Pre-Applications

We are committed to providing an effective planning service which delivers good quality development proposals. We recognise the value of providing pre-application advice and consider this to be an important aspect of the planning process, to help applicants and planning agents at the earliest opportunity.

We believe that providing informal advice prior to the formal submission of a planning application can ensure that the quality of a development is improved and that certainty of outcome can be increased for the applicant.

On 6 October 2011 the Council's Planning and Licensing Committee formalised the procedures for requesting advice and from 31 January 2012 a fee will apply for pre-application advice provided. This will apply to:

• Householder applications; including house extensions, garages, enlargement to gardens, erection of walls/fences and any other buildings within the boundary of the property. Please use the householder advice form. If your property is a listed building or located within a conservation area please use the other form
• Minor residential including change of use
• Major non residential (over 1000 sqm) including change of use
• Minor residential (2 to 9 dwellings)
• Major residential (over 10 dwellings)
• Strategic proposals, large and extensive proposals for residential, non residential or mixed use development it will be appropriate to enter into a Planning Performance Agreement;
• Alterations and extensions to a listed building
• Development in a conservation area, and
• Development in a nationally or internationally designated area

Please see pre application fee schedule for list of current fees.

General advice may be obtained via the Interactive House on the Planning Portal website.