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Pre-application planning advice

Householders

We offer free pre-application advice to all householders considering building an extension or outbuilding or modifying the appearance of their home.

This advice allow us to identify likely problems with your proposals and suggest changes that will increase the likelihood of an approval. These comments are best made before an application is submitted. The more information you can provide us with, the more specific our advice can be so bring along photographs or sketches of your property and your proposals.

Developers

If you are undertaking a medium or major development, from 1 April 2008 we will be charging for pre-application planning advice.

Pre- application advice benefits all parties. We can provide detailed advice on key issues prior to formal submission, help to improve the quality of design, encourage greater public consultation and speed up the application process, helping to avoid delays or refusals due to unacceptable proposals.

The fees proposed are for research culminating in one main meeting, plus a formal but without prejudice response.  Further meetings or other officer responses will generate additional charges as listed in the guidance for developers document on this page.

Category 1: Major developments (A)  £2,000 + VAT (new build and changes of use)

• Schemes including 25 or more dwellings

• Commercial floorspace 2000sqm or more

• Any other floorspace ie hospital, education leisure of 2000 sq m or more

• Any mixed use development which takes the gross floorspace of a scheme over 2000 sq m

• Sites subject to an EIA

• One-off strategic schemes

Category 2: Major developments (B) £1,500 +VAT (new and changes of use)

• Provision of 10-24 dwellings

• Commercial floorspace any category 1000-1999 sq m  

• Any other floorspace between 1000-1999sq m

• Any mixed use development which does not fall into category 1

• Complex listed building applications

• Complex departure applications

Category 3: Medium developments  £750 + VAT

• Provision of 1-9 dwellings (including conversions to flats)

• Commercial floorspace between 100-999sq m

• Any other floorspace between 100-999 sq m

• Advertisements for hoarding

• Telecommunications equipment and masts

All floorspace figures are gross

For full details of this service please see the guidance for developers document on this page.

Contact us

For residents, our service is available at the Civic Centre, Monday to Friday by appointment only.

For developers, an appointment will be arranged subject to completion and acceptance of a valid pre application advice form.