Why Now is the Critical Time for Your Planning Application

If you’re a landowner or developer with sites in the sought-after corridors of North Hampshire, Surrey, or Berkshire, you’ll know that opportunity is often a matter of timing. The property landscape here is dynamic, influenced by both local policy and broader economic currents.

Right now, we’re observing an alignment of factors that makes this moment an exceptionally strategic time to submit your planning applications. So, what’s driving this sense of urgency?

1. Local Plans are being updated

Many Local Authorities across our region are in the critical stages of reviewing or adopting their Local Plans. Part of this process is a ‘Call for Sites’ consultation to gather suggestions for potential future development. Consultations are usually open to landowners, developers and the local community. Check your Local Authority website to see if your area currently has a consultation running. Hart District Council currently has their consultation running until 10th October 2025, as seen on their website, here; Call for sites | Hart District Council.

2. Political Pressures to Deliver Housing
All Local Authorities are required to demonstrate a deliverable five year supply of new homes. Where Local Authorities are unable to prove a five year housing supply there is a genuine opportunity to increase the chance of a successful planning application. If you have land in such a Local Authority, it is time to strike while the iron is hot.

Navigating the Window of Opportunity Requires Expert Guidance
While the climate is ripe, the planning process itself remains complex. A successful outcome hinges on a robust, well-justified application that anticipates local policy nuances and potential objections. This is where expert local knowledge becomes your most valuable asset and is precisely the kind of strategic challenge that Katherine Gray, our Land Director at Mackenzie Smith, excels at. With an exceptional understanding of the planning processes across North Hampshire, Surrey, and Berkshire, Katherine provides the critical insight needed to steer your application towards success. Katherine knows exactly what makes a compelling case for development.

Whether you are a major housebuilder with a strategic land portfolio, a private landowner exploring the potential of a single site, or the owner of a commercial plot planning to sell it for residential purposes, Katherine offers senior-level, hands-on guidance to help you make the most of this current opportunity.

Don’t let this strategic window close. If you have a site and are wondering about its potential, now is the time to act. For a confidential discussion about your project, please contact Land Director Katherine Gray on (01252) 597765 or email katherineg@mackenziesmith.co.uk.

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