Grace Machin

GraceMachin Planning & Property is a firm of Chartered Planning Consultants established in mid-2012 by Nick Grace and George Machin. The company operates from its base in Nottingham, situated within the city's Lace Market and Creative Quarter. Both founders bring a combined professional work experience of almost 40 years, primarily gained within the private sector, to their practice. The firm's core business involves securing planning permission and managing planning appeals across a range of project types.

GraceMachin aims to provide clear and helpful advice, simplifying the often complex planning process for its clients. The firm's expertise extends across the East Midlands, with a particular focus on Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, and Lincolnshire. GraceMachin also undertakes work further afield in England and Wales when required. The company's local knowledge is considered vital to achieving planning success, especially given the evolving national and local planning policies and the differing regulations between neighbouring authorities.

This regional understanding allows GraceMachin to assist clients in realising the maximum value of their land for various developments. GraceMachin offers a broad spectrum of planning and consultancy services, covering numerous sectors. These include agricultural projects such as new farm buildings, grain stores, and conversions of redundant buildings, alongside commercial developments like offices, industrial units, retail showrooms, and temporary car parks. The firm also handles planning for care homes, dementia care facilities, medical consulting rooms, and retail establishments including restaurants, public houses, bars, shops, and takeaways.

Additionally, GraceMachin provides services for equestrian facilities, heritage assets, advertisement consents, leisure and tourism projects, places of worship, and educational institutions. Within its residential planning services, GraceMachin demonstrates a high success rate in obtaining planning consent for a diverse array of housing projects. This encompasses private housing, affordable housing, and rural housing, ranging from single dwellings to larger schemes of approximately 450 homes. The firm also engages in strategic land promotion, advising on the long-term potential of land for housing sites and securing allocations for significant projects, including those requiring amendments to Green Belt boundaries.

George Machin, one of the partners, specialises in residential planning permission in both rural and urban areas. GraceMachin possesses specific experience in the Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) sector. The firm has a track record of successfully obtaining planning permission for student housing projects. George Machin has been involved with a number of student schemes located within Nottingham City Centre.

Notable projects include securing permission for student accommodation comprising 67 studio apartments in Nottingham, and a mixed-use development featuring retail space alongside 55 student accommodation units, also in Nottingham. The company has supported client projects that involve student housing in Nottingham City Centre, demonstrating its capability in this specialised residential area. The firm's approach is characterised by diligent and detailed processes, often involving collaboration with various technical consultants to address key issues before detailed design work commences. This strategy aims to achieve significant cost savings for clients.

GraceMachin emphasises the importance of initial due diligence and providing a clear planning strategy at the outset of a project to guide all sub-consultants effectively. Both partners are experienced in appearing at Local Plan Hearing Sessions and handling a wide range of planning appeals, including informal hearings and Public Inquiries.