SF Planning Limited

What SF Planning Limited does

SF Planning Limited is an independent UK town planning consultancy founded in 2005 by Simon Firkins. The firm provides a full range of professional planning services including planning applications, planning appeals, site appraisals and development potential assessments, project management, and specialist work covering prior approval applications, listed building consent, self-build (including Paragraph 80 dwellings), and Permission in Principle. Services are delivered through three UK offices: Cheltenham (headquarters), Gloucester, and London, with the company claiming UK-wide geographic reach. The firm employs approximately 12 staff members comprising directors, senior planners, planners, graduate planners, and administrative support, with several team members holding combined private and public sector backgrounds including former local authority planning officers and a former Planning Inspector.

The customer base spans four primary segments: private individuals (self-builders, homeowners with extension projects), property developers (residential, mixed-use, commercial, and regeneration projects), public sector organisations (local authorities, NHS trusts, educational institutions), and businesses/institutions requiring commercial, care, or agricultural planning support. Notable named clients include Kier Construction (a GBP 14m Gloucester Academy development), Centaur Homes, National Star College, Gloucestershire County Council, Giffords Circus, Dunkertons, Colburn Homes, Dowdeswell Estates, SOHO Coffee, and Lola's Bakery, with referrals sourced from a network of architectural partners including A'Bear & Ball, PAPA, KW Reed, Apex, RRA, Clive Petch, and AWW.

Revenue is generated entirely through professional services fees on a quote-based, project-by-project basis with no publicly disclosed pricing tiers. The go-to-market is sales-led direct consultancy delivered through the three offices, supplemented by website content marketing, LinkedIn and Instagram social presence, email newsletter, client referrals, and local community sponsorship. The firm is privately held and founder/management-owned with three shareholding directors (Simon Firkins, Mark Godson, Becky Brown); no external institutional investment has been disclosed. There is no proprietary technology platform, no AI/ML capability, and no software product offering underlying the service delivery model.

Name

SF Planning Limited

Legal name

SF Planning Limited

Website

https://sfplanning.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SF Planning Limited is an independent UK town planning consultancy serving private individuals, developers, businesses, and public sector organisations with planning applications, appeals, site appraisals, and project management from offices in Cheltenham, Gloucester, and London.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Planning Consultancy Services

NAICS

Landscape Architectural Services (54132)

SIC

Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744)

akta.pro primary industry

Urban Planning & Master Planning (BPAHAKAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Regional & Land Use Planning (BPAHAKAE)

Keywords

• Town planning consultancy
• Planning application services
• Planning appeal representation
• Site appraisal consulting
• Development project management

Headquarters

HQ city

Cheltenham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Planning Consultancy Services: Professional planning consultancy services including planning applications, planning appeals, site appraisals, development potential assessments, and project management. Revenue generated through professional service fees for advisory and application management services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SF Planning Limited is a UK-based professional town planning consultancy offering a full range of planning services to private individuals, property developers, businesses and public sector organisations. Core services include the preparation and submission of planning applications, representation at planning appeals (written representations, hearings and public inquiries), site appraisals and development potential assessments, and end-to-end project management of planning processes including coordination of consultant teams. Specialist capabilities cover Prior Approval applications (Class MA office-to-residential and other permitted development conversions), Listed Building Consent and heritage work, Self-Build / Paragraph 80 isolated countryside dwellings, and Permission in Principle (PiP) consent routes.

Product overview

SF Planning Limited operates as a unified planning consultancy offering professional town planning services rather than a software product platform. The core offering consists of planning consultancy services organized around five main service areas: Planning Applications, Planning Appeals, Site Appraisals and Development Potential, Project Management, and Other Areas of Planning Work. Additional specialist services include Prior Approval Applications for permitted development conversions, Listed Building Consent work, Self-Build Planning Services (including Paragraph 80 expertise), and Permission in Principle applications. The company serves private individuals, developers, and public organisations across residential, commercial, industrial, healthcare, and heritage sectors throughout the UK, with offices in Cheltenham, Gloucester, and London.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Planning Applications Professional planning application services preparing and submitting planning applications to local planning authorities on behalf of clients for residential, commercial, and mixed-use developments across the UK.
• Planning Appeals Expert representation and advocacy services for clients seeking to appeal planning decisions, including written representations, hearings, and public inquiries.
• Site Appraisals and Development Potential Comprehensive assessment of sites to determine planning opportunities, constraints, and development potential through evidence-led analysis and policy assessment.
• Project Management End-to-end project management of planning processes, coordinating consultant teams, managing planning applications, and liaising with local planning authorities throughout the consent process.
• Prior Approval Applications Class MA and other permitted development prior approval applications for converting commercial properties to residential use, including office-to-residential conversions.
• Listed Building Consent Expert handling of listed building consent applications and heritage-related planning matters for historically significant properties.
• Self-Build Planning Services Specialized planning consultancy for self-build residential projects including paragraph 80 (formerly paragraph 79) isolated countryside homes, custom and self-build dwelling applications.
• Permission in Principle (PiP) Fast-track planning route to establish the principle of residential development on sites through a streamlined two-stage consent process.

