Retail & Commercial

Virtus Land and Planning has particular experience in the roadside/top-up convenience retail sector, working for both private developers and national retailers.  Often these sites are located within an established settlements and frequently subject to restrictive planning controls. 

Our sensitive planning strategy (often involving community consultation, an iterative design process and co-ordinating a number of external technical consultants) has delivered planning approvals for sites in: Cornwall, Devon, Hampshire, Somerset,  Suffolk, Sussex and West Berkshire.  

Planning approval was recently secured in North Devon for a Tesco Convenience Store (currently under construction). A bespoke design and a sensitive approach to mitigate the concerns of neighbouring residents ensured the scheme was promptly approved.

Rural Diversification

Development opportunities in rural areas are often subject to unique planning challenges (e.g. sensitive landscape designations, restrictive planning policies, constrained locations, heritage considerations etc).  This can present both constraints and opportunities. 

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In recent years many rural businesses have survived as a result of their ability to diversify their operations or regenerate existing land/building assets. At Virtus our background experiences of working in both a rural authority and in private practice provides us with necessary experience to prepare detailed planning strategies for rural development opportunities.

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An application proposing the sensitive conversion of traditional barns and outbuildings in Dorset into a residential use is currently being determined.  To meet the clients aim, our planning strategy has carefully balanced the need to deliver an appropriate quantum of development with a sensitive design to meet heritage, ecology, landscape and sustainability interests.