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Blog

Welcome to the Salmon Planning + Architecture blog - where we share expert insight into planning, architecture, and development across the South West and beyond. From planning reform and rural development to sustainable design, planning appeals, and changes to UK planning policy, our articles aim to make complex planning matters clear, practical, and accessible.

Hard-won Appeal Success for 30 New Homes in Somerset

29 October 2025 Dan Foster - Director & Chartered Town Planner

Salmon Planning + Architecture is delighted to announce the successful outcome of a planning appeal for our client, Galion Homes Ltd.

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From Planning Permission to Building Regulations: What you need to know

21 November 2025 Matt Green - Director of Architecture

Your planning approval is secured. You can now begin to dream of your completed project. But where do you start?

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Revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) Update

5 January 2026 Dan Foster - Director & Chartered Town Planner

Running until 10 March 2026, the Government has launched a consultation on the proposed wide-scale reforms of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). 

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Salmon Planning + Architecture Is On The Move

8 May 2026 Nigel Salmon - Managing Director & Chartered Town Planner

After 28 years based in the heart of historic Wells, we’ve packed up the drawing boards, models, and many, many rolls of tracing paper - and moved to a new office.

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Low Energy Home Design: Sustainable Homes That Cost Less To Run

10 February 2026 Matt Green - Director of Architecture

Think about sustainable homes, and most people picture solar panels on the roof or high-tech heating systems. 

But the real savings - both financially and environmentally - are determined by how well a home is designed and built to perform.

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Planning Appeal Success: Agricultural Occupancy Condition Removed with Full Costs Award

20 March 2026 Dan Foster - Director & Chartered Town Planner

Another significant Salmon Planning + Architecture appeal success for clients in South West England securing both the removal of a long-standing agricultural occupancy condition and a full award of costs against the Local Planning Authority.

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The Future Homes Standard — What It Means if You’re Planning Your Dream Home

14 April 2026 Matt Green - Director of Architecture

Salmon's Director of Architecture, Matt Green, welcomes changes to the much-anticipated Future Homes Standard (FHS) which will finally come into force on 24 March 2027. This new standard marks a turning point in how new dwellings in the UK will be designed, specified, and delivered. 

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Biodiversity Net Gain Reform - Big News for Developments on Small and Brownfield Sites

22 April 2026 Dan Foster - Director & Chartered Town Planner

As of 15 April 2026, the Government has confirmed major changes to how Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) will apply to minor, medium-sized and brownfield schemes. The headline is a new 0.2 hectare area-based exemption.

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Salmon Planning Reviews

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5.0 rating of 17 reviews

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We had the pleasure of working with Matt and Dan from Salmon planning recently. They dealt with our planning application for a wrap around kitchen extension from idea to submission. They listened and came up with very helpful input. They are a useful mix of knowledgeable, practical and creative. They made the process straightforward, seamless and enjoyable. They dealt with all the laborious paperwork and liaised with other relevant bodies, leaving us to just contribute to the ideas and design. They are both extremely amiable and a pleasure to deal with. The process was affordable and I feel I got great value for money. Use them, you will be pleased you did.

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Shona Perkins

Shona Perkins

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I have found Salmon Planning to be a well-run, professional planning company who have always strived to go above and beyond to help their clients achieve their objectives.I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them to anyone.

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Aoife Dick

Aoife Dick

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I was extremely pleased by the service provided by Dan Foster at Salmon Planning Company. He provided advice in relation to securing planning approval for the conversion of a barn to a residential annexe, leading to a swift and successful outcome. His advice was timely, thorough and well reasoned and his effective communication with the planning authority led to an outcome which would not otherwise have been likely. The support provided proved to be money well spent.

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Paul Wiseman

Paul Wiseman

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Prompt, professional and client-focused. Would highly recommend Salmon Planning, thank you!

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Excellent end-to-end experience and advice for our listed property in Brighton. Would highly recommend

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Richard Dutton

Richard Dutton

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Excellent all round service from Nigel and his knowledgeable and experienced team. I have recommended them to many people in the past and will continue to do so in the future as they listen, understand and work with clients to deliver achievable results.

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Alex Keevil

Alex Keevil

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We worked with Dan and Matt at Salmon Planning Company to secure planning permission for a double garage, workshop, and gym/yoga room. From start to finish, they were incredibly professional, knowledgeable, and easy to work with. Their advice on both the planning and design stages was excellent, and they made the whole process smooth and stress-free. Highly recommend their services!

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Simon Banks

Simon Banks

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The Salmon Planning Team assisted me with an assessment of development potential in the Conservation Area of a rural Oxfordshire village. The advice I received was extremely helpful both in its decisiveness and clarity and backed up by a very useful written report. I would be happy to recommend the company for those looking for a very experienced and professional planning-led team. I wish I had contacted a planning-led architectural firm first off rather than having expensive plans drawn up by an architect and then refused by the Local Authority! It would have been a much cheaper exercise.

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Jane Thomas

Jane Thomas

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Salmon Planning have secured planning permission for me for both holiday lodges and a new build pub and restaurant as well as for a new dwelling. The Salmon Planning team’s skill at handling complex planning applications and securing successful outcomes has been excellent. I would happily recommend their planning and architectural design teams.

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Mike

Mike

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I regularly contact Nigel Salmon for information and advice. He, and his colleagues, are always friendly and rapidly provide excellent advice and services. As a Chartered Surveyor myself, I appreciate the professionalism of this firm.

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Roderick Thomas

Roderick Thomas

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I’ve been using Dan Foster and his team for over 2 years now on my property developments, the level of service, support, and professionalism of each member forever seems to impress! They have saved me many times, highlighting (potentially expensive) issues I had missed and always listen to my ideas and questions with great patience . I cannot recommend this company more highly , if you need reliable advice/designs from a team for your projects definitely give Salmon Planning a call. They will tell you everything in black and white and explain all you need to know regarding the complete planning process from start to finish.

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Owen Robinson

Owen Robinson

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Dan and the rest of his team at Salmon Planning were consumate professionals, dealing with every aspect of a sensitive, high profile, listed, town centre development, in a conservation area. Always available for every question I had … and I had a lot.I would, without a doubt ,call upon them for any future planning projects and would have no reservation whatsoever in recommending. Unquestionably 5 star - thank you.

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laxback

laxback

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It has been a real pleasure working with Matt and the team at Salmon Planning + Architecture. Throughout the process they have been consistently professional, prompt to respond, and genuinely helpful at every stage. A great team to work with, which I wouldn't hesitate to recommend.

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Christopher Davies

Christopher Davies

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I was very pleased with the services and advice provided by Salmon Planning. I also thought the in-house architecture / drawing service worked well - saving costs, time and generally making things far more efficient. We managed to easily secure consent for something that I thought might be fraught with issues. Nigel is also very well informed on local / Somerset matters. Highly recommend!

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Peter Prescott

Peter Prescott

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