We provide a pre-application advice service and encourage potential applicants to discuss their scheme/plans with planning officers before submission.
This is an important part of the planning process and helps to ensure applicants have an understanding throughout the process. All appplicants will receive a confidential chat with a planning officer about their project idea and will receive tailored advice on planning policies, processes, and address any potential hurdles.
Where applications for development have not taken the pre-application advice service, there has often been hurdles that could have been avoided if discussed with a planning officer. Hurdles/delays can impact the council's ability to make positive decisions within the statutory timeframes and can result in more refusals. This will increase costs by needing to re-apply.
Please note: Pre-applications advice doesn't guarantee approval, but it helps you navigate the process smoothly, reducing the risks associated with development proposals. While discussions are confidential, they may be subject to Freedom of Information requests under specific circumstances.
Our services are tailored to the varying nature and complexity of development proposals.
Alternatively, customers can seek their own independent advice by going to one of the following links: