Every planning application
deserves inside knowledge
Whether you're a homeowner trying to extend, a developer navigating a sensitive scheme, or a legal team that needs an expert witness — the value Henry brings is the same: 15+ years of direct experience determining the decisions you're now trying to influence.
You deserve to know how your application will actually land
Most homeowners submit an application and wait. They're told it complies with policy — and then it gets refused, or called to committee, and they have no idea why. Henry tells you what the officer will think, what the committee will ask, and what you need to change before any of that happens.
What you get
A clear, honest assessment of how your application will land — and practical advice on what to do about it. Not a policy checklist. Not false reassurance. The same judgement Henry applied for 15+ years from the other side of the table.
Common scenarios
Extension or loft conversion
You want to extend your home but a neighbour has already objected, or the council has previously refused something similar nearby. Henry assesses how your scheme will be received and what, if anything, needs to change.
Previous refusal
Your application was refused and you're not sure whether to appeal or resubmit. Henry gives you an honest read of the decision and the realistic options — based on how committees actually weigh these cases.
Sensitive or complex site
Your property is in a conservation area, near a listed building, or in Green Belt. Henry has determined hundreds of applications in exactly these circumstances and knows what arguments carry weight.
Called to committee
Your application has been recommended for approval but called in by a councillor. Henry prepares you for what to expect and how to present your case effectively at the hearing.
Technical compliance is not enough. Committee strategy is.
A scheme that satisfies every policy test can still fail at committee if it hasn't been positioned correctly. Henry advises on the full picture: how officers will brief members, how community objections will be weighted, and what the committee actually needs to hear to say yes.
What you get
A committee strategy built around how decisions are actually made — not just what policy says. Henry attends hearings where needed, advises on officer engagement, and helps your team go into committee with a clear picture of what you're facing.
Common scenarios
Residential development
From small infill sites to larger residential schemes, Henry advises on how to present the application, manage neighbour and community objections, and anticipate the questions members will ask.
Commercial and mixed-use
Commercial applications often involve competing interests — economic benefit, amenity impact, highways, design. Henry helps you understand how a committee will weigh those factors and how to frame your case accordingly.
Politically sensitive schemes
Some applications attract political attention regardless of their planning merits. Henry has steered politically sensitive decisions for 15+ years and understands how to navigate that environment.
Pre-application strategy
Before you commit to a scheme design or submit a pre-app, Henry can advise on how the proposal is likely to be received and what changes would materially improve its prospects.
Expert witness authority on planning committee process
When a case turns on how a committee reached its decision — or should have reached it — you need an expert who has genuinely been in that chair. Henry is one of a small number of people in the country who can offer that. His experience is direct, sustained, and covers some of the most complex planning decisions in England.
What you get
Authoritative, independent expert evidence on planning committee process — grounded in 15+ years of direct experience as a committee chair, not academic analysis or secondhand observation. Henry's analysis has been cited in the House of Commons.
Common scenarios
Planning appeals and public inquiries
Henry prepares expert witness reports and gives evidence on planning committee process and decision-making — covering procedure, officer conduct, member behaviour, and the weight given to material considerations.
Judicial review proceedings
Where a committee decision is challenged on procedural or public law grounds, Henry provides independent expert analysis of how the decision was reached and whether the process was properly followed.
Advice to counsel
Henry works directly with solicitors and barristers to help them understand the committee process, identify procedural issues, and prepare for cross-examination of planning witnesses.
LGA peer review context
As an LGA peer member advising local authorities on planning function effectiveness, Henry brings additional authority on questions of committee governance and best practice.
A second opinion from someone who decided thousands of applications
Even experienced architects and planning agents benefit from a perspective that comes from the other side of the table. Henry works alongside your team — not instead of it — to stress-test your strategy, identify blind spots, and make sure your application is as strong as it can be before it goes in.
What you get
A frank, experienced second opinion that strengthens your application and your client's position. Henry works as a collaborative adviser — bringing committee-room insight that complements your technical and design expertise.
Common scenarios
Application review before submission
Henry reviews your application, supporting documents, and presentation strategy and gives you an honest assessment of how it will be received — identifying any issues before the council does.
Community engagement strategy
For schemes where community opposition is likely, Henry advises on how to engage effectively, what objections are likely to carry weight with the committee, and how to address them proactively.
Difficult or stalled applications
If an application has stalled, attracted unexpected objections, or been recommended for refusal, Henry can advise on what has gone wrong and what realistic options remain.
Committee hearing preparation
Henry prepares your team for committee hearings — advising on presentation, likely questions, and how to respond to objections in a way that speaks to what members actually need to hear.
If you're not sure whether we can help, just ask
Henry will give you a direct, honest answer about whether your situation is something he can add value to — and if it isn't, he'll tell you that too. No obligation, no sales process.