Pre-application planning advice | Norwich City Council

Before you make a planning application we suggest you use our pre-application advice service. This service is available to householders and developers.

This could save you time and money, and may improve your chances of having your proposal approved.

We’ll give you advice on:

the likelihood of your application being successful
the processes involved in making an application
what information you’ll need to make your application
policies your proposal will be assessed against

Request pre-application advice

Charges

There is a charge for this service which depends on the size of the development you are planning and the type of advice required:

Service we provide	Fee (incl VAT)	Timescale (calendar days)
Householder Advice on proposed extensions and alterations to existing dwellings. Meeting not included but can be requested following the initial advice.	£180	14
Need for consent Advice on the need for planning permission. This will not constitute a formal decision and a lawful development certificate is the statutory process which may be useful in the future if you sell your property and queries are raised by a potential purchaser. A meeting is not included.	£108	14
Planning history We will provide details of the site's planning history, including a list of decisions. Decision notices, legal agreements and plans can be provided on request, in electronic form only.	£108	14
Listed building Advice on alterations and the need for listed building consent. Where there are associated planning implications, the relevant pre-application advice option should be used and listed building advice will be provided as part of that service.	£180	21
Change of use Advice on change of use for buildings or land including with very minor external alterations eg amended shop front. Meeting not included but can be requested following the initial advice. NB: this service isn’t available for change of use to residential.	£192	21
Commercial extensions Advice on alterations or extensions to existing commercial premises. Meeting not included but can be requested following the initial advice.	£240	21
Commercial new build Advice on new commercial buildings (any non-residential building) with a proposed floor area of less than 1000sqm gross floor space. Meeting not included but can be requested following the initial advice.	£540	21
Basic minor dwellings - schemes proposing 1- 9 new dwellings Advice only on the principle of the development and no other matters. Information provided by the applicant should include a description of the proposals and ideally a site plan. No internal or external consultation would take place. The officer response will outline relevant policy, constraints, the acceptability of the principle of development and other main issues (as bullet points only eg design, trees, contamination etc). This service may be useful for those wanting information prior to an auction. Due to temporary staff shortages we cannot commit to a specific time period for responses. Meeting not included but can be requested following the initial advice.	£360	21
Advanced minor dwellings - schemes proposing 1- 9 new dwellings Detailed advice on all aspects of the proposal based on the information provided. It is flexible and can provide for ongoing correspondence between us and the applicant and includes meetings as required. We can also undertake external consultations where the necessary information has been submitted or would advise the applicant on using other bodies’ paid-for services, if necessary, where these exist eg Environment Agency, Historic England etc.	£960	21
Follow-up advice/meeting For further discussion following the initial advice given on any service other than ‘advance minor dwellings’ or ‘bespoke’ services where a meeting is included. Notes of any meetings will be provided.	£120	14
S106A applications To discuss a variation to a S106 agreement which is less than five years old. S106A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 provides planning obligations to be modified by agreement between the local planning authority and the person or persons against whom the obligation is enforceable. Where the agreement is less than five years old the charge will be levied to cover the council's costs in considering, negotiating and agreeing any proposed modifications.	£1,500	Varies depending on the extent of changes needed to the S106 agreement and if the changes need to be reported to the planning applications committee.
Conveyancing compliance checks For solicitors seeking compliance checks for conveyancing purposes. We will be able to advise if there are any outstanding compliance matters relating to a former planning consent or advise if a development is lawful without complying with conditions on any former consent.	£360	14
Post refusal - minor schemes (less than 10 dwellings or 1000 sqm) For advice after receiving a refusal of planning permission, in general, where the applicant did not enter into pre-application discussions prior to submission. The applicant can seek advice on a resubmission for the set fee. This can involve an initial meeting with the case officer to discuss how the scheme could be amended.	£498	14
Post approval For advice on amendments or variations to schemes following planning approval or for advice relating to conditions imposed on any approval. This service also applies to listed building applications.	£180	14
Major schemes - 10 dwellings or more or 1,000 sqm of floorspace or more (Bespoke advice) Please email planning@norwich.gov.uk in the first instance to arrange a meeting with us to agree a bespoke service and fee for pre-application advice. See more information on bespoke advice.	To be agreed	To be agreed