Unlocking potential with a clearer identity
For us at ECE Planning, our recent rebrand is about identity.
We’ve always been part of the ECE family, but as an independent company within the Group, our voice and role needed to be distinguished. We share the same core values across the Group, yet our work has its own personality and purpose. The refreshed brand achieves that by showing how ECE Planning stands proudly on its own, while drawing strength from being part of ECE Group.
What we do: planning with purpose
At its heart, planning is about problem-solving. But we’ve never seen ourselves as just “form fillers”. Our job is to look at the bigger picture – to unlock potential. We think laterally, understand commercial reality, and focus on making challenging projects viable and deliverable.
Our fantastic team draws on over a century of combined experience, both in the public and private sectors. Many of us began our careers within local authorities, which gives us a practical perspective on how decisions get made. That insight allows us to navigate the process more smoothly for our clients.
We work across a wide range of sectors – residential, commercial, education, leisure, and complex mixed-use regeneration schemes. Over the past 14 years, I am very proud that we’ve helped to transform communities across the South Coast and beyond through diverse projects like Bayside in Worthing (a landmark leisure centre and mixed-use development), Faircharm in Lewisham, London (an innovative inner-city mixed-use scheme), and the Wren School in Reading (a new free school providing 1176 places including a sixth form). It is so rewarding to see our work making a tangible difference for local communities across the country.
Collaboration within the ECE Group
Our position within the ECE Group gives us a unique advantage. We operate independently, but we share a studio with our colleagues in ECE Architecture. That proximity means alliance happens naturally – whether it’s a quick conversation across the office or full collaboration on a complex project.
If we’re working with a client who could benefit from the design expertise of ECE Architecture or the know-how of Westworks, we can draw on those close connections. The Sussex County Cricket Club development in Hove demonstrates how this collaboration works in practice. ECE Planning led the early stages before ECE Architecture joined the team, and together we’re delivering an exemplary multi-phase project.
Refining, not changing
The rebrand doesn’t change who we are or what we do; it simply refines how we present ourselves. We look sharper, but the people behind the projects haven’t changed.
Our clients will continue to work with our brilliant team, enjoy the same straightforward advice, and benefit from the depth of experience and commitment that have always defined us.
Looking ahead
The planning world continues to evolve, and the economic and policy conditions we work within are certainly challenging. But that’s also where our experience and resilience shine through.
Over the next 12 to 24 months, our focus will be on building on what we’ve achieved – continuing to support our clients with honest, commercially minded advice and delivering results that make a tangible impact.
The rebrand is more than a refreshed identity; it’s a signal of intent. It demonstrates that we’re secure, forward-looking, and ready to help our clients unlock potential in even the most complex of circumstances.
