Planningsphere Holdings Limited

What Planningsphere Holdings Limited does

PlanningSphere Limited (trading as PlanningSphere) is a Bath-based independent land-use planning consultancy founded in 2014 by Chris Beaver, a Chartered Town Planner (MRTPI) with more than 20 years of experience spanning central and local government, an in-house planning team at a Bath architectural practice, and a directorship at a nationwide planning consultancy. The firm is effectively led by two chartered principals — Chris Beaver (Director) and Claire Durbin (Senior Planning Consultant, MRTPI, 14 years at the Planning Inspectorate) — supported by a part-time Planning Analyst, delivering a unified suite of professional services that includes planning applications and appraisals, listed building consent submissions, planning appeals (including expert witness work), planning enforcement and legal matters, project management, site promotion and development plan allocation, client-side due diligence, S.106 and CIL negotiations, community engagement, and third-party representations. The firm has no proprietary technology platform, API, or software product; its offering is entirely human-led professional advice.

The firm's client base is a hybrid of enterprise and public-sector counterparties. Enterprise clients include major housebuilders and developers (CG Fry and Son, Aequus Construction, Ashford Homes, McCarthy & Stone, David Wilson Homes, Acorn Property Group, Backhouse Housing), institutional investors (Gresham House, Blue Coast Capital), corporates (Legal & General Modular Homes, NHS Property Services, Stobart Biomass, Fragrance Group, Watkin Jones, Anthony Best Dynamics), and education/hospitality clients (Norland College, Combe Grove Hotel, Glastonbury Festival Events). Public-sector clients include B&NES Council and South Gloucestershire Council. Geographically the firm is anchored in Bath, Mendip and the A350 corridor of Wiltshire, with project-led reach into London, Sussex, Hampshire, Devon, Gloucestershire, Yorkshire and Teesside.

Revenue is generated through professional consultancy fees on a project-by-project or retainer basis, with pricing tailored to scope and complexity and not publicly disclosed. The firm is founder-owned, bootstrapped (no external funding rounds), operates as a private limited company (Companies House No. 8817487, VAT 177 6178 78), and maintains a long-standing reciprocal partnership with sister firm AssetSphere, a rural property consultancy. There are no subsidiaries, no publicly traded equity, and no indications of M&A activity.

Name

Planningsphere Holdings Limited

Legal name

PlanningSphere Limited

Website

https://planningsphere.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

PlanningSphere is a Bath-based independent land-use planning consultancy serving developers, landowners, corporates, and public-sector clients across the UK. It provides planning applications, appeals, listed building consent, site promotion, and due diligence via two chartered MRTPI principals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Land-Use Planning Consultancy

akta.pro primary industry

Urban Planning & Master Planning (BPAHAKAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Regional & Land Use Planning (BPAHAKAE)

Keywords

• Land-use planning
• Planning consultancy
• Planning applications
• Planning appeals
• Site promotion

Headquarters

HQ city

Bath

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Planning Consultancy Services: Revenue is generated through professional consultancy fees for land-use planning services including planning applications, planning appeals, site promotion, listed building consent submissions, project management, due diligence, and community engagement services. Services are typically project-based or retainer arrangements with clients including landowners, developers, and property investors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

PlanningSphere is a Bath-based independent planning consultancy delivering professional land-use planning services to landowners, developers, housebuilders, investors, businesses, homeowners, and local authorities. Services span planning applications, planning appraisals, listed building consent submissions, planning appeals, planning enforcement and legal matters, project management, strategic site promotion and development plan allocations, client-side due diligence, S.106 and CIL negotiations, community engagement advice, and third-party representations, delivered as project-based or retainer engagements.

