Hi Natalie, thank you so much for choosing Planning By Design and sharing your feedback on your experience.
It is always our goal to provide a 5* service at unbeatable prices, and feedback like this is rewarding and motivating for our whole team.
Of course, if you have any further questions or if there is anything else we can help with, just let us know, and we'll be glad to help.
Colin2026.05.21
My experience with Planning By Design was extremely disappointing and ultimately ended in court proceedings, where the claim against me was dismissed.
I instructed the company on the basis of a fixed fee of £3,960 for a full end-to-end design and planning submission service. Initially, things appeared positive, however serious issues arose later in the process.
After the planning submission had already been made and following issues with the application, I was suddenly presented with significant additional cost demands that had never previously been explained or agreed. These included hundreds of pounds in further charges relating to items within the design statement and additional submission requirements.
What I found most concerning was that these costs were only raised after the submission had already been made and after I began chasing for progress and resubmission. At no point beforehand was I warned that such substantial extra charges would arise.
When I challenged these costs, communication from the owner became increasingly difficult and confrontational. I was effectively told that no further work would continue unless the additional payments were made, or alternatively I would need to pay separately for the design rights. After months invested into the project, this left me feeling backed into a corner with little practical option but to walk away and appoint a completely new architect at further expense.
The company later pursued legal action against me for the original £3,960 fee. The matter proceeded to court and the claim was dismissed. The court also awarded me costs for travel expenses and loss of earnings.
Based on my experience, I would strongly advise anyone considering using this company to ensure every aspect of scope, revisions, deliverables, and especially additional charges are fully documented and agreed in writing before proceeding.
We strongly dispute this review because it omits key documented facts.
The court proceedings only arose after the reviewer obtained a chargeback of the original £3,960 fee despite having repeatedly approved the drawings and planning documents in writing, authorised submission of the application, and then paid the planning application fee after submission.
This was not an undefined or open-ended instruction. The fixed-fee contract covered the specific project components listed in the signed invoice. The contract also included one free revision. In practice, the project involved approximately 15 revision events, numerous further design changes, and later-added components outside the original quoted scope, including detailed solar-panel and air-source heat-pump proposals. Despite that, substantial further work was carried out.
The review also omits the repeated written approvals given during the project. By way of example, the reviewer described the drawings as “stunning”, said they were “absolutely delighted”, approved the drawings for submission, later said “It’s perfect”, then approved the planning statement and instructed us to proceed with submission. The application was then submitted on that authority, and the application fee was paid.
The later local authority invalidation did not arise from one single “obvious” omission of the kind suggested here. The invalidation letter required multiple further items, and the local authority’s own validation requirements are not as absolute as this review suggests. The dispute arose because additional work and further revisions were then requested outside the original agreed scope, the reviewer refused to pay for that further work, and a chargeback was made after the original contracted work had already been delivered and submitted.
As for the court case, the claim was dismissed, but that does not mean every factual allegation in this review was accepted as correct. The decision turned significantly on procedural and evidential issues, including the absence of a live factual witness for the claimant. We are taking advice on next steps and intend to pursue the matter in court via an appeal.
We are happy for prospective clients to judge us by the documentary record: signed scope, written approvals, written authority to submit, and confirmation of payment after submission.
Extremely poor service and communication
I trusted this company to handle my application so I wouldn’t have to, but it ended up being a frustrating experience. It took a year, and I only discovered my application was refused after contacting the highways department myself. Despite paying for the service, I never received clear updates or details on what was actually done. Every issue was passed onto someone else with excuses like “that person left.” I even offered to provide pictures repeatedly, but nothing progressed. My neighbors had no problems, so I wasn’t asking for anything unusual. Extremely disappointed—do your research before trusting a company like this!
Date of experience: 20 May, 2026
We chose planning-by-design.co.uk� to help with planning permission for a garage conversion to change it into a childminding setting.
When I first spoke to them over the phone, they were very helpful and put me at ease, as we were unsure how the planning permission process worked. Unfortunately, we were led to believe the process would be very quick and that planning approval would likely be granted within a few weeks. This wasn’t the case, and I felt slightly misled as the process took the best part of six months.
We worked with Aaron Basi, who I found to be professional, knowledgeable, and helpful throughout. He was always supportive when dealing with Somerset Council, which was probably the biggest challenge due to communication delays.
The architectural drawings for the garage also took longer than expected. We were initially informed they would be produced within a week, but unfortunately this overran slightly.
Overall, I found Planning By Design to be very good. Although a few aspects of the process were frustrating, the end result was positive, and we successfully received planning permission. I would potentially use them again for future projects.
Thank you for your review. We’re pleased to hear that you found Aaron professional, knowledgeable, and supportive throughout, and we’re delighted that your planning application was ultimately approved.
