2016 we assisted Fusion Students in gaining planning consent for the redevelopment of the Grade-II listed Comet Hotel in Hertfordshire to provide a business-focussed aparthotel and student accommodation scheme.

Previous plans for the site had been rejected having become a local election issue. Sulis Public Affairs joined the project team led by Alder King Planning Consultants for the submission of a revised application. Our programme of careful, focussed political and stakeholder engagement helped to ensure that planning permission was received from Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council’s Development Control Committee.

 

Regeneration in Bristol

In addition to these planning successes, 2016 saw us carry out a full programme of pre-application community and political engagement for a residential scheme on a high-profile site at Brandon Yard, Bristol Harbourside. We are working on behalf of Square Bay and Acorn Property Group for this project, with GVA acting as planning consultants,

The site represents the final piece of the jigsaw in the regeneration of the northern side of Harbourside, with a planning decision due early in 2017.

We are also working with one of the UK’s largest contractors on plans to regenerate a key gateway site in Bristol’s Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone with office and retail space.

 

Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone

We are also working with one of the UK’s largest contractors and GVA planning consultants on plans to regenerate a key gateway site in Bristol’s Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone with office and retail space. Sulis Public Affairs is carrying out political and key-stakeholder engagement for the scheme.

 

Political engagement

With a background in local and national government, we have an excellent network of political contacts and understand what makes local councillors tick.

Our planning team offers a full range of engagement services, from discrete lobbying of elected members through to full community consultation and political engagement, with press office support and online engagement tools including consultation websites and social media.

 

A flexible project team member

We work closely with planning consultants and architects, tailoring our service to dovetail with work being done by other project consultants to offer cost-effective, bespoke engagement to foster support for development and deliver positive planning outcomes.

We don't push unnecessary, costly PR add-ons, rather we focus on letting our political know-how and results do the talking.

 

Please get in touch with us today to discuss how we can help you maximise your chances of successful planning outcomes while minimising the impact on your project budget.