Quantifiable outcome

• Secured outline planning permission for a controversial residential facility for National Star College that received total planning officer support
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• A'Bear & Ball Architects LLPminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject partner for Longfords Mill conversion in Minchinhampton. Architects providing design services for residential conversion of Grade II listed building.
• PAPA architectsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegular architectural partner for London projects including Great Russell Street (Camden), New North Road (Hackney), and Potters Bar development.
• KW Reed AssociatesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitectural partner for 140-142 Pinner Road redevelopment in Northwood (London Borough of Hillingdon) and Kettering town centre regeneration.
• Apex ArchitectureminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitectural partner for Forest of Dean planning appeal (two dwellings in Bream).
• RRA ArchitectsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitectural partner for self-build home in Upton St Leonards and Fairford tennis court transformation project.
• All Ecology LimitedminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEcological consultancy providing Preliminary Ecological Appraisal for self-build projects including Upton St Leonards.
• LVIA LimitedminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLandscape and Visual Impact Assessment consultancy for planning applications.
• Cotswold Transport PlanningminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHighways and transport consultancy providing technical assessments for projects in Cotswold District and surrounding areas.
• Clive Petch ArchitectsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitectural partner for Tirley self-build dwelling project.
• AWW ArchitectsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitectural partner for The Quadrangle public realm improvements in Cheltenham.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Boyer (part of Leaders Romans Group): UK planning consultancy operating nationally with a similar full-service offering spanning planning applications, appeals, development viability and project management. Directly comparable in service mix and target customer base of developers, housebuilders and public bodies.
• Quod: London-headquartered planning, development and economics consultancy focused on planning applications, strategic land promotion, viability and infrastructure planning. Comparable as a high-end specialist planning firm serving developers and public-sector clients with similar application, appeal and project management services.
• Turley: Major UK planning and development consultancy providing planning applications, appeals, heritage and environmental planning advice. Comparable as a specialist consultancy serving similar residential, commercial, mixed-use and public-sector clients across the UK.
• Pegasus Group: Multi-disciplinary development consultancy with a strong UK planning practice offering planning applications, appeals, environmental assessment and development advisory. Directly comparable as a specialist planning and development consultancy serving developers, landowners and public-sector clients.
• Lichfields: Established UK planning, development and regeneration consultancy with offices across the country. Comparable as a specialist planning firm providing applications, appeals, site appraisals and strategic planning advice to developers, public sector and housebuilders.
• DPP Planning: UK-wide independent planning consultancy offering planning applications, appeals, environmental impact assessment and development advisory across residential, commercial and mixed-use sectors. Directly comparable as a mid-sized specialist firm focused on town planning services for developers, housebuilders and public bodies.

Broad incumbents

• Carter Jonas: National UK property consultancy with planning services covering applications, appeals, and strategic planning alongside broader property services. A broad incumbent with overlapping planning capabilities delivered within a full-service real estate platform.
• Bidwells: UK property consultancy with a dedicated planning team offering planning applications, strategic land, and development advisory. Comparable as an incumbent offering planning consultancy as part of a broader real estate, building consultancy and rural practice.
• RPS Group (Planning Division): International consulting firm with a UK planning and development practice providing planning applications, environmental impact assessment and strategic planning advice. A broader incumbent offering planning services within an environmental and infrastructure consultancy portfolio.
• Savills Planning: Planning division of global real estate advisor Savills providing planning applications, strategic planning, compulsory purchase and development consultancy. A broad incumbent offering overlapping services as part of a wider property services portfolio rather than as a specialist planning boutique.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sf-planning-limited

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SF Planning Limited