Christmas and New Year closure information
Our council offices and phone lines will close at 4pm on Wednesday 24 December and reopen at 9am on Monday 5 January 2026.
See our service arrangements for customers during this time.
Use the planning pre-application service
Get expert planning advice before you apply. We'll help you find out if you need planning permission and what documents or information you’ll need.
Get planning advice before you apply
Before you apply for planning permission, we recommend using our pre-application advice service. It’s available to both homeowners and developers and can help you:
- understand how likely your application is to be approved
- know what documents and steps are needed
- learn which planning policies apply to your proposal
This service can save you time, money and help avoid delays.
What it costs and what you get
| Service | What it covers | Fee (incl .VAT) | Response time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Householder |
Advice on home extensions or changes | £180 | 14 days |
| Need for consent |
Find out if you need planning permission | £108 | 14 days |
| Planning history | Summary of past planning decisions | £108 | 14 days |
| Listed building |
Advice on changes to listed buildings |
£180 |
21 days |
| Change of use | Advice on changing how a building or land is used (not residential) | £192 | 21 days |
| Commercial extensions | Advice on extending commercial buildings | £240 | 21 days |
| Commercial new build | New non-residential buildings under 1,000m² | £540 | 21 days |
| Basic minor dwellings | 1–9 new homes – basic advice only | £360 | 21 days |
| Advanced minor dwellings | 1–9 new homes – detailed advice and meetings | £960 | 21 days |
| Follow-up advice/meeting | Continue the conversation after initial advice | £120 | 14 days |
| S106A applications | Changes to legal agreements (Section 106) | £1,500 | Varies |
| Conveyancing compliance checks | For solicitors – check for planning issues | £360 | 14 days |
| Post refusal | Help after a refused application (under 10 homes or 1,000m²) | £498 | 14 days |
| Post approval | Help with changes or conditions after approval | £180 | 14 |
| Major schemes | 10+ homes or 1,000m²+ – bespoke advice | To be agreed | To be agreed |
If your large project doesn’t fit into our standard planning advice services, we can offer custom support tailored to your needs. Learn more about or request our bespoke pre-application advice for major developments.
