A commercially focused, creative and responsive town planning consultancy — delivering results for developers, landowners and investors throughout Scotland.
Quinn Town Planning is a specialist planning consultancy operating across Scotland, providing commercially informed planning advice to developers, landowners and investors. We combine 27 years of direct planning experience — spanning private practice, regulation and local authority — with a pragmatic, results-driven approach.
We understand that planning permissions need to be deliverable: acceptable to occupiers, funders and lenders within realistic timescales. This is achieved through collaborative engagement with planning authorities, creative strategy and genuine responsiveness to our clients' objectives.
Our expertise spans residential development, mixed-use and regeneration schemes, renewable energy, major infrastructure, EIA consenting, strategic land promotion and planning obligations — with particular strength in Edinburgh, the Lothians and the Central Belt.
Chartered Town Planner with 27+ years' experience spanning private consultancy, national regulation and local authority practice across Scotland and Australia. Brent has held planning officer roles at Midlothian, Aberdeen and Falkirk Councils, led SEPA's national planning consultation team as National Planning Manager, and spent 12+ years as an independent planning consultant — managing complex applications, S75 negotiations, appeals and renewable energy consenting across Scotland. This breadth gives clients a genuinely rounded perspective: officer, regulator and applicant, all in one.
Quinn Town Planning offers a comprehensive range of planning services across all sectors. From site appraisal and strategic advice through to renewable energy consenting, EIA coordination, S75 negotiations and DPEA appeals — we have the depth of experience to deliver. Contact Brent to discuss your project.
Clear, percentage-based assessments of planning policy, constraints, history and political context — giving clients the confidence to make well-informed investment decisions.
End-to-end preparation, team coordination and submission of applications across all sectors. We manage architects, engineers and specialists to deliver robust, efficient submissions.
Creative and technically grounded planning strategies — integrating policy, politics and programme to unlock the development potential of complex or constrained sites.
Expert negotiation of Section 75 agreements, affordable housing mechanisms (including Golden Share), education contributions and developer obligations under Scots law.
Experienced in Environmental Impact Assessment coordination, energy infrastructure, waste facilities and large-scale industrial consenting across Scottish planning authorities.
Planning advice and consenting support across the renewable energy spectrum — onshore wind, solar, battery storage, energy-from-waste and associated grid infrastructure. Experienced in NPF4's strong renewable energy policy framework and the complex community engagement these projects require.
Appraisal support and affordable housing policy negotiation informed by direct experience on both sides of the planning process — as applicant, officer and regulator. We understand how obligations interact with development economics to protect scheme viability.
Preparation and presentation of appeals through written representations, hearings and Public Local Inquiries before the DPEA, drawing on experience as both consultant and former regulator.
Management of public consultation, statutory consultee engagement and political liaison — leveraging deep relationships across Scottish local authorities and agencies built over 27 years.
Promotion of sites through the Local Development Plan process to secure favourable allocations — including Development Plan representations, examination hearings and expert witness.
Scotland operates an entirely distinct planning system from England and Wales, with its own legislation, policy framework and procedures. Quinn Town Planning is deeply embedded in this system — with officer, regulator and consultant experience across multiple Scottish authorities spanning 27 years.
From Edinburgh's complex City Plan 2030 environment through to strategic infrastructure consenting at national scale, we bring a rounded and authoritative understanding of how Scotland's planning system actually works in practice.
Deep expertise in CEC planning processes, City Plan 2030, conservation areas, the World Heritage Site and Edinburgh's affordable housing requirements including Golden Share mechanisms.
East, West and Midlothian — strategic housing allocations, LDP promotion and development management. Direct LPA experience at Midlothian Council.
Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Stirling, Falkirk — mixed-use regeneration, residential and infrastructure across Scotland's economic core. LPA experience at Falkirk Council.
National planning consultation experience from SEPA, providing unparalleled knowledge of statutory consultee frameworks and regulatory engagement across all Scottish authorities.
23-unit flatted development with ground floor commercial. Complex S75 negotiation, Golden Share affordable housing mechanism, and car-free consent at West Granton Road.
EdinburghA complex residential application for 24 flatted units in Rosyth that required careful navigation of challenging site constraints and planning policy. Quinn Town Planning built a robust case addressing the key issues and secured a successful consent.
Rosyth, FifePlanning advice and consenting support for onshore wind, solar, battery storage and energy-from-waste proposals — including EIA coordination, community consultation and complex multi-agency engagement.
