The Value of Local Knowledge in Planning
Category
Region
National
Date
11 August 2026
Since Bell Cornwell first opened its doors in 1986, planning has, in many respects, changed beyond recognition. Planning information is now more accessible than ever before. National and local planning policies can be searched online in seconds, planning decision records are readily available online, and digital tools are helping professionals research, analyse and prepare planning documents more efficiently than ever.
These advances have transformed the profession for the better. They have improved access to information, made knowledge easier to share and enabled planners to spend more time focusing on strategy rather than administration.
But after forty years in business, one thing has remained remarkably consistent.
Good planning starts with understanding people and places.
Every planning application is determined against planning policy. But anyone who has worked in the profession knows that successful planning is never simply about finding the right policy or quoting the latest guidance.
It is about understanding the place in which that policy will be applied, identifying what the right outcome should be and figuring out how to get there.
Every local authority has its own priorities. Every community has its own character. Every planning committee develops its own way of thinking. Understanding those subtleties comes from years of working in an area, building relationships and seeing how places evolve over time.
That knowledge isn’t written down in a Local Plan. It comes from experience.
During our recent 40th anniversary lunch, Bell Cornwell’s founding partners, John Cornwell and Graham Bell, joined today’s leadership team to reflect on four decades of change within the planning profession.
The conversation covered everything from handwritten application forms and lever-arch files to digital submissions and artificial intelligence. While the tools have evolved dramatically, everyone agreed that technology has strengthened the profession by making information more accessible and helping planners work more efficiently.
It cannot replace an understanding of how a planning authority approaches development, the relationships built with local stakeholders or the appreciation of the issues that matter most to individual communities.
Those are the qualities that turn information into informed judgement.
Bell Cornwell has never sought to become the largest planning consultancy. Instead, our growth has been built around creating strong local teams.
Today, with seven offices spanning the South of England, each office has developed its own identity, specialist expertise and understanding of the communities it serves. That local knowledge is reflected not only in the projects we deliver, but also in the advice we provide. Our recent insight into Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) for self-storage development highlights how a national planning requirement can have very different implications depending on the characteristics of a site and the priorities of the local planning authority, Likewise, our Exeter our team secured planning permission and listed building consent for the sensitive refurbishment of the Grade II listed Sterling House by carefully balancing the building’s historic significance with the aspirations for its future use. Together, they demonstrate that while planning policy provides the framework, successful outcomes depend on understanding the unique context of each place, building constructive relationship and applying professional judgement.
For our clients, this means benefiting from the best of both worlds: planners who embrace modern technology and have access to the latest planning information, while also bringing the experience, professional judgement and understanding needed to navigate the planning process successfully.
Whether working in long-established areas or supporting projects in new locations, our approach is built on taking the time to understand the place, the people and the priorities that shape successful planning outcomes.
Planning will continue to evolve. Technology will continue to improve. New tools will help planners analyse information, share knowledge and work more efficiently than ever before.
Bell Cornwell will continue to embrace those advances, just as we have throughout our forty-year history.
But successful planning will always depend on more than access to information. It requires experienced professionals who can apply sound judgement, build constructive relationships and understand the context behind every project.
That combination of modern expertise, practical experience and a people-focused approach remains at the heart of everything we do.
With seven offices across the South of England, our team is well placed to provide the local insight and planning expertise needed to support your ambitions. Just get in touch.
The Bell Cornwell team provides tailored advice to help you maximise your chances of success, from site selection and design coordination to planning applications and post-permission requirements. If you want expert planning support, get in touch with our team.
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Rebekah Jubb is a Partner and Chartered Town Planner at Bell Cornwell, with extensive experience across a broad cross-section of residential and commercial development. Her work draws on experience gained in both the public and private sectors, combining technical planning knowledge with an understanding of local context, sensitivities and the people and places affected by development. She enjoys bringing these different perspectives together to navigate complex projects and find practical, well-considered planning solutions.
