What this service covers
This service is suitable for the following types of planning applications:
- Residential developments of 1 home
- Non-residential developments up to 99 square metres
- Agricultural buildings up to 540 square metres
- Glasshouses up to 465 square metres
- Plant and machinery
- Telecommunications masts
- Car parks
- Advertisements
- Demolition of buildings
- Certificates of Lawful Existing Use or Development (CLEUDs)
- Discharging planning conditions
- Trees
- Non-material alterations
- Minor material alterations
- Change of use
- Shop fronts
Minor development pre-application enquiries are usually dealt with through written advice only. If you would like a meeting, this may be possible but will be at the discretion of the planning officer handling your enquiry.
What advice we can provide
We can offer guidance on:
- Relevant planning policies and requirements
- The planning process, including consultation and likely timescales
- What information you need to submit a valid planning application
- Informal, non-binding comments on the content and presentation of an application, to help it align with planning policies
Information we need from you
To provide helpful and meaningful advice, we will need enough information about your proposal, including:
- A clear description of the proposed development
- Photographs and/or sketch drawings showing the site, buildings, and trees as they currently are
- Outline plans of the proposal (at a scale of 1:50 or 1:100)
- Sketch drawings showing the size, height, and overall scale of the development
For some proposals, such as agricultural developments, plant and machinery, telecommunications masts, highways matters, or schemes involving trees or forestry, additional specialist information may be needed. The case officer will let you know if anything further is required once your pre-application request has been reviewed.
What you will receive
As long as we receive all the required information, you can expect:
- Clear, detailed advice setting out planning issues, constraints, and application requirements
- An indication of whether the proposal is likely to be acceptable in planning terms