What is an application for pre-application advice?

An application for pre-application advice is a way for property owners and developers to get early feedback from their local planning authority (LPA) on their proposed development. This can help to avoid delays and costs later on in the planning process.

What are the benefits of applying for pre-application advice?

There are many benefits to applying for pre-application advice, including:

• It can help you to understand the LPA’s planning policies and how they might apply to your development.
• It can help you to identify any potential problems with your proposal early on, so that you can make changes before submitting a formal planning application.
• It can help you to prepare a more robust planning application, which is more likely to be successful.
• It can save time and money, by avoiding the need to appoint all the consultants required to validate an application for full planning consent.
• It can save you time and money, by avoiding the need to make expensive changes to your proposal later on.
• They are private, so the LPA’s response is not published on their website as it is for full planning applications.

How do I apply for pre-application advice?

The process for applying for pre-application advice will vary from LPA to LPA. However, in general, you will need to submit a written application to the LPA, along with some basic information about your proposed development. This information might include:

• The location of the proposed development.
• The type of development you are proposing.
• The scale of the development.
• Any supporting documentation, such as drawings or photographs.

Each LPA will have information regarding the information required at pre-application stage, however it is worth noting whilst there is a minimum level of information required, the more detailed an application for pre-application advice is then the more detailed the response will be.

The LPA will then assess your application and provide you with written feedback. This feedback will usually include an assessment of the planning merits of your proposal, as well as any recommendations for changes.

Some LPA’s will offer options in terms of the written feedback and may also offer meetings and subsequent follow on pre-application services to further develop a scheme before a full application is submitted.

How much does it cost to apply for pre-application advice?

The cost of applying for pre-application advice will vary from LPA to LPA. The LPA will have details of charges on their web-site.

Is pre-application advice binding?

No, pre-application advice is not binding. This means that the LPA is not obliged to follow the advice they give you. However, the advice is usually very helpful and can give you a good indication of how the LPA is likely to view your proposal.

Conclusion

An application for pre-application advice is a valuable tool for property owners and developers who are considering making a planning application. By applying for pre-application advice, you can get early feedback from your LPA on your proposed development, which can help you to avoid delays and costs later on.

I hope this article has been informative. If you have any further questions, please feel free to ask.