Procedure for potential applicants for pre-application advice
Requests for pre-application advice should be made in writing and should contain as a minimum the following:
- Full written contact details
- A site location plan
- Appropriate fixed pre-application fee
- Description of proposed development and schedule of proposed uses and floor space
- Relevant planning history and any background information
- Photographs of site and surroundings, including schedule of existing buildings and uses
- Sketch proposals of layout/elevations at appropriate scale i.e. 1:100, 1:200
- Any supporting statements i.e. design and access statement, sustainability appraisal, tree surveys, ecology surveys.
All requests should be accompanied by a ‘Request for Pre-Application Advice Form’, which can be downloaded as a paper copy
(pdf, 16KB) or an editable copy(pdf, 35KB).
The relevant Team Leader will decide whether any pre-application advice should be provided and if so identify any specialist advice/information required. The applicant or agent will be sent a letter within 5 working days to confirm receipt, name of case officer and any request for additional information required.
The Team Leader will allocate to appropriate planning officer within 5 working of receipt. Whilst this may be a Team Leader, if allocated to a Deputy Team Leader or a Career Grade Planning Officer the advice provided will be overseen by at least Team Leader level.
All documents passed to senior administration officer to record and monitor for audit and review purposes within 5 working days of receipt.
The case officer will assess the proposal in relation to relevant policies and planning requirements and seek any specialist advice received.
Case officer will contact applicant/agent within 10 working days to arrange a convenient meeting date, following their assessment and any specialist advice. Meeting to include advice on points set out in ‘What this Service Will Provide’ section above.
Upon completion of meeting officer to prepare written advice and get this cleared by Team Leader / Assistant Section Manager / Section Manager within 10 working days of meeting.
For further investigations, advice or meetings the same procedure would apply. Invoices would be agreed by Team Leader / Assistant Section Manager / Section Manager and would need to be settled by applicant / agent within 21 days.
Given other workload commitments and the complexity of the advice required, at times the above targets may be subject to some delays.
NB: With regard to Category 5 – Concept Meeting, the first 6 items of the list above should be provided with the form which guarantees a meeting only with officers.
Disclaimer
Any advice given by Council officers for pre-application enquiries does not constitute a formal response or decision of the Council with regards to future planning consents. Any views or opinions expressed are given in good faith and to the best of ability without prejudice to formal consideration of any planning application, which was subject to public consultation and ultimately decided by the Council. You should therefore be aware that officers cannot give guarantees about the final form or decision that will be made on your planning or related applications.
Although the advice note will be brought to the attention of the Planning Committee or an officer acting under delegated powers, it cannot be guaranteed that it will be followed in the determination of future related planning applications and in any event circumstances may change or come to light that could alter the position. It should be noted that if there has been a material change in circumstances or new information has come to light after the date of the advice being issued then less weight may be given to the content of the Council’s pre-application advice of schemes.