Planning advice

Planning advice

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

Development Management	NET (£)	VAT(£)	GROSS (£)
Planning Application Fees	See 'Government Scale Charges
Pre Application Fees:
Class A: Residential between 31-149 dwellings / Non-residential floor space 5,000-9,999 sq.m - 1 meeting	600	120	720
Class A: Additional meeting fee	300	60	360
Class B: Residential between 10-30 dwellings / Non-residential floor space 1,000-4,999 sq.m - 1 meeting	400	80	480
Class B: Additional meeting fee	200	40	240
Class C: Residential (including holiday lets) between 3-9 dwellings / Non-residential floor space 500-999 sq.m - 1 meeting	300	60	360
Class C: Additional meeting fee	150	30	180
Class D: Residential 1-2 dwellings (including replacement dwellings) including change of use to, conversion & holiday lets / Non-residential floor space up to 499 sq.m - 1 meeting	150	30	180
Class D: Additional meeting fee	50	10	60
Class E: Advertisements / telecommunications proposals/ Change of use where no operational development (except residential / holiday let) - 1 meeting	150	30	180
Class F: Listed Building where site visit involved	150	30	180
Class F: Additional meeting fee	75	15	90
Class G: Other minor development including agricultural based development - 1 meeting	83.33	16.67	100
Class G: Additional meeting fee	41.67	8.33	50
Class H: Domestic Scale Renewable energy - solar, wind, hydro Free unless site visit required	150	30	180
Class H: Non Domestic Scale Renewable energy - solar, wind, hydro	166.67	33.33	200
Class H: Additional meeting fee	50	10	60

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.

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.