Roythornes and LK2 Collaborate to Offer 360 Planning Support

Shruti Trivedi, partner and head of planning at Roythornes Solicitors, said: “Working collaboratively is a key part of the property and construction industry, even more so as we emerge from lockdown into the ‘new normal’.

“We’ve worked alongside LK2 on a number of projects, but this is the first time that we have formally collaborated to bring the sometimes-fractured process of design and planning together.

“By receiving legal advice at an early stage, we can look at the project differently and better advise on the land development potential early enough to identify any possible hurdles or risks that may arise legally as often schemes are far more advanced before legal and strategic input is sought, often destroying viability or deliverability.

“This is more important than ever as planning is key on the road to the UK’s post-Covid recovery.

“As we know, the Government recently announced its ‘build, build, build’ strategy but pushing these projects – particularly the niche projects that LK2 is renowned for – through planning, relies on great architecture underpinned by solid legal advice where risks are managed at all stages and not just on design or planning grounds.

“This is something we hope to offer through this collaboration, aimed particularly at the specialist projects and client base LK2 are well-known for.”

Paul Starbuck, director at LK2, said: “At LK2 we enjoy working collaboratively, from single projects to framework schemes, to achieve the best outcomes for our projects and clients. We’re therefore delighted to be working alongside Roythornes to offer our clients and contacts the best possible outcome for upcoming projects.

“There is sense of optimism within the industry, but we still have a number of challenges ahead. Planning will be key on the road to recovery and by bringing legal expertise in early, we’re able to find out if a project is viable from the very beginning. It gives our clients a stronger sense of confidence in the project because we can offer an all-encompassing service for all their planning needs.”

Shruti added: “We’re expecting to see a number of legislative changes in the coming months which will usher in a host of changes. For instance, the changing permitted development regime being introduced will allow greater flexibility between uses, there will be a relaxation of planning and licencing requirements for premises, and it will be possible to re-utilise vacant buildings more effectively as well as the ability to promote upwards extensions.

“However, in the race to build more we need to ensure that we are also building better. We need to ensure that we are building greener, more sustainable buildings to help safeguard the future. This is something that is already part of the ethos at LK2 and the excellent design led approach they promote and another reason we’re looking forward to working with them.”