Holiday lets planning application consultant

Holiday lets planning application consultant

by | Apr 28, 2017 | landing, Uncategorized

Feasibility study self catering cottages
Forest lodge feasibility study
Visitor accommodation strategy
Self catering cottages business plan
Self catering accommodation feasibility study

Are you thinking of developing a tourist accommodation project? This could be a change of use for a single unit through to developing a site with multiple lodges.

We are not planning consultants. We work with planning consultants to support planning applications in respect of short-term holiday lets / tourist accommodation projects.

Our work is focussed on carrying out feasibility studies and market demand assessments for tourist accommodation projects alongside preparing the financial analysis and business plan to test the financial viability of tourist accommodation projects and support funding applications.

Some of the tourist accommodation projects we have worked on include:

  • Forest Holidays: Site reviews, market demand, strategic development planning and business planning to support the expansion of their forest lodge product across the UK. Forest Holidays currently have 12 sites – find out more here
  • Oaksey Park: Working with the landowner to we assessed the opportunity to introduce a cluster of self-catering cottages within the wider landholding in the Cotswolds
  • Rempstone Estate: Located in Dorset we were commissioned to prepare a business plan to support the development of 22 luxury woodland cabins alongside an existing camping operating. Find out more here
  • Newport City Council and Monmouthshire County Council: We were commissioned to address the shortage of visitor accommodation and to support development of the Gwent Levels as a sustainable tourist destination. There were a number of challenges because of the nature of the landscape including restrictions through the planning process both for new build and conversion / extension of existing provision
  • Private landowner: Feasibility study to develop a glamping product in the south east of England
  • Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council: Feasibility study to repurpose a cottage into a holiday self-catering cottage alongside supporting glamping pods
  • South West Water: We worked on a project to assist the company to secure planning permission for holiday accommodation development at Roadford Lake
  • Hartlepool Borough Council: We carried out a feasibility study for a watersports activity centre with linked overnight accommodation on the waterfront.
  • Private landowner: Commissioned to carry out a market demand study and options appraisal evaluate the option to introduce tourist accommodation within a historic house.

Please click here to find out more about other tourist accommodation projects we have worked on.

Clients have said a few words about our work:
“I was extremely pleased with professionalism and thoroughness of the work done by Planning Solutions Consulting. The brief was a difficult one dealing with environmental constraints and stakeholder sensitivities. Even our planning services thought the work was useful.” Lynne Richards, Destination Development Manager Newport City Council

“Forest Holidays has been working with Planning Solutions Consulting Limited for over a decade. Working closely with our senior management team they have been providing expert market reviews and carrying out site assessments across the UK. They have also been providing strategic input to analyse growth market targets and to help shape our development strategy. This has helped Forest Holidays to expand our portfolio of sites across the UK. We have found that the quality of advice has always been very sound and robustly argued and we have often reverted back to PSCL’s earlier research work and reports which has demonstrated their validity over time. Planning Solutions Consulting deliver their work within budget and on time. We would have no hesitation in recommending Planning Solutions Consulting to other organisations.” Gary Fletcher, former Chief Executive Officer, Forest Holidays

What makes us different: Added value our operational experience
Unlike other consultancies we have direct experience of operating holiday accommodation businesses alongside visitor attractions. Our sister company, Planning Solutions Limited, has invested in and manages a hotel on the Isle of Wight and number of visitor attractions (CONKERS, Kent Life Heritage Farm Park and the Cotswold Country Park and Beach). They also used to own and manage a luxury self-catering cottage. One of our colleagues also sits on the board as a director of the operating company of Burnbake Lodges, a high quality self-catering business, in Dorset.

As operators of tourism businesses, Planning Solutions Consulting also has direct access to the expertise of their operations team. This practical hands-on operational experience helps to create a significant positive impact when working on tourism projects and brings a strong commercial realism to projects. It also means we understand the challenges faced by operators of tourism businesses (particularly in the time of COVID-19 and the current economic crisis) and how to develop projects which are sustainable, meet the needs of the visitor and the community and respond to other needs such contributing towards placemaking and the local economy.

Contact
If you have any questions about our work or would like to discuss a potential project on a confidential basis please contact Richard Linington on 07866 742628 or email richard@pslplan.co.uk

Mountain biking feasibility consultants

Mountain biking feasibility consultants

by | Dec 11, 2016 | landing

Mountain biking feasibility studyPlanning Solutions Consulting has worked on a range of projects related to mountain biking and the wider cycling marketplace. Our work focusses on carrying out feasibility studies and business plans to support the development of mountain biking and cycling experiences.

