Planning & Development rural asset management Heritage Property & Building Conservation Private Client Services www.smithandgarratt.com
Planning Smith & Garratt s expertise in town and country planning has been won over 25 years, working in both England and Scotland. We promote clients interests through the Development Plan process; prepare and submit applications; conduct reviews, appeals, and Public Inquiries. We liaise as necessary with the clients other professionals in order to achieve an optimum solution tailored to the client s individual needs. Our caseload covers a range of developments including:. Residential planning - from single dwellings to urban expansion. Change of Use applications. Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas. Alterations and extensions. Minerals & waste. Brownfield regeneration. Renewable energy and energy efficiency - wind, small-scale hydro, solar and ground-source, biomass and district heating. Agriculture - farm buildings, processing, waste disposal. Planning Agreements - s.69, s.75, s.106 Development We can deliver your project to a high standard - on time and to budget - using our full project management service. Alternatively we can assist with regulation, design, costing procurement, and/or supervision on a task-by-task basis. Typically our projects concern green-field developments, change of use, the erection of bespoke dwellings and alterations to listed buildings. Rural Asset Management Smith & Garratt understand rural property - its value, its problems and its potential. Clients come to us for:. Planning advice. Development appraisal. Long term development strategy and site grooming. Contracts, options & leases. Strategic advice in the management of land and buildings. Specialist surveys. Assistance with repairs and alterations to special and difficult buildings. Assessment of rights and liabilities in land. Management and resolution of disputes. Compulsory purchase and compensation. Inheritance planning. Valuation, tax & probate
Smith & Garratt have acknowledged expertise with heritage property, regularly working on Listed buildings and Scheduled Ancient Monuments. Principal Surveyor A Hugh Garratt LL.B FRICS has Building Conservation Accreditation from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. He has spoken for the RICS and the Historic Houses Association on the introduction of energy efficiency measures and renewable technologies into traditional buildings; and is a development appraiser for the Heritage Lottery Fund. We deliver works to heritage properties - from the design stage and obtaining statutory consents to budgeting, procurement and site supervision. Smith & Garratt have links with many other heritage professionals and suppliers and are corporate members of the Historic Houses Association. We are happy to advise clients regarding VAT, energy-saving works, public access, health and safety, and the regulatory burden. Whether dealing with restoration, renovation or development, Smith & Garratt work to conservation standards. Property Surveys. Digital scanning of buildings. Measured surveys. Boundary surveys. Specialist surveys including services, topography and heat loss. Building archaeology. Building pathology and the investigation of specific defects
Compulsory Purchase & Compensation Let Smith & Garratt take the pain out of compulsory acquisition and claiming compensation. We have clients affected by roads, railways, other public works, mining subsidence and private nuisances. We provide advice regarding:. The statutory basis and compensation code. Tactics for making claims - from noncompulsory agreements to Lands Tribunal. Blight. Suitable alternative accommodation. Valuation of real property - freehold and leasehold. Severance and injurious affection. Disturbance. Accommodation works and betterment. Statutory undertakers - roads, water, drainage, electricity, telecoms, gas. Taxation of compensation. The Critchel Down rules. Valuation, Tax & Probate Smith & Garratt is your natural choice for valuations, especially where taxation is at issue. We understand tax and probate, and will work with your accountant and/or solicitor to mitigate your liabilities, pre-and post mortem. We value real property - residential, agricultural, forestry, development, minerals, sportings, renewables, mixed rural estates in connection with Income Tax, Corporation Tax, Capital Gains, Inheritance Tax, Stamp Duty, Compulsory Purchase & Compensation, Rates, Council Tax, Annual Residential Property Tax, probate, pension planning, succession planning, insurance and commerce. We also assist in ransom cases. Expert Witness & Representation Smith & Garratt are experienced advocates, representing clients in formal situations including:. Planning Inquiries. Planning Reference Panels. Planning Appeals. Public Inquiries. Private Rented Housing Panels. Lands Tribunal. Courts Principal surveyor A Hugh Garratt LL.B FRICS sits on the RICS Dispute Resolution Panel (Boundaries), the Forestry Commission Review Panel (Disputes) and is an examiner for the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers. He is regularly engaged to give opinions and to undertake expert witness work and dispute resolution. Contracts, Options & Leases Smith & Garratt are ideally placed to help with contracts, including option agreements, and with leases. We provide advice regarding:. Development options - residential and/or commercial - for landowners or developers. Development agreements - for sharing net development proceeds. Option and leasing arrangements for wind farms. Tenancy agreements and repairing standards for residential lettings. The management of protected tenancies. Leases for small business premises. Royalty agreements, mineral extraction. Valuation of landlord and/or tenant leasehold interests. Documentation for farm and estate diversifications including holiday lets. Wayleaves and easements/servitudes. Forfeiture and insolvency. Dispute resolution.
Hugh Garratt Hugh Garratt, our senior surveyor, is from a farming family and studied at the Royal Agricultural College before becoming a chartered surveyor. Twenty years a land agent - at Marston St Lawrence then Merevale & Blyth Estates in England, followed by Cawdor Castle and Luss Estates in Scotland - Hugh found most enjoyment in overcoming technical challenges. When aged 40 he decided to take a law degree in his spare time, after which he saw the opportunity to create a firm specialising in his three special interests - planning and development, heritage buildings, and private client advisory work. Smith & Garratt was created in 2000 and has gone from strength to strength. A company director and trustee, Hugh sits on the RICS Dispute Resolution Panel, the Forestry Commission Review Panel, is a Fellow of the RICS, a Fellow and examiner for the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers, is RICS - Accredited in Building Conservation, and an assessor for the Heritage Lottery Fund. assisted by: Jamie Murray Graduate surveyor Jamie Murray - a graduate in agriculture with experience in construction, Jamie is the firm s new-build specialist, also carving his niche in the delivery of works to historic buildings. Matt Atwood Graduate surveyor Dr Atwood - M&E specialist Matt Atwood came to surveying as a mature graduate with a Masters Degree in electrical engineering from Cambridge University and 14 years experience managing public buildings at the Barbican and London Coliseum. Matt runs our drawing office and keeps us straight with Health & Safety in addition to his advisory work with public access and the sustainable care of building fabric. Smith & Garratt The Guildhall Ladykirk Berwick-Upon-Tweed TD15 1XL 01289 382209 info@smithandgarratt.com www.smithandgarratt.com