Proposed Games Room in Harrietsham Kent

We have come to know Nik Antoniou and employed the services of NJA Town Planning when we were refused planning permission for a games room extension to an existing outbuilding. The previous architect had made a number of mistakes on the original application and Nik explained there was a 50-50 chance an appeal would be successful. He did an outstanding job on the appeal and really took his time to put the best case forward, which we very much appreciated at the time. In the event the appeal was dismissed, but we decided to use that experience and Nik’s input to put forth a foolproof revised application sometime after. Throughout the revised project Nik was professional, innovative, hard-working and reassuring, yet also realistic in terms of dealing with the Council. Our revised project was successful and we would have no hesitation in recommending the services on NJA Town Planning.

Nik has gained me a number of Planning Consents. He works quickly and efficiently and has a thorough understanding of the Planning System. I continue to use him for all my Planning jobs. He comes highly recommended.

I have worked with Nikolas Antoniou for the past 2 years on various projects and cannot recommend him highly enough. In fact, I have given his name to many people who have also benefitted from his advice. Planning is never straight forward and his approach, knowledge and expertise has been instrumental in achieving the permissions I needed.  

Nikolas Antoniou was recommended to us and took over our planning application after two previous years with no progress. 

Nik brought the professionalism we’d needed and produced credible applications that concluded with the approval we sought. 

I would highly recommend Nik. He offers value for money and we have now engaged him to manage a further application. 

We have already recommended him to friends and neighbours. 

Nik Antoniou was a recommendation given to us from our estate agent when we mentioned that we would like to achieve planning on a detached building into two three bed semi-detached homes. Nik was very knowledgeable about what we could and couldn’t expect to achieve from the local council, he helped tailor the team around us to provide the right level of input from these essential professionals to get the plans through. He worked in a concise and informative manor with us, producing a very high- quality proposal which was successful without any hitches. I would highly recommend using Nik and plan to use him on our future projects.

We highly recommend Nikolas Antoniou. We have recently, through Nik, obtained planning permission on our site and he is now attending to the conditions attached to that permission. From the outset we have found Nik’s realistic approach to be highly professional. He has always been prompt, informative and supportive in some difficult moments using language that we can understand. We are so pleased with his work that we have engaged him on a second proposal and will continue to recommend his services to others.

I was recommended to Nikolas Antoniou by my architect, who also specialises on old complicated listed planning applications, and together they both steered me through the process and got me out the other side with my planning application approved. I would recommend Nikolas Antoniou to anyone looking for a planning consultant.

As a company we are faced with some very challenging planning issues and through our network of friends and colleagues Nik was highly recommended.

From the initial meeting Nik was honest and confident despite the challenges ahead.  We have been very pleased with the results he has achieved so far and he is continuing to work on our future plans for our new house and have been pleased with all the advice he has given us on this project.  We would recommend Nik to anyone with difficult planning issues to deal with.

I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Nikolas Antoniou to anyone contemplating a planning process. His help with our own planning application which involved several potentially complicated stages was invaluable. He proved to be knowledgeable, professional, realistic and a pleasure to deal with throughout the process. We are extremely grateful to have had his guidance and expertise. 

Planning can be a nightmare if you’re not use to the language, terms and requirements – however, Nik guided me through this and his knowledge and expertise was invaluable and lead to a successful application.  I cannot recommend him highly enough.

I would not hesitate to recommend Nik.  Our planning permission was achieved without fuss and Nik took care of discussions and negotiations with the Planning Department to reach a successful conclusion without involving us unnecessarily.  He has also been helpful in introducing appropriate and reliable third parties to the project.

I hope this is the right place to sing the praises of Nik Antoniou. I have received excellent service throughout the whole process of re submitting a planning application for change of use from commercial workshop to a residential dwelling. Nik is professional, knowledgeable and most important, approachable. He supported me the whole way through. Thank you Nik!

Change of use Agricultural Barn in to Dwelling House

Nik Antoniou - was recommended to us by our Architect for the above project.

We would highly recommend Nik; his expertise and knowledge along with his 26 page report to planners was a success as we were granted full planning permission on first attempt.

Nik is still guiding and advising us through the build and with the CIL Levy.

Thanks Nik for your sterling effort!

We would not hesitate to recommend you to our friends and have been doing so since you got planning for us.

1st time to appeal and won. 

2nd time local planning and got that for us too.

Thank you so much for the help you gave ‘guiding us through the process.’

We have for the second time just finished successfully working with Nik Antoniou on the planning application for our barn and stable block, the first time we worked with Nik was in 2017 when he got permission for our new house build.  Nik has excellent knowledge and expertise in the planning world, his back ground knowledge and understanding in this field are second to none.  He has a clear and calm approach which is very reassuring and we felt complete confidence in him which has clearly paid of TWICE.

Nik has done an excellent job on obtaining planning permission on a tricky in fill development site. His attention to detail, thoroughness and understanding of planning law made a very complex process straight forward. I would recommend him wholeheartedly.

The planning procedure is a lengthy and often challenging process. Nik’s wealth of experience helped to make this process easier. We had some very frustrating moments along the way and we valued Nik’s professionalism and expertise in dealing with these hurdles. He is also refreshingly prompt and efficient with his response times which was always appreciated.

After 30 years with the same planning consultant who was regarded as one of the best in the industry the day came when he finally retired, luckily, he introduced me to Nikolas Antoniou. As ever with change I was apprehensive but after gaining planning permission for various projects any reservations I may have had were soon dismissed. Nik is a modern planning consultant completely up to date who knows how the new more complex planning process works and guides you through the system with relative ease. Nikolas has gained planning permission for us on small and large projects and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend him from my personal experience.

