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Charging system for pre-application advice

We will request sufficient information in order to be able to provide advice. This is described in more detail in the Procedure for developers pre-application advice but summarised below.

  • 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.

NB Category 5 requires the first 6 items listed above only.

The charges will be set as follows

The appropriate fixed fee to cover the time taken on a case by a planning officer from the investigation stage through to the actual meeting with the applicants, to finally production of written comments. The fee will also include, where necessary and possible, any specialist officer input and administrative officer time.

  • Category 1 - Large Scale Development - £4,800 (including VAT)
  • Category 2 - Major Development - £3,036 (inclusive of VAT)
  • Category 3 - Major Development - £1,656 (inclusive of VAT)
  • Category 4 - Medium Development - £758.40 (inclusive of VAT)
  • Category 5 - Concept Meeting - £480 (inclusive of VAT)
  • Category 6 - Householder Development - £90 (inclusive of VAT)
  • Category 7 - Minor Listed Building Development- £758.40 (inclusive of VAT)

Whilst the fixed fee will cover any clarification required on the written comments, if further investigations, advice or meetings are required for what consists of a materially different scheme then additional fees will be charged at an hourly rate for Planning Officer time, dependant on the level of officer involved.

Additional charges will also apply at the same hourly rate for specialist advice, i.e. Environmental Health, Highway or Design Officers. The following scale of charges (inclusive of VAT) for officer time will apply:

  • £132 per hour for Head of Service
  • £112.80 per hour for Section Manager
  • £99.60 per hour for Assistant Section Manager
  • £87.60 per hour for Team Leaders
  • £75.60 per hour for Deputy Team Leaders/Senior Planning Officers
  • £58.80 per hour for Career Grade Planner Officer

Administrative staff time is normally included as an on-cost within the above rates. However, there may be instances where staff costs require to be charged out and under such circumstances the following rates will apply:

  • £49.20 per hour for Senior Administrative Officer
  • £42 per hour for Administrative Officer/Technical Support Officer

These charges would be updated annually in accordance with standard practice for commercial services.

Please note:

It is important that the standard fee must be payable prior to the commencement of any pre-application work. Invoices relating to further investigations, advice or meetings would be settled within 21 days.