Pre-application advice

What is the pre-application planning service?

Before making a planning application, you can discuss your proposal with us to find out whether the principles of your proposal are acceptable or not in planning terms. We are able to provide you with professional advice and information if you are considering submitting a development proposal. This is known as the pre-application planning service.  

Please note that if you would like advice relating to works to a residential property, please complete the Householder – Do I need planning permission form and email it to the planning team. 

If you wish to know if planning permission is required for works to a non-residential property, then complete the Non- Householder – Do I need planning permission form. This is a free service and we will respond to you within 10 working days (see the Do I need planning permission section for more advice). 

Please note this will only inform you as to whether your proposal requires planning permission or not, if you require information as to the likelihood of your proposal gaining permission, you will need to complete one of the Pre Application Planning Advice forms and send that in, along with relevant supporting documents and the correct fee. 

The benefits of using this service

• We can explain how planning policies and other requirements affect your proposals
• We can give you a Planning Officer’s informal view on the merits of your proposal and advice on what you will need to do to submit a valid planning application
• You can save time, costs and frustration and optimise the potential of a site, and avoid unacceptable proposals
• We can identify at an early stage in the development process the need for specialist input (e.g. listed buildings, trees, noise, highways advice, flood risk)

Detailed guidance on how to make a request for pre-application planning advice is set out in the Guidance Note. The Council will require a minimum level of information in order to properly assess a development proposal, and which is clearly set out in the Guidance Note.

When considering a request for pre-application planning advice, the Council will provide advice that will include the following;

• Identify the main ‘material planning considerations’
• Identify what planning constraints apply to the site
• Offer an appraisal of the proposal against the relevant policies of the Local Plan and National Guidance
• Comment on any other factors that are relevant or material to the proposal
• Review of the relevance of any planning history associated with the site
• Offer recommendations and suggestions for the next steps

What does it cost?

The Council makes a charge for providing pre-application planning advice. The level of fees is determined by the type of development being proposed. See the schedule of fees for details. You can obtain general planning advice and details of how to go about submitting a planning application free of charge, but a detailed assessment of a particular development proposal will be subject to fee being payable.

Please Remember

Planning Officers will help you as much as they can. However, the advice that you will be given is informal only and made without prejudice to the final decision of the Council on your planning application.