Projects

A case study on inclusive design and accessible environments called Access for All has been researched and written for the Planning Advisory Service. The case study aims to raise awareness and promote best practice in the field and draws on examples from across England. A second case study on planning and parish councils has also been completed.

Charisma has developed a series of lectures and workshops for students on planning, housing, surveying and real estate management courses at Anglia Ruskin University. The lectures and workshops cover a wide range of topics from spatial planning and planning law to the operation of the planning system. It covers listed buildings and conservation areas, planning law and appeals. Last summer we also developed a three day summer school programme for sixth formers focusing on planning and life at university as part of the Aimhigher campaign.

Little Baddow Cricket Club was consulted on a planning application which sought permission to erect tennis courts on land adjoining the boundary of the cricket pitch. The Club were concerned about the safety implications of land used for colts training and the visual impact on the setting of the cricket ground. We've helped the Club in their campaign to oppose the development.

Clive provided interim management support for Thurrock Council at a time when the Council had difficulty in recruiting experienced staff. He provided vital strategic support at a crucial time in their LDF preparation. This included overseeing the preparation of the evidence base, the LDF and the SCI. Clive also assisted with the issues and options stage of the Core Strategy DPD. In addition Clive represented the Council on the East of England Regional Assembly’s Regional Technical Advisory Group during the preparation of RSS 14 – the East of England Plan.

Clive acted as interim planning manager at Brentwood Borough Council after senior staff had moved to new jobs elsewhere and introduced new ways of working and performance targets to enable performance targets to be achieved. He was also involved in negotiations on major schemes and in the coaching and mentoring of junior staff.

Planning permission was successfully secured for the re-use of a redundant department store in a town centre for commercial, leisure, restaurants and bars for P&S Estates. We provided advice on proposals for a mixed use scheme with commercial and leisure development on the upper floors of this vacant town centre department store and the subdivision of the ground floor into smaller units for riverside café bars and restaurants.

Permission successfully secured for housing development in a conservation area on a site with preserved trees and access constraints for Development Insights Ltd. This client had acquired a site in a conservation area in a small market town for residential development. The site was constrained by difficult access arrangements, preserved trees and issues relating to the character and appearance of the conservation area. Charisma negotiated with the local Council preparing a planning application which led to the grant of planning permission.

Advice to the Chelmsford Gospel Trust on site options for a new church. The Gospel Trust has a growing congregation and asked us to help them to find a suitable site for a new church. We have provided advice on potential and alternative sites and held pre-application discussions and negotiated with the local Council on the Trust's behalf.