As we reach the end of 2022 ZMA reflect on their last year, their achievements and their plans for 2023.
2022 marked our 5th year in business at ZMA. The total projects we have worked on to-date is now 160 and within 15 different local authorities. Over the last 12 months we have had 19successful planning approvals, 16 of which were on sensitive sites (Greenbelt, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Open Countryside).
We have continued our mission to Transform Sites, Buildings and Lives by adding value for our clients. From creating dream homes for individual families, to maximising the development potential of sites to sell with planning permission. In all of our projects we push the boundaries of design to create proposals which are unique and add significant value.
Over the last year we have obtained approval for some very exciting schemes which include aluxury eco-home in the Ribble Valley Open Countryside; a super home in the Chorley Greenbelt; a hillside eco-home with annexe in Pendle Open Countryside; the transformation and extension of a Non-Designated Heritage Asset in the Bury Greenbelt; and a large contemporary house extension in Brockhall Village.
2022 has been the year of increasing energy and material costs, and the update of Building Regulations to achieve lower U-Values (improved energy efficiency through the fabric of the building). There is light at the end of the tunnel, however as material costs are predicted to reduce within the next 6 months, and with the cost of energy rising – it now means that clients are futureproofing their schemes to ensure they create a low energy home, with eco-home requirements now being the norm. The changes to the Building Regulations will also respond to the energy crisis by increasing the required standard requiring higher levels of insulation and triple glazing will become the standard.
In planning news, our experience over the last 12 months is that all local authorities are still experiencing a workload backlog, which has resulted in severe delays for pre-application submissions. Pre-Applications, are a key part of the planning process particularly for sensitive sites, to obtain input from the planning officer prior to the main planningapplication, however this is an optional service the planning department provides, therefore as they need to prioritise their main applications, pre-applications are having to take a back seat. This has meant that we having been waiting for 6-months (in some instances) for a pre-application response.
Some local authorities such as Pendle have terminated this service until further notice, therefore we have been proceeding straight to the formal application with an open dialogue during the application period, or in the case of other local authorities – a conversation / zoom meeting to understand the planning officer’s views is achievable without needing to wait for a formal response. Our advice would be to plan your project accordingly by appointing your architect at least 12 months prior to requiring approval for a sensitive site, and 6 months for a non-sensitive site, and expect delays within the planning system!
Our sensitive planning approvals from 2021 are now becoming a reality as they are nearing completion on-site, so watch this space for some big reveals in 2022!
If one of your 2023 goals is to start your project ‘dream home’ or obtain planning approval for a sensitive site, contact us to discuss your aspirations.
If one of your 2023 goals is to start your project ‘dream home’ or obtain planning approval for a sensitive site, contact us to discuss your aspirations.
As we reach the end of 2022 ZMA reflect on their last year, their achievements and their plans for 2023.
2022 marked our 5th year in business at ZMA. The total projects we have worked on to-date is now 160 and within 15 different local authorities. Over the last 12 months we have had 19successful planning approvals, 16 of which were on sensitive sites (Greenbelt, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Open Countryside).
We have continued our mission to Transform Sites, Buildings and Lives by adding value for our clients. From creating dream homes for individual families, to maximising the development potential of sites to sell with planning permission. In all of our projects we push the boundaries of design to create proposals which are unique and add significant value.
Over the last year we have obtained approval for some very exciting schemes which include aluxury eco-home in the Ribble Valley Open Countryside; a super home in the Chorley Greenbelt; a hillside eco-home with annexe in Pendle Open Countryside; the transformation and extension of a Non-Designated Heritage Asset in the Bury Greenbelt; and a large contemporary house extension in Brockhall Village.
2022 has been the year of increasing energy and material costs, and the update of Building Regulations to achieve lower U-Values (improved energy efficiency through the fabric of the building). There is light at the end of the tunnel, however as material costs are predicted to reduce within the next 6 months, and with the cost of energy rising – it now means that clients are futureproofing their schemes to ensure they create a low energy home, with eco-home requirements now being the norm. The changes to the Building Regulations will also respond to the energy crisis by increasing the required standard requiring higher levels of insulation and triple glazing will become the standard.
In planning news, our experience over the last 12 months is that all local authorities are still experiencing a workload backlog, which has resulted in severe delays for pre-application submissions. Pre-Applications, are a key part of the planning process particularly for sensitive sites, to obtain input from the planning officer prior to the main planningapplication, however this is an optional service the planning department provides, therefore as they need to prioritise their main applications, pre-applications are having to take a back seat. This has meant that we having been waiting for 6-months (in some instances) for a pre-application response.
Some local authorities such as Pendle have terminated this service until further notice, therefore we have been proceeding straight to the formal application with an open dialogue during the application period, or in the case of other local authorities – a conversation / zoom meeting to understand the planning officer’s views is achievable without needing to wait for a formal response. Our advice would be to plan your project accordingly by appointing your architect at least 12 months prior to requiring approval for a sensitive site, and 6 months for a non-sensitive site, and expect delays within the planning system!
Our sensitive planning approvals from 2021 are now becoming a reality as they are nearing completion on-site, so watch this space for some big reveals in 2022!
If one of your 2023 goals is to start your project ‘dream home’ or obtain planning approval for a sensitive site, contact us to discuss your aspirations.
If one of your 2023 goals is to start your project ‘dream home’ or obtain planning approval for a sensitive site, contact us to discuss your aspirations.