Product overview

PlanningSphere is a Bath-based independent planning consultancy offering a unified set of professional planning services rather than a software platform. The core offering encompasses planning applications, planning appraisals, listed building consent submissions, planning appeals, planning enforcement and legal services, project management, site promotion, client-side due diligence, S.106 and CIL negotiations, communication advice, and third-party representations. These services are delivered by a small team of chartered town planners and work across multiple sectors including residential development, commercial, tourism, renewable energy, and listed buildings conservation. The consultancy operates as a traditional professional services firm without a software product, API, or technology platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Planning Applications Coordinating planning application submissions and management; preparing supporting statements including planning statements, design and access statements, and statements of community engagement. For developers, landowners, businesses, and homeowners in the UK.
• Planning Appraisals Advice on development potential, prospects, and planning strategy for land and property projects. For landowners, investors, and developers seeking early-stage feasibility insight.
• Listed Building Consent Submissions Specialist service for obtaining consent for works to listed buildings and heritage assets. For owners of listed properties, developers, and heritage projects.
• Planning Appeals Expert representation at written representations, hearings, and inquiries, including serving as expert witness. For clients appealing refused planning applications or enforcement actions.
• Planning Enforcement and Legal Handling planning contravention notices, certificates of lawful use, certificates against immunity of listing, and agricultural occupancy conditions. For property owners and developers facing enforcement issues.
• Project Management Coordination of professional services through the planning process and assistance in site disposals. For clients needing lead-consultant oversight of wider project teams.
• Site Promotion Strategic site promotion and development plan allocations through local plan processes. For landowners and developers seeking allocation of land for future development.
• Client-Side Due Diligence Pre-acquisition advice and development feasibility assessments for property transactions. For investors, developers, and landowners evaluating site purchases.
• S.106 and Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Negotiations Negotiation of planning obligations and CIL payments with local authorities. For developers and landowners seeking to optimise planning obligations.
• Communication Advice and Community Engagement Coordination of local community engagement for planning projects. For developers, landowners, and businesses requiring stakeholder consultation support.
• Third-Party Representations Representation services for parties with direct or third-party interest in land and property matters. For individuals, businesses, and community groups engaging in local planning processes.

Quantifiable outcome

• Kingston Farm: 138 houses plus factory and employment space, substantially complete
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers24 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• AssetSpherecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssetSphere is a sister company to PlanningSphere, providing specialist rural property consultancy services. Headed by Richard Edge and Alex Orttewell, AssetSphere advises farmers, landowners, government agencies, and utility companies. PlanningSphere and AssetSphere have collaborated for over 10 years, working together on complex sites that complement their geographic coverage and areas of expertise. Chris Beaver supports the collaboration, with AssetSphere assisting PlanningSphere on detailed planning applications for larger developments.
• Various Technical Consultants and Property ProfessionalscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPlanningSphere works as lead consultant, partnering with or coordinating input from other like-minded property professionals and technical consultants. Typical collaborations include architects (Wilkinson Eyre, CaSA Architects, AHMM, etc.), landscape architects, environmental consultants, and other specialists for planning application support.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Turley: Major UK planning consultancy providing planning applications, appeals, heritage, and development economics services to landowners, developers, and public sector clients across all major English regions.
• Bidwells: UK property consultancy providing planning and development services including applications, strategic land, and heritage/listed building work, with strong presence in the South West and East of England.
• Montagu Evans: London-headquartered property consultancy with a significant planning practice offering planning applications, site promotion, and development advice to residential, commercial, and public sector clients.
• Carter Jonas: UK property consultancy with a substantial planning and development team delivering planning applications, listed building consent, appeals, and site promotion for residential, commercial, and rural clients.
• Pegasus Group: Multi-disciplinary planning and design consultancy offering planning applications, appeals, environmental assessment, and site promotion services to developers, landowners, and housebuilders across the UK.
• Boyer Planning: UK planning consultancy offering planning applications, appeals, site promotion, and strategic land services to housebuilders, developers, and landowners, with comparable regional and national coverage.
• Lichfields: One of the UK's largest independent planning consultancies offering similar services including planning applications, appeals, site promotion, and strategic land advice across residential, commercial, and mixed-use sectors.

Broad incumbents

• Savills: Global real estate services firm with a substantial UK planning team offering similar services as part of a broader property services portfolio including valuation, investment, and asset management.
• Avison Young: Global real estate advisory with UK planning capability covering strategic land, development consulting, and planning applications, though planning is one component of a much wider service portfolio.

Others

• AssetSphere: Sister rural property consultancy collaborating with PlanningSphere for over 10 years, advising farmers, landowners, and utility companies on rural property matters including diversification and planning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/planningsphere

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Planningsphere Holdings Limited