Scotland-widePlanning and EIA consenting for large-scale energy recovery facilities involving multi-agency coordination, complex regulatory engagement and national significance.
Scotland-widePlanning strategy through to consent for a major mixed-use regeneration scheme delivering approximately 500 homes in Stirling.
StirlingAssessment programme identifying planning capacity for 1,000+ residential units, including policy evidence and representations to emerging development plans.
Central ScotlandOversight of major infrastructure initiative at Cairns Regional Council, managing a public capital programme exceeding AUD $200m with full public consultation and programme governance.
InternationalA challenging listed building consent case to convert a category-listed shop on Grange Road into 2 short-term let units and 1 residential flat. Both the listed building status and Edinburgh's STL licensing context presented significant regulatory hurdles — City of Edinburgh Council approved the application following a detailed heritage and planning justification.
Edinburgh – Listed BuildingWhen a planning application is refused or conditions are unreasonable, there is a formal right of appeal. In Scotland, the appeal route depends on how the original decision was made. Quinn Town Planning has direct experience of both principal routes — the Local Review Body (LRB) and the Department of Planning and Environmental Appeals (DPEA) — and can advise you on which applies to your case, and how best to present it.
For applications decided by officers under delegated powers (typically householder, minor or local developments), you can seek a review by a panel of elected councillors. Appeals must be submitted within 3 months of the decision notice. Brent has LRB appeal experience across householder, rural and short-term let cases and knows how to frame a concise, policy-aligned case that resonates with the councillors and their appointed planning adviser.
For applications decided by committee, appeals go to the Department of Planning and Environmental Appeals (DPEA), where an independent Reporter considers the case. Brent has a proven track record at DPEA, having successfully appealed cases involving short-term lets in Edinburgh, housing in Fife, a gym in Fife, and listed building consent for commercial use in Edinburgh.
The distinction turns on whether the original decision was made under delegated powers or by committee. We advise upfront on the correct route, the realistic prospects, and the most effective strategy — whether that means a written submission, a hearing or a site visit. If an appeal is unsuccessful, we advise on next steps including revised resubmission or alternative planning strategies.
We prepare and submit the full appeal documentation — appeal statement, supporting evidence, and any additional material — and can represent you at hearings. We assess whether new or revised plans can be introduced, and advise on whether a "less is more" approach is appropriate for your case.
Quinn Town Planning has successfully represented clients at appeal across a range of case types:
“Brent navigated a genuinely complex application with professionalism and real commercial understanding. His knowledge of the Edinburgh planning system and his ability to anticipate officer concerns gave us confidence throughout. We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Quinn Town Planning.”
“Quinn Town Planning has been invaluable to our short-term let portfolio. Brent understands the STL licensing landscape in Edinburgh better than anyone we’ve worked with, and his strategic approach has delivered results time and again. A trusted partner for our business.”
“We worked with Brent on a residential site in the Borders. His attention to detail and clear communication made a real difference to the application process. He managed the pre-application dialogue effectively and kept us informed throughout. We were pleased with the outcome.”
“Brent represented us at a Local Review Body appeal after our application was refused. He presented a well-structured, policy-focused case and we won the appeal. His knowledge of the LRB process and how to engage with it effectively was evident throughout. Highly recommended.”
“Quinn Town Planning handled our appeal with real expertise. Brent understood exactly what the Reporter would be looking for and structured our case accordingly. We achieved the outcome we needed. Excellent work throughout.”
“As architects we need a planning consultant who understands design quality and can translate it into planning policy language. Brent does exactly that. He engages constructively with the process and always adds value to our projects.”
“Brent is the first person we call on any project where planning is a serious consideration. His former roles at SEPA and in local authority give him a perspective that is genuinely different from other consultants. Commercially astute and exceptionally thorough.”
“Quinn Town Planning worked with us on a complex commercial development involving multiple stakeholders and a challenging site history. Brent’s strategic thinking and persistence were key to getting the consent we needed. An outstanding result.”
Quinn Town Planning is a growing practice and we are always interested in hearing from talented planning professionals who share our commitment to commercial excellence and creative thinking in the Scottish planning context.
We offer an environment where planners take genuine ownership of projects, develop client relationships and build a rewarding career with real variety. All levels of experience considered.
If you are a planning professional looking for an exciting opportunity in a commercially focused Scottish practice, we'd love to hear from you. Send your CV to:
Whether you have a planning application in mind, a site to appraise, or simply want to understand the prospects for a development project, Brent would be delighted to hear from you. Initial consultations are always welcome.