  • Seeda: At Fowlmead Country Park we carried out a feasibility study for a bike-based experience, which is now known as Betteshanger Park.
  • Forestry England: Advised on development planning at Dalby Forest which includes established mountain biking trails, bike use and hire.
  • Natural Resources Wales: Completed a visitor experience masterplan development plan for Afan Forest Park, which includes two visitor centres and two bike hire operations and an extensive network of mountain biking trails.
  • Derby City and County Councils: Working with architects, we carried out a feasibility to develop a cycling based visitor attraction.
  • Forestry England: Prepared the business plan for Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest which secured funding to develop the visitor centre, car park and visitor infrastructure such as the network of mountain biking trails
  • Warwickshire County Council: Advised on development opportunities at Pooley Country Park which incorporates a number of mountain biking tracks
  • Forest Enterprise Wales: Feasibility study to assess the opportunity to introduce visitor accommodation at key recreation centres to support the development of mountain biking and walking tourism
  • Hampshire County Council: At Queen Elizabeth Country Park, which has a growing mountain biking offer (alongside strong general market appeal), we prepared a development plan for the forest park which helped to unlock just under £2.5million in development funding.

How can we help?
Do you need help to carry out feasibility study or prepare a business plan or would you like Planning Solutions Consulting to review an existing plan? If you do please don’t hesitate to phone or email Richard Linington on 07866 742628 / richard@pslplan.co.uk

Car parking consultants

Car parking consultants

by | Nov 1, 2016 | landing

Car parking strategy tourist attraction

Car parking consultants
The sense of arrival to a visitor site or destination is a critical element of the visitor journey. The car park is often the first onsite ‘touchpoint’ that visitors experience, which can create an immediate positive or negative impression. At the same time car parks are key commercial and revenue generating assets.

Car parking advisory services
Planning Solutions Consulting specialises in working on car parking projects which are specifically related to visitor and tourist destination sites, from country parks through to heritage, forest recreation and coastal destination sites.

Working as visitor experience and car parking consultants we can work with you to advise on the:

  • Number of car parking spaces required
  • Tariffs to charge
  • Supporting core messaging (around the allocation of parking revenues)
  • Payment systems
  • Supporting visitor infrastructure
  • Commercial opportunities linked to the car park
  • Supporting business case

Some parking areas can also provide a multi-functional use such as the ‘aires’ seen in many roadside sites in France. These offer short stay overnight accommodation for motorised vehicles such as campers and motorhomes.

Car parking architectural design services
We have an established relationship with Hiraeth Architecture who can lead on the physical design of car parks through all RIBA stages of work alongside preparing and submitting planning applications and assisting in identifying full capital costs.

Working in some of the most complex sites in the country, Hiraeth Architecture specialises in design on sensitive sites. This ensures that their proposed solutions are contextual and responsive to their surrounding environments, minimising their impact, and allaying many of the concerns that might otherwise exist.

We have worked with Hiraeth Architect on a number of recreation and tourism projects – from preparing a Sustainable Development Plan for Freshwater West in Pembrokeshire, a honeypot coastal destination site, through to preparing a Development Plan and Business Plan for Broadland Country Park and Development / Visitor Experience Masterplanning at Gnoll Estate Country Park.

Some of the car parking projects our team has worked on:

  • Hampshire County Council: Advised on approaches to car parking payment systems across all of their country parks
  • National Trust: As part of preparing a sustainable development plan for Freshwater West, with Hiraeth Architecture, we advised on future design and operational considerations for the beachside car park
  • Buckinghamshire County Council: Review of country parks including an assessment car parking
  • Falkirk Council and Historic Environment Scotland: Production of Strategic Tourism and Infrastructure Development Plan for Blackness which addressed parking issues
  • East Lothian Council: With Hiraeth Architecture prepared a visitor management plan for key coastal ‘honeypot’ sites which considered car parking

Operational experience of managing car parks

Alongside our consulting services our sister company manages a number of popular visitor attractions and tourism businesses including Kent Life Heritage Farm Park, CONKERS – a 120 acre discovery site, the Cotswold Country Park and Beach and the Royal Esplanade Hotel. Across the sites there are approximately 1,300 car parking spaces and a number of coach parking spaces which we manage.

How can we help?
If have any questions about carrying out a car parking feasibility study or exploring future options at an existing or new car park at a visitor or tourist site please don’t hesitate to call Richard Linington on 07866 742628 or email richard@pslplan.co.uk

Ireland Tourism Consultants

by | Aug 9, 2016 | landing

Ireland Tourism Consultants

Planning Solutions Consulting (PSC) is a specialist consultancy with extensive experience in developing new and enhancing existing tourism operations. We have been working for over 25 years across the tourism, heritage and recreation sectors from projects at castles and forts through to forests, nature reserves, country parks, outdoor activity centres, coastal regeneration schemes, watersports centres, museums, heritage centres, national parks and visitor attractions.

Our core services are focussed on carrying out market assessments, options appraisals and feasibility studies alongside preparing development strategies, visitor experience masterplans, destination management plans and business plans. Currently, a significant amount of our work is based on helping organisations develop or enhance income generation initiatives.

You can find out more about our projects here.

