The pre-application advice service and the associated fees are currently being refreshed and are expected to go live this summer. The customer choice model will remain but changes will be made to the categories and additional service options.
The pre-application phase of development management is part of a positive and proactive planning process.
Engagement prior to any planning application being formally submitted can be critically important and should provide the applicant and the local planning authority with the opportunity to gain a clear understanding of the objectives of and constraints on development.
It also provides an opportunity for wider engagement, where appropriate, with other stakeholders, including the local community, which can deliver better outcomes for all parties.
The council provides a comprehensive pre-application advice service where you can choose the level of service that you require. This includes the ability to select whether consultees are invited to comment, whether you would like to meet with the case officer and/or key consultees and whether you require a quicker response than normal. The core fees are shown below for each development category with any additional services selected attracting an additional fee.
We will aim to provide a response within 30 working days, unless a longer period is agreed in writing.
In order to provide a high quality and efficient service a fee is required. The fees are based on cost recovery and include the time spent by consultees and officers who support the process as well as the time of the case officer. They vary depending on the scale of the application and the level of service that you choose. For householder development, you may also wish to use the interactive guidance available on the Planning Portal's website and look at the adopted Supplementary Planning Document: House Extensions.
The council also offers the opportunity to enter into a Planning Performance Agreement (PPA). A PPA is a project management tool which allows all parties to agree timescales, actions and resources for handling planning applications.
Anybody wishing to apply for planning permission is strongly advised to seek pre-application advice for the reasons set out above. Irrespective of whether pre-application advice has been sought, planning applications that are submitted for determination, but which require significant amendment to make them acceptable, will be refused without further negotiation.
All requests for pre-application advice must be made via the links to the development categories below. Please note that you must provide the minimum level of information set out in the online form to ensure that it can be accepted and so that appropriate and timely advice can be given.
For developments which are particularly large or complex or where a series of meetings are required to help with the evolution of a development proposal, it is considered that a more bespoke process should be followed so that the correct advice can be given. This advice would have to be provided by entering into a Planning Performance Agreement.
Choose the appropriate form below depending on the size of your development.
For 50 or more dwellings or the creation of 2500m2 or more of new floorspace
For 10 to 49 dwellings or the creation of 1000 to 2499m2 of new floorspace
For 5 to 9 dwellings or the creation of 500 to 999m2 of new floorspace
For 3 dwellings or the creation of less than 500m2 of new floorspace
For when there is a change of use or development that doesn't create additional floorspace (including works to listed buildings). The basic fee for a new submission which includes consultee advice is £250 (exclusive of VAT).
Change of use of a property, no extra floorspace or works to a listed building
This category relates to extensions to existing dwellings or any other development with their property boundary which requires planning permission.
It is also for anybody wishing to seek advice on the display of advertisements that require advertisement consent.
The basic fee for a new submission which includes consultee advice is £100 (exclusive of VAT).
If you are unable to view documents of these types, our downloads page provides links to viewing software.
This page was last updated on 12 June 2024