Planning advice
Planning advice
Please note: From the 1st April 2025 our pre-application fees will be increased.
The planning system can be complicated. Getting the right advice early can save you time, money and significantly improve your chances of gaining planning consent.
Our Planning Advice Service is aimed at giving applicants, architects and developers clear advice about whether the Authority would be likely to support a proposal.
It is important to note that this service is for the provision of advice - it does not provide any formal approval or refusal and all advice is given without prejudice to any decision the Authority may make on any subsequent application.
Where can I get planning advice?
There are a range of ways to get planning advice. You can obtain planning advice from an architect or planning consultant, reading our planning policies and guidance and familiarise yourself with policies relevant to your proposal and you can receive written pre-application advice from officers
Why is written pre-application advice helpful?
Open and constructive pre-application discussions are an opportunity for the Authority and applicants to work together. This helps to achieve developments that deliver benefits to the individual, community, environment and the economy.
It can also save time and costs and avoid unnecessary protracted discussions.
Benefits of pre-application enquiries and discussions include:
- Saving time and resources
- Helping raise the quality of development
- Speeding up the validation process
- Gaining community acceptance through engagement if required
- Reducing the number of unsuccessful planning applications
- Identifying the need for specialist input earlier
- Provide sufficient information to support final application
For more information please read our pre-application fees and charges 2025/2026.
Unfortunately, we are not able to deal with enquiries for speculative enquiries from prospective purchasers.
Please note: Site visits will be at the discretion of the officer dealing with the enquiry and will only be undertaken where considered necessary.
How do I request Planning Advice?
To submit a Planning Advice request please provide details via the online form. Please ensure you submit a site location plan and the appropriate fee with your request. To get the most value from your request please provide plans, drawings or any other information that would be helpful in assisting the officer to understand your proposal.
Please note you will need to register for an account on this page before for the option to submit an enquiry or pre-application Advice is available.
If you already have an account please log on before attempting to submit an enquiry or pre-application Advice.