Based in Exeter, McMurdo provides confidential, client driven, land, planning and development advice across all sectors to landowners and development companies, throughout the South West of England. 

McMurdo Land Planning & Development

McMurdo is a small independent firm of Chartered Town Planners and Chartered Planning and Development Surveyors, motivated to bring clear, innovative solutions to land, planning and development needs. Proven clear, rapid thinkers and problem solvers, it has a full range of practice at all levels across all sectors.

Working from its Exeter base, primarily in the South West of England and for landowners and FTSE listed development companies, it is proud to be completely client driven; its client needs always come first. Confidentiality, honesty, and integrity are at the heart of the firm.
 
It gives bespoke land, planning and development advice across Exeter, Devon, Somerset, Cornwall, Dorset, Wiltshire, and Bristol, on everything from new towns, urban extensions, and strategic scale business parks to barn conversions and single dwellings, from options and promotion agreements to covenants affecting land and property, from planning obligations to viability affecting development.

What our clients say

James McMurdo
BA (Hons) PGDip MRTPI MRICS

Director
[email protected]
LinkedIn

A Chartered Town Planner (MRTPI) and Chartered Planning and Development Surveyor (MRICS), James set up McMurdo in early 2017 and from his Exeter base, has advised on strategic land, planning and development matters across the south west of England for over twenty years, on everything from new towns, urban extensions, and strategic scale business parks to barn conversions and single dwellings. Prior to McMurdo, James worked as a Director for global consultancy firms. James has worked extensively in and around Exeter, Devon, Somerset, Cornwall, Dorset, Wiltshire, and Bristol.

Saffron Wynne
BA (Hons) MA

Practice Manager
[email protected]

Saffron brings a wealth of experience in office management and administration from her previous roles within the arts and charity sectors. A tried and tested programme and project manager, Saffron enjoys working in fast paced environments. With her keen eye for detail, she is highly organised and ensures the efficient and smooth running of the practice.

Miles McMurdo
 

Intern
[email protected]

Miles is studying A Level Geography, Economics and Politics.  His chosen subjects help him to understand the workload of McMurdo. He is highly organised, a quick learner and is eager to take on new challenges. He is driven to succeed and is focused on a career in land and property.

Our Services

We provide expert advice to raise the value of land and property assets utilising land, planning and development systems. We pride ourselves in providing bespoke solutions to achieve our clients’ goals.

Land

Creating holistic strategies to maximise land values, creating social and environmental benefits in the process.

  • Lead consultancy.
  • Initial Appraisal on short, medium, and long term, potential of land.
  • Strategic land advice to maximise land values.
  • Land promotion through policy making.
  • Local Plan representations and appearance at examinations in public.
  • Advice on Option Agreements.
  • Advice on Promotion Agreements.
  • Monitoring performance of option and promotion agreements.
  • Team assembly and instruction.

Planning

Devising planning strategies to maximise asset values.

  • Lead Consultancy.
  • Planning advice.
  • Planning appraisals.
  • Submission of planning applications.
  • Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
  • Strategies, Screening Reports, Scoping Reports, Environmental Statements (ES).
  • Certificates of Lawful Use (Proposed and Existing).
  • Permitted Development and Prior Approval.
  • Planning Obligations and Conditions Section 106, Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL).
  • Planning Appeals.
  • Policy Representations and land and property promotion.
  • Representations and objections to planning applications and plan making.
  • Planning Enforcement.
  • Team assembly and instruction.
  • Briefing and instructing Kings Counsel directly (KC).

Development

Utilising planning and development systems to drive value added growth.

  • Lead consultancy.
  • Development advice.
  • Development appraisals.
  • Site identification.
  • Site assembly.
  • Brownfield land.
  • Team assembly and instruction.
  • Viability advice.

We provide expert advice to raise the value of land and property assets utilising land, planning and development systems. We pride ourselves in providing bespoke solutions to achieve our clients’ goals.

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