There is a charge for pre-application planning advice on minor developments – see the apply for pre-application advice section for details of charges and the time within which we will provide advice.
Your payment should be made with your request for advice. The payment must have cleared before we meet with you or provide a written response.
The following are minor developments for which we charge to give advice:
- commercial developments of less than 1,000 square metres or less than 1ha site area
- changes of use of buildings of less than 1,000 square metres or less than 1ha site area
- residential development of 2 to 9 dwellings or a site area less than 0.5ha
- Gypsy and traveller sites of less than 1,000 square metres or less than 1ha site area
- telecommunications equipment proposals
- mineral or waste proposals of less than 1,000 square metres or less than 1ha site area
You will need to provide us with enough information about the site and your plans to be clear about what you propose and to help us decide who else will be consulted. This will normally include:
- a description and summary of the proposals
- a site location plan at a scale of 1:1250
- photographs and drawings showing the site, including buildings and trees, at a scale of 1:200, and proposals
- details of the nature of the business, including parking arrangements, numbers of people employed and vehicle movements where changes of use are proposed
- a daytime phone number or email address
If more information is needed we will let you know so that you can send it to us before we start work.
Issues we will consider include:
- the planning history of the site
- if there are any constraints on the site – for example, is the building listed, is the development site in a conservation area, is there a flood risk, are there any protected trees, are there any national or local designations, are there any public rights of way
- government advice
- relevant development plan policies
- the design, including sustainable construction and energy issues
- impact on amenity
- possible obligations on you as a developer, such as the provision of infrastructure, affordable housing or contributions to service provision
- necessary practical measures, for example dealing with possible contamination
- process or timetable issues