Pre-application advice

If you need to apply for planning permission, but wish to seek advice on the acceptability of your proposals, you may seek pre-application advice. This service is intended to provide an indication of whether your proposal is likely to gain planning permission or not, and what you would need to submit with any application that you make.

For smaller schemes, this is a simple process that can be done through the exchange of correspondence, although if necessary a meeting can be held at the Council House or Town Hall. For larger schemes, meetings may well be necessary, and the discussions can include several rounds of meetings.

Advice scheme explanatory leaflet and Fees table.

Pre Application advice request form

Other sources of free advice

 The Planning Portal

General information

• No advice will be provided, or your request considered, without receipt of the relevant fee (unless the enquiry falls within the exemptions listed in section 7 above).
• Meetings are not a compulsory element of the pre application advice process. Therefore, we ask that where a meeting is not necessary, one is not requested, in order that resources can be made available to as many people as possible to deal with a higher volume of enquiries.
• The attendance of consultees at discussions cannot be guaranteed, however wherever possible and necessary, invitations will be issued.
• Where a meeting is held in the first instance prior to initial written advice, a timescale for the follow up written response will be agreed at the meeting. Wherever possible, the first meeting will be held within the response times noted above. Subsequent meetings will be dependent on the progress with the proposals and subject to availability of the Planning Officer and relevant consultees.
• All advice is provided without prejudice to the outcome of any future planning application, or change to the statutory or policy planning framework, however where changes are perceived to be imminent, we will attempt to advise accordingly.
• Where significant new information comes to light during the course of a planning application that was not considered at pre-application stage, the case officer will alert the applicant to this and seek additional information if appropriate.
• Development carried out on site without the benefit of planning permission (where it is required) is at risk of enforcement action and applicants and their representatives should be fully aware of this and mindful of it when considering their position and future options.
• Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, we may receive a request to provide information regarding enquiries for pre-application advice. Sections 41 & 43 of the Act exempts information whose disclosure could result in substantial financial loss, or where it is likely to prejudice the commercial interests of a person. You are therefore asked, if you believe the enquiry to be confidential, to supply a covering letter setting out the reasons why and for what period. The decision as to whether to release the information however lies with the Local Authority.
• For more information on large developments and PPA's, see the ATLAS website at http://www.atlasplanning.com/
• Free and independent professional advice on the planning process, and assistance with planning matters, may be available to you, depending on your circumstances.