Who Are We
We are an independent team of Highway Consultants, with over 25 years of experience in both the public and private sectors, delivering specialised advice and a wide range of services to meet your requirements.
We are friendly and reliable, offering a tailored and professional service to developers and private individuals alike. If you have been advised that you require the services of a Highway Engineer to assist you with a Planning Application, then we are here to guide you.
Heading up the team is Karen Smith FIHE, who has over 25 years’ experience in the Traffic and Transportation arena during which she has gained a wealth of knowledge and a clear understanding of the highway related issues in planning and development.
Her background includes working in the public sector as an Assistant Development Control Officer at a Local Authority and in the private sector in a development environment with particular emphasis on the planning process in relation to traffic and transportation matters. Karen has extensive knowledge of the legal aspects and implications of the Highways Act 1980 on the planning process which enables her to provide expert support to clients.
She has been heavily involved in the preparation of numerous Transportation Assessments and Statements; Travel Plans; access appraisals; preparing and giving evidence as an expert witness for all types of planning appeals and the provision of a wide variety of advice to clients on all highway issues.
Her most recent position before taking up her current role with Fairfield Associates was as an Associate Director within a busy Traffic and Transportation team in a highway consultancy firm. Her key responsibilities included the day-to-day running of multiple projects whilst maintaining close links with clients and their projects. A skillset which she brings to her new position.
Karen has extensive experience in working as part of multi-disciplinary teams advising on the highway planning elements of a wide range of major developments. Her areas of expertise include master-planning for major projects including retail developments, town centre redevelopments and schemes linked to Local Development Frameworks, preparing detailed Transport Assessments and Travel Plans which include deliverable transport solutions to facilitate the planning process.
She does, however, also focus on smaller scale developments and projects ensuring that each client receives the professional service and respect that they deserve, be this a proposal for a single dwelling or providing advice on a neighbour dispute over access rights.
Whatever the project, we will deliver a professional service with the respect that each project deserves, whether it be a small-scale development, such as a proposal for a single dwelling; providing advice on a neighbour dispute over access rights, or, providing formal statements and Proofs of Evidence in support of a planning appeal, Fairfield Associates can help.
The Role of a Highway Engineer
The vast majority of development proposals will have some form of impact on the local transport network, whether it is an increase in traffic or pedestrian movements which results in the additional demand on the public network or the formation of a new access, which has implications on the highway network and nearby properties. These matters require the assistance of a Highway Engineer, whose involvement is paramount to the development proposal. Our aim is to provide an improved transport network to benefit all users.
If you are experiencing any of the following, then you need us:-
- Highway information to validate your planning application
- Access visibility problems
- Traffic or junction congestion
- Inadequate parking
- Servicing and vehicle turning arrangements
- Highway safety issues
Expert Highway Consultation Services
These services are all common highway and transport related issues for refusing planning applications. A lack of this information submitted with a planning application could result in the applicated not being validated with the local authority. Fairfield Associates can professionally advice clients on all these matters.
The only way to deal with a highway planning matter is to clearly understand the issues involved and to have the best advice and expertise available.
Here at Fairfield Associates, we can provide a wide range of professional highway consultancy services designed to guide our clients through various stages of the planning process and to prevent any hurdles from the onset.