An independent town planning and development consultancy

Do you, or your organisation, need to:

• Secure planning permission for complex development projects, large or small?
• Promote strategic residential sites through the local plan process?
• Understand and respond to issues of housing land supply?
• Negotiate 106 Agreements (‘Planning Obligations’)?
• Be guided through the Community Infrastructure Levy (‘CIL’) Regulations?
• Secure a constructive dialogue with local residents and other stakeholders in the planning process?
• Solve other planning-related problems?

We can help with authoritative and timely advice on a wide range of land use planning and property development matters.

Touchstone Planning & Development aims to:

• Solve complexity
• Present a strong argument
• Secure the best outcome

Whatever your query do get in touch and we will do our best to meet your objectives.

• Managing complex, large-scale projects for property investment and development companies to secure a successful commercial outcome;
• Promoting strategic residential sites through the development plan process;
• Analysing housing land supply;
• Preparing applications for a wide variety of projects, and negotiating with the planning authority to secure planning permission;
• Negotiating 106 Agreements (‘Planning Obligations’);

• Advising on the Community Infrastructure Levy (‘CIL’);
• Assessing development potential, and the associated financial viability and appraisal;
• Prosecuting planning appeals;
• Establishing a constructive dialogue with local stakeholders.

Touchstone Planning & Development Ltd was established in 2012 by Nigel Hawkey, a chartered town planner and surveyor with over 30 years’ professional experience.

Nigel has worked with a range of clients, including Deloitte Real Estate, IM Properties and Maddox Associates. Prior to that, he worked at a senior level with Quintain Estates and Development, Chartwell Land, Thames Water Property and the London Docklands Development Corporation.

He has a track record of promoting and securing planning permission for complex, development proposals, often with a residential component, and always to ensure financial and commercial acceptability.

He also has considerable experience as the client’s representative in the planning process, managing teams of consultants to secure planning permission to a demanding timeline and clear commercial objectives.

Gaydon Lighthorne Heath new settlement

Client: IM Properties Development Ltd.

Project Summary:

Submission of outline planning application for 1,000 dwellings forming part of the 3,000 unit new settlement, in Stratford on Avon district. Application submitted November 2015, resolution to grant achieved October 2016. Management of consultant team, acting as client’s representative to solve a wide variety of associated technical and commercial issues.

French’s Avenue, Dunstable

Client: Land Securities Plc (Deloitte Real Estate)

Residential development of a vacant industrial site for 223 units in Central Bedfordshire District. Management of consultant team to achieve planning permission. Lead negotiator on s106 agreement. Preparation of associated local plan representations.

Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Stanmore

Client: RNOH Trust (Deloitte Real Estate)

Lead consultant on a major planning application involving new hospital and ‘enabling’ residential development in Metropolitan Green Belt. Preparation of application, and management of other consultant disciplines; secured resolution to grant within 12 months, with planning permission issued in August 2013.

Church Road, Bishopstoke

Client: Cemex UK Properties (Deloitte Real Estate)

Secured outline planning permission for a controversial development of 65 dwellings in Bishopstoke, Eastleigh district.

Quintain Estates and Development Plc

Managing a small internal team dealing with all land use planning matters, and a wide variety of external consultants.

Nigel had particular involvement in the ‘Wembley City’ project, one of the UK’s largest regeneration projects. This involved the development of 85 acres surrounding the stadium to create a new residential, leisure and retail district.

Wembley Park Boulevard

Wembley Park Boulevard

Thames Water Property Ltd

Realising value from surplus TW landholdings, many in prominent London locations. Working closely with St James Homes Ltd, a JV with the Berkeley Group. Managing a small team, preparing strategies and opportunities for redundant landholdings. Managing the interface with local stakeholders, and external teams. Securing planning consents, and negotiating development agreements with third parties.

New River Village : St James Homes

New River Village : St James Homes

Canada Water Station – Jubilee Line

Butlers Wharf

Hays Galleria