Pre-application planning advice

These fees are set from April 2025. See definition of each development type.

Prices inclusive of VAT.

Householder development fees

• written advice only: £312 (£325 from 1 April 2026)

Minor development fees

• written advice only: £473 (£492 from 1 April 2026)

Works to listed buildings fees

• virtual meeting and letter: £531 (£552 from 1 April 2026)
• site visit, follow up meeting and letter: £704 (£732 from 1 April 2026)

Medium development fees

• written advice only: £615 (£640 from 1 April 2026)
• virtual meeting and letter: £1,221 (£1,270 from 1 April 2026)
• site visit, follow up meeting and letter: £1,322 (£1,375 from 1 April 2026)

Larger scale development fees

• written advice only: £920 (£957 from 1 April 2026)
• virtual meeting and letter: £1,832 (£1,905 from 1 April 2026)
• site visit, follow up meeting and letter: £2,121 (£325 from 1 April 2026)

Major development fees

• £2,973 (£3,092 from 1 April 2026)

The fee covers:

• preliminary site visit by case officer
• internal meeting by case officer with internal services
• initial briefing by case officer to key members (where the case officer considers it necessary and proportionate to do so in liaison with those members)
• virtual meeting between developer and council teams (60 mins)
• written response (format to be agreed by the parties)

Strategic development fees

• £3,850 (£4,004 from 1 April 2026)

The fee covers:

• preliminary site visit by case officer
• internal meeting by case officer with internal services
• Initial briefing by case officer to key members (where the case officer considers it necessary and proportionate to do so in liaison with those members)
• virtual meeting between developer and council teams (120 mins)
• written response (format to be agreed by the parties)

Member engagement virtual session with the Planning Committees

An opportunity for applicants to present their scheme to Members of the Area planning committee prior to determination of a planning application. Usually at pre application stage.

• £1000 (£1000 for initial presentation and £500 for each follow-up presentation from 1 April 2026)

In order to qualify you must have or be going through a Major development or Strategic development.

The fee covers:

• A 45-minute Teams session with the relevant planning committee. Including a developers presentation lasting no longer than 20 mins.
• Please note that the timings for bringing a proposal to a Members Engagement session will be at the discretion of the planning officer.

Requests for compliance with planning conditions

• householder developments: £43 (£45 from 1 April 2026)
• non-householder developments: £145 (£151 from 1 April 2026)

Proposed strategic local plan site allocations (from 1 April 2026)

• £4250

This fee covers:

• Preliminary site visit by a case officer nad policy officer (if required)
• Initial briefing by a case officer to key members (where the case officer considers it necessary and proportional to do so in liasion with those members). This may include policy officer input if required.
• Virtual meeting between developer and council planning team which will include a policty officer (up to two hours)
• Written response

Additional fees for senior officer involvement for major development proposals

Virtual meeting between developer and council teams (60 mins)

• to include Team Leader: additional £129
• to include Development Manager: additional £149
• to include Team Leader and Development Manager: additional £278

Additional fees for senior officer involvement for strategic development proposals

Virtual meeting between developer and council teams including case officer (up to two hours):

• to include Team Leader: additional £129 (£134 from 1 April 2026)
• to include Development Manager: additional £149 (£155 from 1 April 2026)
• to include Team Leader and Development Manager: additional £278 (£289 from 1 April 2026)
• to include Head of Planning: additional £179 (£186 from 1 April 2026)
• to include Team Leader or Development Manager and Head of Planning: additional £348 (£362 from 1 April 2026)
• to include Director of Planning, Housing and Environmental Health: additional £199 (£207 from 1 April 2026)
• to include Head of Planning and Director of Planning, Housing and Environmental Health: additional £378 (£393 from 1 April 2026)
• to include either Leader of the Council/Chief Executive and Head of Planning and Director of Planning, Housing and Environmental Health: additional £485 (£504 from 1 April 2026)

Notes

• the charges set out above relate to each separate query submitted to the council
• further queries and variations raised following the issue of advice by the council will be subject to a new fee
• enquiries that include requests for advice on multiple development options will be returned
• enquiries regarding potential non-material amendments to approved schemes should be subject to formal applications under section 96A of the Town and Country Planning Act
• enquiries as to whether listed building consent is required for proposed works should be subject to a formal application seeking a lawful development certificate
• where advice is sought concerning discharge of planning condition, the fee will be related to the development type of the parent application
• please note that the council does not offer advice to third parties on current planning applications. If you consider you may be affected by a development proposal, you should make representations to the council in the normal way. These will be taken into account in reaching a decision
• alterations to an existing or creation of a new dropped kerb for your home can only be dealt with by making an application for a lawful development certificate. This will fall into the residential: enlargement, improvement or alteration category for fee calculation

Exemptions

• proposals for making buildings accessible under the Equalities Act 2010 (other than in circumstances where the works would be undertaken to a listed building)