Planning By Design’s 4-Year Milestone: 860 Approvals, 7 Awards and 21,300 Trees Planted in Partnership with Treeapp

Four years ago, Planning By Design was little more than a bold idea and a small, determined team. The vision was simple but ambitious: to make planning permission and architectural design clearer, greener, and more affordable for homeowners, self-builders, investors and developers across the UK.

Today, that idea has grown into a multi-award-winning architectural design and town-planning consultancy with 860 planning approvals, 7 industry awards, over 440 client reviews averaging 4.6 out of 5 stars, and 21,300 trees planted in partnership with Treeapp. This 4-year milestone marks an important moment to reflect on our journey, thank everyone who has been part of it, and stay focused on what comes next.

That approach quickly began to resonate. Referrals grew from homeowners and investors who appreciated candid, evidence-based advice, transparent fees and a team focused on realistic outcomes rather than simply telling them what they wanted to hear.

Four years on, the scale is very different. Planning By Design now supports projects across England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, covering a broad mix of residential and commercial projects. Yet the core ethos has not changed: clear communication, robust planning strategy and design that balances ambition with practicality, all delivered with the same goal we started with: providing a 5-star service at unbeatable prices, backed by our price match guarantee.

In just four years, that approach has delivered more than 860 approvals for clients, covering single-storey extensions, loft conversions, garage conversions, outbuildings, new-build houses and flats, as well as larger multi-unit, mixed-use and other major development projects, with over 900 applications currently pending a decision.

Although no two projects are identical, the way we approach them is deliberately consistent. Each one begins with a planning appraisal that looks carefully at local and national policy, the site’s constraints and the client’s aspirations. That early work helps identify opportunities, highlight risks, and shape a proposal that is realistic as well as exciting. The headline number – 860 approvals– reflects a lot of individual stories: family homes being adapted for changing needs, investors unlocking value from underused sites, and small developers bringing much-needed housing to local communities.

Planning By Design was created with a strong environmental conscience. From the outset, we knew that planning and design could not be separated from questions of climate impact, biodiversity and long-term sustainability.

That’s why we work in partnership with Treeapp, funding tree-planting projects around the world for every project we complete at no extra cost to our clients. In just four years, this has resulted in 21,300 trees planted and counting, supporting reforestation and restoring ecosystems.

Behind the numbers are the people who make Planning By Design what it is. Our team brings together chartered town planners, architectural designers and a dedicated client-care team, all focused on delivering a smooth, well-managed experience.

Clients consistently highlight the way we communicate. Planning can be technical and policy-heavy; our job is to translate that complexity into clear, practical advice so they can make confident decisions at each stage.

That people-first approach has helped us earn over 440 client reviews, averaging 4.6 out of 5 stars, and build a strong foundation of repeat work and referrals, with many new enquiries now coming from clients who return for their next project or recommend us to others.

One of the reasons Planning By Design has been able to grow quickly while maintaining service quality is its willingness to embrace new technology.

Over the past few years, we have invested in AI-powered tools and digital systems. We use AI on both the front end and behind the scenes to make the client experience smoother. Our AI chatbot, Aisa, is available 24/7 to help new and existing clients. Behind the scenes, AI supports our back-office operations and project management, helping keep projects organised and on time while our planners and designers focus on their core work.

Innovation, for us, is always a means to an end: better information, faster processes and clearer decisions for clients.

Marking four years in business is an important moment, but Planning By Design’s focus remains firmly on the future.

Over the next few years, we aim to:

The goal is straightforward: to remain the go-to partner for planning permission and architectural design in the UK, offering robust expertise, a genuinely supportive service and a 5-star experience at unbeatable prices, backed by our price match guarantee.

As Founder and Managing Director, I know that none of this – the 860 approvals, the 21,300 trees planted in partnership with Treeapp, the seven awards, over 440 client reviews averaging 4.6 out of 5 stars, the growth and the innovation, would have been possible without the people around Planning By Design.

It begins with our clients, who trust us with their homes, investments and long-term plans. It continues with our partners, whose specialist input helps us offer genuinely end-to-end support. And it is held together by our team, whose skill, commitment and resilience sit behind every approval notice, every drawing and every planning statement.

If you are exploring ideas for an extension, conversion, new-build home or development and would simply like to understand your options, you are always welcome to get in touch for a free, no-obligation consultation.