Club together, throw in a hundred or two hundred quid each (or whatever you can afford), and get a good planning solicitor/barrister/consultant - which will depend on the cash you have. Trust me, its the one thing which developers and planning authorties hate - awkward questions from someone who understands the system properly. Don't waste money on a normal solicitor, who knows about as much as Scotland does about football, or an architect or surveyor (not good enough on the legal issues).

Trust me. I know it means putting your hands in your pocket, but it WILL make a difference. I've seen it done before.