Pre-application advice

Pre-application advice can speed up the planning process, advise if an application is likely to be approved or not, and highlight any potential reasons for refusal. We will provide:

  • a written response without prejudice
  • the best advice possible, based on the information submitted
  • details of applicable planning policies and other considerations
  • comments on the planning merits and possible areas for improvement
  • the information needed to make a formal application
  • advanced warning of consultee requirements.

We won't provide:

  • binding opinions or opinions on lawfulness
  • a formal planning decision or guarantees that an application will be valid or approved
  • detailed technical advice or design the proposal for you
  • an opinion that is future-proofed against policy changes.

Fees

Minor applications

Item2025/26 charge

Householder applicants

  • Written advice only (desktop assessment)
  • Covers the input of one officer
£180

Householder development

  • Written advice plus site visit (set charge for one officer for 2 hours including travel)
  • Covers the input of one officer
£380

Householder development

  • Written advice plus 1 hour meeting (online or NNC offices)
  • Covers the input of one officer
£300
Additional officers providing inputHourly rate

Category A

  • Standard pre-submission validation check (assumes 1 hour of checking time plus correspondence)
£75

Adverts

  • Service offer limited to written advice only (desktop assessment)
  • Covers the input of one officer
£180
Additional officers providing inputHourly rate

Change of use

  • Written advice only (desktop assessment)
  • Covers the input of one officer - excludes proposal to create net additional dwellings which are considered under category D
£265

Change of use

  • Written advice plus site visit (set charge for one officer for 2 hours including travel)
  • Covers the input of one officer - excludes proposal to create net additional dwellings which are considered under category D
£400

Change of use

  • Written advice plus 1 hour meeting (online or NNC offices)
  • Covers the input of one officer - excludes proposal to create net additional dwellings which are considered under category D
£300
Additional officers providing inputHourly rate

Shopfronts

  • Service offer limited to written advice only (desktop assessment)
  • Covers the input of one officer
£180

Telecoms and associated infrastructure

  • Service offer limited to written advice only (desktop assessment)
  • Covers the input of one officer
£180

Other development proposals (falling outside other development types listed in category B)

  • Bespoke charge agreed in advance based on agreed assumptions on hourly rate for officer(s)
Hourly rate

Category B

  • Standard pre-submission validation check (assumes 1 hour of checking time plus correspondence)
£75

Heritage applications

Item2025/26 charge

Listed building

  • Written advice only (desktop assessment)
Hourly rate

Listed building

  • Written advice plus site visit
Hourly rate plus site visit fees
Additional officers providing inputHourly rate

Meetings

  • All attendees representing the council charged at relevant hourly rates
  • Any fees for external attendees shall be paid by the applicant
  • Charges shall include provisions for administration tasks associated with organisation, preparation, and follow-up
  • Venue hire and associated meeting costs shall be paid by the applicant where applicable
Hourly rate

Site visits

  • All attendees representing the council charged at relevant hourly rates
  • Any fees for external attendees shall be paid by the applicant
  • Charges shall include provisions for administration tasks associated with organisation, preparation, and follow-up
Hourly rate

Site visits

  • Travel fees (flat rate contribution for travel costs and associated expenses)
£25

Category C

  • Standard pre-submission validation check (assumes 1 hour of checking time by Planning Officer (or equivalent) plus correspondence)
£100

Category C

  • Complex pre-submission validation check
  • Where the time required for checks to be undertaken, or seniority of officer input required exceeds the assumptions of category C
  • Standard pre-submission validation check
Hourly rate

Medium applications

Item2025/26 charge

1 dwelling

  • Written advice only
  • Covers the input of one officer
£300

2-9 dwellings

  • Written advice only
  • Covers the input of one officer
£400 for 2 dwellings plus £100 per each additional dwelling

10-49 dwellings

  • Written advice only
  • Covers the input of one officer
£2,000 for 10 dwellings plus £75 per each additional dwelling

Non-residential (uses not falling within Class C3) 500m internal floorspace

  • Written advice only
  • Covers the input of one officer
£300

Non-residential (uses not falling within Class C3) between 500m to 999m internal floorspace

  • Written advice only
  • Covers the input of one officer
£1,000

Non-residential (uses not falling within Class C3) between 1000m to 4999m internal floorspace

