PLANNING PERMISSION X
BUILDING & RENOVATING IN FRANCE It’s all in the planning
The idea of the pre-purchase planning F
rance has a specifi c set of laws that regulate the development of the built environment, from defi ning what land can be built on all the way down to specifying a palette of
colours for your shutters. Whether we notice it or not, planning legislation aff ects each of us on a daily basis, so if you are embarking on a property purchase in France, it’s good to get to grips with what impacts it might have. When French Plans was established in
2002, it was in response to a growing demand for an English-speaking connection between planning departments and applicants. France had just embarked on its strategy to refi ne its planning laws; there was a need for guidance on how to interpret and work with the new PLU planning system. For a while it was slightly chaotic, both in terms of writing the rules and interpreting them. The need for that expertise has not diminished and we are still working with clients to interpret planning policy. I would love to say that planning policy has
become simpler and more straightforward to understand but alas it hasn’t. To use a famous quote, planning laws are like onions – not because they make you cry (although there is that possibility) but because they have layers! It is our job to peel away those layers to get to the solutions.
Back in 2002 it quickly became evident that our clients needed our help as early as possible in the buying process; several of them contacted us aſt er purchasing only to be told that the barn they had fallen for couldn’t be converted or the pool with the wonderful view couldn’t be added, which dampens the French dream a touch.
48 l Expert Guide
review was born. Our strategy is to speak with clients before they purchase and understand their aspirations for a property. What do they want their lifestyle to be? Is a pool an absolute? Does that barn need converting for business reasons? If we can develop a relationship with purchasers before they commit to a property, we can provide guidance as to the feasibility of their project and hopefully provide some clarity and confi dence. We recently saved a client €100,000 by identifying that a plot of land was about be rezoned and undevelopable, all because we know the right questions and who to ask. It’s not just about the policies though; as
The planning expert
Tom Easdown is an architect and managing director at French Plans, English-speaking architects and planning consultants
Telephone: 0033 (0)6 75 05 36 86
Email:
enquiries@frenchplans.com
Website:
frenchplans.com
an architect I am driven by good design and problem solving, and what better country to hone my craſt than France. It has such a rich and varied architectural heritage and it is a privilege to be able to work on some beautiful buildings in stunning locations. A lot of my job is to develop design strategies to enable the development of protected buildings or buildings in protected settings, whether that be through unique design interventions to simply understanding what materials to use. Our experience allows us to understand the constraints we have and how to maximise the potential of a project. Speaking with the right people, who
have the right knowledge and the right experience, can save you a lot of time. Navigating the French planning system can seem daunting – it is our job to try to take the stress away. We have successfully managed over 2,500 planning applications, working on some wonderful projects. If you have a dream to build, renovate or develop in France, get in touch when you are excited about a property so we can help keep it that way. ■
More on the web More planning advice…
FrenchEntrée's relocation pages are packed with information on every aspect of moving to France. Find answers to questions such as: ‘What documentation do I need for a planning application in France’,
‘What planning zones can I build on?’, ‘How might local and national planning regulations affect me?’ and 'What planning permission do I need for my gîte' on:
frenchentree.com/ renovation/planning- regulations-in-france
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