Nik Antoniou came highly recommended by our Architect, as we were advised that we would need a Planning Consultant for a potentially difficult change of use, which required a full planning application.   It was important that all the boxes were correctly filled in, Proposal set out, counter-argument prepared and questions answered. Nik assured us from the beginning that he would handle everything for us.  He has such a calm professional manner, that we felt we could relax in the knowledge that he would smoothly negotiate a successful outcome.  Thank you so much, we are more than happy to recommend.

Two storey side extension in Sevenoaks - Appeal

After Sevenoaks District Council refused our planning permission for a two story side extension, we were very frustrated by the planning process and unsure whether to appeal. We came into contact with Nik, who explained over the phone that he did think we might have grounds for appeal and then subsequently visited in person without any obligation to purchase his services on our part. Having viewed the site, Nik explained clearly why he thought there were strong grounds for appeal and this gave us the confidence to proceed. Nik prepared a well-written and compelling appeal statement which resulted in the Planning Inspector ruling in our favour. Many thanks Nik for your help.

Proposed dwelling in Burgess Hill

When plans for a new home were refused by my local Council, I thought I would be unable to proceed.   I was contacted by Nikolas Antoniou, a Chartered Town Planner, who felt there was a good chance that the refusal could be overturned at appeal.   I was reluctant to spend more money, having already paid an architect to draw up plans, etc.   Nik felt I shouldn't give up my dream of building a new home, I agreed to go ahead with an appeal, which was successful.   Other Companies had approached me but I am so pleased I chose Nik.   He is very professional, the content of his work is superb and he always kept me informed.   I have no hesitation recommending Nik.   I feel he would not pursue a project unless he felt there is a good chance of success.

Replacement of mobile home with permanent dwelling in the South Downs National Park

Nik Antoniou was highly recommended to me by a very well respected local Planning Advisor who had recently retired. My residential mobile home is located in the South Downs National Park and I wanted to change it to a permanent dwelling.  It was a long drawn out process, Nik never gave up and pushed my application through to a successful outcome first time around. Nik also guided me through the complicated procedures of the CIL levy that was introduced during this lengthy application. I find Nik to be patient, professional and approachable, thanks to him I can now go forward to build my dream home.

I am very happy to recommend NJA Town Panning and look forward to working with Nik on my next project.

First Floor Deck to Oasthouse

Following a refusal of Planning Permission by Sevenoaks District Council for a first floor deck, we came into contact with Nikolas Antoniou. in February 2014. 

The brief, given to Richard Hawkes of Hawkes Architecture, Staplehurst, was to create an outstanding deck at first floor level, to reflect and complement the architecture of our Oasthouse and Barn. The construction of its circular deck and stairway, suspended from Corten Steel supports by 100’s of 2mm stainless steel cables, which form the balustrade was completely novel.

Nikolas spent time with us to fully understand our motivation and the project. Subsequently, he wrote a detailed Appeal, which enthusiastically upheld the Application. Nikolas's diligent, open and honest approach gave us total confidence in his abilities as a Town Planner. 

We have no hesitation in recommending Nikolas to assist anyone needing help with planning issues.

Retrospective applications at a fishery and a Listed Building

Nik helped us in our old property, where we lived for thirty years, very successfully even with retrospective planning issues we had. On moving to our new home that is a Grade 11 listed property, he again successfully gained planning for a new 3 bay garage and a small annex.   We would have every confidence in recommending him, to do all manner of planning for any person needing a competent agent to deal with their planning applications.

Proposed two-storey extension to an existing extension - Southwater

Having had our planning application refused we were disappointed but with a growing family desperately needed the extra space. We wanted to pursue an appeal but needed an honest appraisal. Our architect recommended Nik and he provided an overview of the whole appeal process and provided us with a realistic prospects. I am pleased to say we instructed Nik and our appeal was allowed. We would have no hesitation in recommending him.

Proposed replacement dwelling – Ifield Wood

"We have used Nik for a number of planning issues and have found him to be both professional and approachable. The planning of our house went through first time with no issues and we found the process simple with his guidance and support. We would definitely recommend Nik".

Demolition of bungalow and replacement with two units - East Grinstead

"I cannot recommend Nikolas Antoniou highly enough. My planning was far from straight forward involving the demolition of my bungalow and replacing it with two units. His knowledge and expertise was such that from the outset I was clearly aware of the prospects of the success. He guided me throughout the entire project and I am pleased to say that all went well and I now have my planning permission".

Proposed storage barn - Wiston

"Although we could justify the building of a new barn for the storage of fodder and machinery, as we do not farm we knew we would have to make a full planning application to gain permission to build. Having been recommended to us in the first place, Nik took time to understand our requirements before explaining how our goal could be achieved and he then went on to manage our application through to its successful conclusion extremely efficiently.  We were delighted with this result and will certainly consult Nik again should the need arise.”

Equestrian Development - Rusper

"I first used Nikolas around 5 years ago when I purchased my equestrian property with a complex planning history. Nikolas provided me with clear advice and guidance in the early stages and went on to iron out issues and achieved permission for a number of much needed facilities. More recently Nikolas has acted for me again and secured permission for a residential extension. I would have no hesitation in recommending him".

Retrospective Application for Dwelling - Colgate

"We recently employed the services of Nik Antinou from NJA Town Planning to deal with the planning process and in particular the amendments for our new build property in Colgate, which was successfully permitted earlier this month.

Nik brought a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the whole process, which was seamless from start to finish. Nik has good working relationships with local architects and the local council and is able to offer a straight forward, practical and logical approach throughout the process, which for the applicant is a key element to streamlining what can often be a minefield of policy procedures and restrictions.

We were kept informed from the initial site visit through to the submission of the application.  Any queries, concerns or questions were answered immediately and we were extremely thankful for a very personal and professional service. Many thanks".