Sutherland Property & Legal Services

Amanda has over 20 years of experience in Planning and Environmental Law. Her career has spanned being a solicitor for private law firms as well as for the Environment Agency and Bristol City Council. Her knowledge of planning law is extensive, and together with the experience from both sides of the planning process, enables her to deliver the results clients need.

Our planning and development appraisals assess development potential, land use planning and the relevant local planning policies, providing you with an understanding of the likelihood of development opportunity at your site. We provide pre-planning appraisals within 5 - 10 days of instruction and this includes a full written report detailing the viability of your site and what you may be able to do in terms of its redevelopment.

We have extensive experience of dealing with all types of planning applications. Whether you are the owner of commercial property, or have agricultural land and buildings, or a householder, we can produce and manage every aspect of the planning application process.

We create all pertinent documentation required for your application such as supporting statements and design and access statements and can provide the relevant architectural plans required as part of our Architectural and Design Service, or work with your chosen architect.

The first stages of enforcement are generally following a complaint being made to the Local Authority and the Enforcement Team allocating an Officer to carry out a site visit. You may, or may not, be aware that a site visit has taken place until such time as you receive a letter from the Enforcement Team informing you of their findings.

When a Local Authority makes a determination, whether on a planning application or in relation to any decisions about conditions or Certificates of Lawfulness and that decision is not one with which you agree, you have the right of appeal. We have a wealth of experience in assessing and advising clients on the likelihood of success at appeal, and of maximising the chances of success.