We’re sorry that the overall process felt longer than expected. It is important to clarify, however, that the main delay was with the local planning authority rather than with our team. Many councils are currently experiencing backlogs and communication delays, and unfortunately, these timescales are outside of our control.
In terms of our own work, we acted very quickly. Your brief was received on 21 November, the drawings were issued just three days later and approved the same day, the planning statement was issued three days after that, and the application was submitted as soon as the statement was approved. From our side, the design and submission process was completed as promptly as realistically possible.
We’re grateful for your feedback and pleased that the end result was successful.
Prawni mation2026.05.15
The team were fantastic from start to finish. I feel it was value for money.
Hi Sally, thank you for choosing Planning By Design again, and for your kind words; it really means a lot to us.
It is always our goal to provide a 5* service at unbeatable prices, and feedback like this is rewarding and motivating for our whole team.
If you have any questions or need help with anything in the future, just let us know, and we'll be happy to help.
Alice Neagu2026.05.12
I am at my second project with Planing by design team . My first plan was approved from the first application without doing any revisionand the second one just started the process. I have been helped step by step by Abigail at the first project and at the second one Kim is the one helping and answering all my questions . I would definitely recommend them and my 3-rd project will be definitely with them. So in one word Thank you Planing by design for your professionalism and advice trough my projects
Hi Alice, thank you for choosing Planning By Design and for sharing a review of your experience, it really means a lot to us. We are delighted to have helped you secure planning approval and of course, remain to assist you with any further questions or services.
Michael Warren2026.05.06
recommends
A highly efficient team. We recommend PBD to all our clients needing assistance with planning. They have the best rates and turnaround times we’ve ever seen.
Thank you for choosing Planning By Design again and for your kind words, it really means a lot to us.
It is always our goal to provide a 5* service at unbeatable prices, and feedback like this is rewarding and motivating for our whole team.
If you have any questions or need help with anything in the future, just let us know, and we'll be happy to help.
Sarah Wanden2026.04.30
recommends
From initial enquiry to resolution I cannot fault these guys. Hats off to Kim who is so in control and timely, a real powerhouse. Highly recommended. Will use again.
Hi Sarah, thank you for choosing Planning By Design again and for your kind words, it really means a lot to us.
It is always our goal to provide a 5* service at unbeatable prices, and feedback like this is rewarding and motivating for our whole team.
If you have any questions or need help with anything in the future, just let us know, and we'll be happy to help.
Sarah Wanden2026.04.30
From initial enquiry to resolution I cannot fault these guys. Hats off to Kim who is so in control and timely, a real powerhouse. Highly recommended. Will use again.
Hi Sarah, thank you for choosing Planning By Design again and for your kind words, it really means a lot to us.
It is always our goal to provide a 5* service at unbeatable prices, and feedback like this is rewarding and motivating for our whole team.
If you have any questions or need help with anything in the future, just let us know, and we'll be happy to help.
Michael Warren2026.04.30
A highly efficient team. We recommend PBD to all our clients needing assistance with planning. They have the best rates and turnaround times we’ve ever seen.
Costs are ridiculous
I paid £144 for a short phone conversation about whether or not I would need to apply for planning permission for solar panels in a conservation area.
A feasibility report was supposed to arrive by email the same day, I waited until the next day and had to chase it up.
Had I accepted their terms to apply for a Lawful Development Certificate to my local council they would have charged me £2,496. 3D drawings would have been an additional £500 + VAT and 3D renders would have been £1000 + VAT.
If I wanted their optional fast-track service the cost would have been an additional 50% of the total quote.
This would have come to more than the cost of the solar PV panels and installation with no guarantee a development certificate would be approved.
Even if if this had been successful the return on investment would have taken at least a decade to break even.
My advice is don't bother with this firm, their costs are quite ridiculous.
Date of experience: 24 April, 2026
Professional to the highest standard.
Our consultant ( Silas Willoughby ) resourced materials that we could never have found reinforcing our case for approval.
Patience is a virtue which shone through with our frequent little changes and requests which were always attended to.
The piece de resistance was the fact we got approval, something the planners told us years ago would never happen.
First rate service.
Hi Gilles, thank you for choosing Planning By Design again, and for your kind words, it really means a lot to us.
It is always our goal to provide a 5* service at unbeatable prices, and feedback like this is rewarding and motivating for our whole team.
We're delighted to have helped you secure planning approval following a smooth application process.
If you have any questions or need help with anything in the future, just let us know, and we'll be happy to help.
Jay Imberg2026.04.21
recommends
Absolutely fantastic service from planning by design. Great and knowledgeable people to deal with, led to a very very professional dropped kerb submission which was approved first go! Highly recommend and took all the stress out of what could have been a tough task
Absolutely fantastic service from planning by design. Great and knowledgeable people to deal with, led to a very very professional dropped kerb submission which was approved first go! Highly recommend and took all the stress out of what could have been a tough task
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