Retail Expansion — Business & Planning, Working as One

The situation

A farm shop client wanted to expand and streamline their operations, with a clear focus on reducing costs and building a more efficient, sustainable business. Growth of this kind also meant looking at the physical site itself, and how it could accommodate the business's future needs, bringing planning considerations into the picture from an early stage.

What we did

Business advice

Rather than jumping straight into a large-scale engagement, we started with a smaller, focused project to identify the best way forward together. Splitting the work this way kept things affordable and gave the client complete clarity on what they'd receive at each stage before committing further.

From there, we developed an updated operating model, written in plain English rather than consultancy-speak, and worked with the client to implement it in practice. That meant engaging directly with staff, reviewing systems, and working with suppliers to build a comprehensive, workable business model and plan, not just a document on a shelf.

Planning advice

In parallel, we advised on how the site itself could be developed to support the business's growth. This involved comprehensive site visits and a pre-application planning statement, giving us early sight of the local authority's concerns before a full application was submitted. We worked through each concern raised, identifying mitigations and consulting with relevant specialists to overcome the blockers standing in the way of development.

The outcome

The result was a full planning application that succeeded at committee, giving the client the physical space to match their newly streamlined operations.

This project is a good example of what sets Longdogs apart: having experienced business and planning consultants within the same organisation meant the client didn't have to manage two separate advisers trying to align their advice. Instead, the operational strategy and the planning case were developed together from the outset, each informing the other, and both moving in the same direction.

Book an initial consultation with the team to see how we can help you with your planning application!