Enterprise Nation

James Davis started his town planning business on a part time basis in February 2008. He now operates full time from the garage, is fast building a name for himself and just loves the luxury of watching ‘Homes under the Hammer.’ 

James is the first chartered town planner we’ve profiled on the site (quite appropriate as we just talked earlier today about a new report out that’s all about planning) He talks about the joys of becoming his own boss.

When did you start the business?

In February 2008 on a part time basis, although the name Aspire Planning & Design didn’t come about until May.

What were you doing before?

I was working for North Somerset Council as a Senior Planning Officer.  I’ve worked in several local authorities as well as some larger private sector firms and developers, so have an all round good knowledge of my sector.

I was intending to remain at North Somerset on a part time basis until August 2008 but work soon started stacking up so I’ve been full time since June.

What do you do?

I’m a Chartered Town Planner.  Basically I offer several main services for both urban and rural based clients; site appraisals (ie a landowner/homeowner/architect wants to know if they have a good chance of obtaining planning permission); planning applications (submitting planning applications and negotiating schemes); planning appeals (appealing Local Authority planning refusals). 

I operate out of Weston super Mare, a suburb of Bristol, however work takes me anywhere in England and Wales –this is made a lot easier by the internet.  I have also negotiated a deal to be the national planning consultant for a wind turbine company, so my knowledge of renewable energy has advanced quite significantly over the last few months!

Which room serves as your home office?

The garage!

As you’re a planning expert, what do you think about planning for home based businesses?

Planning permission for home workers all comes down to an intensification of use – i.e. you need permission if you start having lots of visitors and creating additional traffic, using more rooms in the house than you actually live in, disturbance to neighbours etc (mostly common sense things).

Working from home is the most sustainable form of employment as there is no need to jump in your car and join the rush hour queues; some Local Planning Authorities now insist on live/work units when granting planning permission for new houses to reduce the need for people to travel, especially in locations outside of the main settlements.  Some of my clients see this as an additional burden – personally I think it’s a great idea (as long as the live/work units are not businesses rated as that totally defeats the object). 

Working from home is definitely on the increase in North Somerset – a local office agent informed me that small office space in the county was becoming more difficult to let as more people were staying at home.

What is the one thing you’ve enjoyed most about your first month in home business?

Flexibility – I have 2 young daughters!... and ‘Homes under the Hammer’; it is planning related after all!!

• Aspire Planning and Design