North East planning specialists Hedley Planning Services has seen strong end-of-year trading as it eyes continued success in the new year on the back of a high volume of work.
The Hexham-based firm is reporting a 25% increase in trade over the last 12 months as it targets the £500,000 turnover mark in 2019.
Its currently steering through ‘exciting’ plans for the £46m re-development of the leisure centre, first school and high school in Ponteland after the Government gave the scheme the green light.
This will also see the relocation of Ponteland Fire and Rescue Services to a new site as part of a wider regeneration scheme of the local area – a planning decision is expected in early 2019.
The practice has also seen considerable progress in the volume of re-planning work undertaken for house builders such as Barratt Homes and Avant Homes.
This has led to planning approval for the development of almost 2,000 new homes in Morpeth, Durham, Middlesbrough and Spennymoor among other North East locations.
The green light has also been given to the plans drawn up by the firm for other residential development across the North East, which will see the construction of more than 450 new properties.
These are all being hailed as a welcome addition to the regional housing stock, meeting requirements for more controlled development of Green Belt land.
New work has also boosted workforce numbers, with the firm currently employing six specialists providing a range of residential and commercial services.
Managing director Sean Hedley, who established the company in 2012, is maintaining confidence in continued growth for the next 12 months, based upon work already in the pipeline.
This comes on the back of continued demand driven by new local plans being developed by councils across the North East and a track record in resolving difficult planning issues.
He said: “We are now busier than ever, and we’re involved in planning work right across the region, which is encouraging and contributing to growth.
“Plans for strategic housing sites, the delivery of Ponteland fire station, a new wedding venue at Doxford Hall and further new homes are expected to come to fruition in the new 12 months, underpinning continued growth to our workload.”
In 2019, the North East planning landscape will continue to evolve in the face of revisions to national policy, added Sean Hedley.
“Despite the uncertainty caused by Brexit, house building continues to be a busy sector for us and we expect to see more smaller builders entering the market in 2019,” he said.
Hedley Planning Services provides creative planning solutions to complex development proposals, with services covering a range of land-use and planning considerations.
