Christmas 2025 Office Closure & New Year Planning Update

As we approach the festive season, we wanted to share an important update on our Christmas closure, how you can reach us while our office is closed for the Christmas and New Year break, and what to expect from Local Planning Authorities (Councils) and our own capacity in early 2026.

Our aim is to keep your project moving as smoothly as possible, even during this exceptionally busy time of year for the planning and construction industry.

Christmas Closure Dates

To give our team a well-earned break after another very busy year, Planning By Design will be closed from Friday 19 December 2025 and will reopen on Monday 5 January 2026.

Our staff often work evenings and weekends throughout the year to help clients meet deadlines, so this Christmas shutdown is an important opportunity for the whole team to rest and recharge.

Some team members may choose to work on a discretionary basis during this period, but response times will be slower than usual until we fully reopen on 5 January 2026.

Council Delays Over Christmas & Into the New Year

It’s not just us taking a break. Local Planning Authorities also reduce staffing levels or close entirely over the Christmas and New Year period.

This has a knock-on effect across the industry and can lead to:

• Slower validation of new applications

• Delays in updates or responses to planning queries

• Longer decision times on planning applications and conditions

January is traditionally one of the busiest months of the year for planning, as many people want approvals in place ready to start building in the spring. This surge in demand, combined with the holiday backlog, means that delays continue to grow for the first 6 months of the year and we don’t anticipate 2026 being an exception.

We will, as always, monitor applications and chase councils where appropriate, but it’s important to note that these wider industry delays are outside of our direct control.

High Demand & How We Prioritise Work in January

When we reopen in January, we expect a high level of demand from clients eager to:

• Instruct us to prepare architectural drawings

• Submit new planning applications

• Progress existing schemes into the next stage

To keep things fair and efficient for everyone:

• We will prioritise ongoing projects first, ensuring existing clients continue to move forward.

• New projects will then be scheduled in the order they are confirmed, based on when instructions and payments are received.

The fastest and most cost-effective way to get your planning application determined is to instruct us and join the queue as early as possible.

For clients who require an accelerated start, we also offer a fast-track option, subject to availability. Under this service, work is prioritised ahead of the standard queue for an additional 50% fee. If you are working to tight timescales and wish to explore this, please speak to our team.

How to Get Help While Our Office Is Closed

Even while our office is closed for the Christmas and New Year break, you can still get support and make enquiries.

1. Aisa – Our 24/7 AI Assistant

The fastest and easiest way to reach us over the holidays is via Aisa, our AI assistant, available 24/7 at

www.planning-by-design.co.uk.

Aisa can help you to:

• Make new enquiries and register your interest

• Get general information about planning and our services

• Leave messages and details for our team to pick up when we return

You’ll find Aisa in the bottom-right corner of every page on our website.

• New customers: Aisa will guide you step-by-step through the enquiry process.

• Existing customers: To access project-specific details or updates, simply enter your primary registered email address and confirm the security code we send to you.

2. Email & Contact Form

You can also contact us via email or through the contact form on our website.

These channels will be monitored periodically during the closure, but please be aware that responses may be delayed until we are fully operational again from 5 January 2026.

Planning Ahead for 2026

If you’re thinking about a home extension, loft conversion, new build, change of use or development project in 2026, now is a great time to start planning.

By getting your planning strategy, drawings and applications in early, you’ll be much better placed to:

• Beat the spring rush

• Reduce the impact of council backlogs

• Get on site sooner once approvals are in place

Our team of planners and designers will be ready in January to help you take the next step.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year from Planning By Design

On behalf of the whole Planning By Design team, we’d like to say a heartfelt thank you for your trust and support throughout 2025.

We wish you and your loved ones a wonderful Christmas and a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.

We look forward to working with you on your projects in 2026 and beyond.