Pre-application planning advice

We encourage and welcome the opportunity to provide advice before an application is made. There are considerable benefits in seeking advice before making an application as it:

• Gives you an opportunity to understand how planning policies will be applied to your development
• Can identify at an early stage where there is a need for specialist/technical input, for example on listed buildings, trees, landscape, noise, transport, contaminated land, ecology, and archaeology
• Will assist you or your agent in preparing proposals for formal submission which, providing you have taken our advice fully into account, is likely to be handled more efficiently
• May lead to a reduction in time spent by your professional advisors in working up proposals
• May indicate at an early stage that a proposal is contrary to planning policy and completely unacceptable, saving you the cost of pursuing a formal application
• Can ensure an application is complete and comprehensive and to a satisfactory standard, avoiding rejection at registration stage or early refusal of permission because of inadequate or insufficient information