Pre-application advice service
Invest in certainty before you submit
Investing in development can involve significant financial commitment. Our pre-application advice service provides early professional planning advice to help you understand the opportunities, constraints and risks associated with a proposal before submitting a planning application.
Whether you are planning a house extension, a new home, a residential development, commercial development or the re-development of a larger site, early engagement with the Council can help identify planning issues before further expenditure is committed to design work, technical reports, planning fees and construction costs.
Our pre-application advice service is available through phone calls, written responses, meetings and discussions with planning officers, depending on the type of enquiry.
Why seek pre-application advice?
Planning applications are often supported by significant investment in professional services. Identifying potential planning issues at an early stage can help applicants make informed decisions before committing further resources.
Pre-application advice can help to:
- Identify planning policy considerations and site constraints at an early stage
- Highlight potential risks that could affect the acceptability of a proposal
- Improve the quality and design of a development scheme
- Clarify what supporting plans, surveys and technical information may be required
- Reduce the likelihood of avoidable issues arising during the planning application process
- Support informed investment and development decisions before a planning application is submitted
It is important to understand that pre-application advice:
- Does not guarantee planning permission
- Does not bind the Council to making any particular decision
- Cannot prevent objections from statutory consultees, local residents or other interested parties
- Cannot replace the formal assessment of a planning application
The final decision on any proposal can only be made following the submission and full assessment of a planning application, taking account of all material planning considerations and consultation responses.
Planning Performance Agreements (PPAs)
Some applicants may benefit from a more collaborative and project-managed approach through a Planning Performance Agreement (PPA).
A PPA provides a framework for structured engagement between the Council and the applicant, including agreed timescales, key project milestones, co-ordinated officer input and enhanced project management from pre-submission through to planning decision.
PPAs are commonly associated with larger developments but they can also provide benefits for smaller schemes for progressing a project.
There is no minimum development threshold for entering into a Planning Performance Agreement.
Find out more about our Planning Performance Agreements
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