  • Written advice only
  • Covers the input of one officer
£2,000

Non-residential (uses not falling within Class C3) between 5000m to 9999m internal floorspace

  • Written advice only
  • Covers the input of one officer
£3,500
Additional officers providing inputHourly rate

Meetings

  • All attendees representing the council charged at relevant hourly rates
  • Any fees for external attendees shall be paid by the applicant
  • Charges shall include provisions for administration tasks associated with organisation, preparation, and follow-up
  • Venue hire and associated meeting costs shall be paid by the applicant where applicable
Hourly rate

Site visits

  • All attendees representing the council charged at relevant hourly rates
  • Any fees for external attendees shall be paid by the applicant
  • Charges shall include provisions for administration tasks associated with organisation, preparation, and follow-up
Hourly rate

Site visits

  • Travel fees (flat rate contribution for travel costs and associated expenses)
£25

Category D

  • Standard pre-submission validation check (assumes approximately 2 hours of checking time by Senior Planning Officer (or equivalent) plus correspondence)
£220

Category D

  • Complex pre-submission validation check
  • Where the time required for checks to be undertaken, or seniority of officer input required exceeds the assumptions of category D
  • Standard pre-submission validation check
Hourly rate

Major applications

Item2025/26 charge

50+ dwellings

  • Written advice only
  • Covers the input of one officer
£5,500 for 50 dwellings plus £25 per each additional dwelling

Major applications

  • 1000+ sqm commercial
Bespoke fee

Non-residential (uses not falling within Class C3) 10,000m internal floorspace

  • Written advice only
  • Covers the input of one officer
£5,000
Development proposals that do not fit within the categories aboveBespoke fee
Additional officers providing inputHourly rate

Meetings

  • All attendees representing the council charged at relevant hourly rates. Any fees for external attendees shall be paid by the applicant
  • Charges shall include provisions for administration tasks associated with organisation, preparation, and follow-up
  • Venue hire and associated meeting costs shall be paid by the applicant where applicable
Hourly rate

Site visits

  • All attendees representing the council charged at relevant hourly rates
  • Any fees for external attendees shall be paid by the applicant
  • Charges shall include provisions for administration tasks associated with organisation, preparation, and follow-up
Hourly rate

Site visits

  • Travel fees (flat rate contribution for travel costs and associated expenses)
£25

Category E

  • Standard pre-submission validation check (assumes approximately 3 hours of checking time by Principal or Lead Officer (or equivalent) plus correspondence)
£400

Category E

  • Complex pre-submission validation check
  • Where the time required for checks to be undertaken, or seniority of officer input required exceeds the assumptions of category E
  • Standard pre-submission validation check
Hourly rate

Planning Performance Agreements (PPAs)

Service2025/26 Charge £
PPAHourly rate
Setting up PPA (Administration fee)£550
Meetings - All attendees representing the council charged at relevant hourly rates. Any fees for external attendees shall be paid by the Applicant. Charges shall include provisions for administration tasks associated with organisation, preparation, and follow-up. Venue hire and associated meeting costs shall be paid by the Applicant where applicable.Hourly rate
Site Visits - All attendees representing the Council charged at relevant hourly rates. Any fees for external attendees shall be paid by the Applicant. Charges shall include provisions for administration tasks associated with organisation, preparation, and follow-up.Hourly rate
Site Visits - Travel fees (Flat rate contribution for travel costs and associated expenses).£25
PPA pre-submission validation checkHourly rate

Officer hourly rates

Service2025/26 Charge £
Officer Hourly rate - Senior Technical Validation Officer (or equivalent)£60
Officer Hourly rate - Planning Officer (or equivalent)£85
Officer Hourly rate - Senior Planning Officer (or equivalent)£100
Officer Hourly rate - Principal Planning Officer (or equivalent)£120
Officer Hourly rate - Lead Officer (or equivalent)£135
Officer Hourly rate - Planning Manager (or equivalent)£150
Officer Hourly rate - Head of Development Management and Enforcement (or equivalent)£190

Apply

You will need to complete our form and provide:

  • a site location plan
  • sketch drawings of the proposal and layout
  • a description of the proposed works
  • the correct fee after submitting the application

Once you completed the form below and have a reference number and quote, you can pay for pre-application advice on our website.

Last updated 15 April 2025