Whilst we are based in Hampshire, we have worked on tourism consultancy projects in the Republic of Ireland and we are keen to explore other opportunities. Projects include:

  • Waterways Ireland: A recreation feasibility study linked to the restoration of the Ulster Canal at Clones
  • Monaghan County Council: Prepared a Rural Tourism and Outdoor Recreation Destination Development Action Plan for an area of Sliabh Beagh
  • Blarney Castle & Gardens:  Worked with the Senior Management Team to advise on opportunities to enhance the visitor experience
  • Fáilte Ireland: Appointed to a Framework Agreement – Tourism Development Strategies for Outdoor Activity Products and Experiences

Added value – experience of managing tourism businesses

Through our sister company (Planning Solutions Limited), we have direct operational experience of managing and operating a range of tourism and leisure businesses. These include:

Visitor experiences

  • CONKERS, a £19 million day visitor attraction in Leicestershire
  • The National Brewery Centre formerly the Bass Museum in Staffordshire (20210 to October 2022)
  • Kent Life Heritage Farm Park, a farm experience in Kent

Activity and adrenaline experiences

  • The Cotswold Country Park and Beach, in the Cotswolds
  • Vertigo Adventures, three branded high and low ropes adventures

Destination shopping centre

  • Springfields Adventure Land in Spalding, Lincolnshire

Visitor accommodation 

  • The Royal Esplanade Hotel in Ryde, Isle of Wight

Planning Solutions Limited is responsible for all aspects of managing these businesses, from staffing through to marketing and day-to-day operations. This includes the catering, retail, events, education, weddings, corporate use, membership schemes, admissions, exhibits, collections (Kent Life and the NBC) and all other activities. We work closely with the operations team and help to develop their annual target operating plans

What does this team experience mean for clients we work with?
It means we have direct knowledge and hands-on operational experience in the visitor experience, attractions, heritage and tourist accommodation sectors. We have direct access to ‘live-time trading information’ as well as the expertise of our operations team. We have found that this practical hands-on operational experience helps to create a significant positive impact when working with other customer focussed ‘businesses’ and brings a strong commercial realism to projects. We understand the challenges faced by operators, tourism and leisure businesses and how to develop projects which are commercially viable, meet the needs of the visitor and community and respond to other needs such as education, learning and placemaking. With COVID-19 we have the direct experience of successfully managing the centres through this period and planning the re-opening.

Testimonials

“PSCL carried out a contract for Waterways Ireland to look at the market potential and sustainable options to restore and develop a waterside site in Clones. I found PSCL to be very competent on this project. Their execution, tone and commitment were faultless. Their team drew together all requisite disciplines. They had particular experience in waterside development projects which provided great insights for our study. They handled consultation effectively despite COVID travel restrictions. They were responsive, and they delivered professionally, to an excellent standard, and within timeframe and to budget.” Norma Forrest, Marketing & Communications, Waterways Ireland

“Planning Solutions Consulting was appointed to develop a tourism action plan for a rural location in north county Monaghan. Despite the challenges posed by Covid 19 restrictions and the impact this had on site visits, consultations etc, David and Richard were unflappable and professional throughout. The final report was delivered on time and contained both a strategic vision and a list of deliverable actions which we look forward to progressing. I would most certainly recommend PSC for similar type projects.” Dympna Condra, Tourism & Economic Development Officer, Monaghan County Council

How can we help?

If you have any questions about our work or would like to discuss a potential project, please don’t hesitate to contact Richard Linington (richard@pslplan.co.uk or 00 44 (0)7866 742628).

Destination Management Plan Consultancy – Neath Port Talbot

Destination Management Plan Consultancy – Neath Port Talbot

by | May 26, 2016 | Sustainable destinations and activity tourism, Wales Tourism Consultancy Projects

Destination Management PlanClient: Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council

Neath Port Talbot has an established tourism product which is centred around the outdoors and natural environment. Afan Forest Park is a leading mountain biking destination and alongside Waterfall Country are key attractors in the Vale of Neath. The seafront at Aberavon and heritage sites such as Margam Country Park and Neath Abbey add to the critical mass of the tourism product.  Planning Solutions Consulting was commissioned to produce a destination management plan for Neath Port Talbot. The work included carrying out a range of engagement activities from direct consultation through to running workshops and online surveys. An assessment of the tourism offer and market helped to build up a detailed understanding of the baseline position – including identifying issues, constraints and future opportunities.

We developed a future vision and prepared a supporting development action plan which sets out a number of prioritised and deliverable actions, to enhance the tourism product across the county borough over a five year period. This was an iterative process which involved working closely with the Tourism Team within Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council. Recommendations were also made in terms of a delivery structure involving the private and public sectors.  Find out more about the destination here. 

How can we help?
If you require support to prepare a destination management plan please don’t hesitate to contact Richard Linington – richard@pslplan.co.uk or call 07866 742628

Image kindly supplied by Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council