Pre-app development categories and service fees
Services and fees
Your pre-app fee depends on the type and scale of the proposed development.
Requests for pre-app advice fall into one of seven development categories, listed below.
We provide three levels of service:
- Desktop only - research the planning history, review information provided, assess against relevant policies and guidance and provide written response
- Desktop plus - as desktop, plus one teams meeting/phone call
- Full - as desktop, plus an accompanied site visit and phone/teams meeting to fully assess the site in its context
You will select your category and service level on the form - and the fee will automatically be calculated.
Specialist advice service and fees
You can also request specialist advice for your project. This is offered and calculated according to your project when you are completing the form. You will only be offered specialist advice relevant to your proposal.
Development categories for pre-app planning advice
The development categories are also listed on the form. You will be asked to select the one for your project.
The criteria for each category are also shown below, together with the timescale for completion, from registration, and the fees for the service level required within each category:
- Householder - Category 1
- Other - Category 2
- Minor - Category 3
- Small major - Category 4
- Medium major - Category 5
- Large major - Category 6
- Listed building advice - Category 7
Householder - Category 1
- Householder pre-application advice
- Development within the curtilage of a dwelling. This includes extensions, garages, greenhouses, sheds and annexes
- Domestic renewable energy developments that are within the curtilage of the dwelling. Includes solar, wind, biomass, hydro and ground source heat pumps
- Remove or vary conditions on a pre-app Category 1 development type application
You will receive a response in 30 working days.
Available services and fees:
- Desktop only £145
- Full £300
Other - Category 2
- Residential development of a single dwelling (including single unit of holiday dwelling)
- Change of use of a single dwelling
- Agricultural development (not for livestock) up to 1,000 sqm
- Live/work unit
- Domestic renewable energy developments that are outside the curtilage of a dwelling. Includes solar, wind, biomass, hydro and ground source heat pumps
- Advertisements
- Telecommunication developments
- Demolition in a conservation area
- Remove or vary conditions on a pre-app Category 2 development type application
- Modify or discharge a planning obligation on a pre-app Category 2 development type application
- Any other case of similar development size and type
- Multiple developments taken from a pre-app Category 1 development type application
You will receive a response in 30 working days.
Available services and fees:
- Desktop only £150
- Desktop Plus £230
- Full £305
Minor - Category 3
- Residential development of 2 - 9 dwellings or where site area is less than 1 hectare
- Commercial development of new floor space or change of use of up to 500 sqm or where site area is less than 1 hectare
- Agricultural development (for livestock) less than 2,000 sqm
- Agricultural development (not for livestock) 1,000 sqm or more and less than 2,000 sqm
- Commercial renewable energy developments with a site area less than 1 hectare. Includes solar, wind, biomass, hydro and ground source heat pumps
- Minerals and waste resources where site area is less than 1 hectare or specific floor area of less than 100 sqm
- Remove or vary conditions on a pre-app Category 3 development type application
- Modify or discharge a planning obligation on a pre-app Category 3 development type application
- Multiple developments taken from a pre-app Category 2 development type application
You will receive a response in 40 working days.
Available services and fees:
- Desktop only £480
- Desktop Plus £720
- Full £960
Small major - Category 4
- Residential development of 10 – 39 dwellings or where site area is 1 hectare or more and less than 1.5 hectares
- Commercial development of new floor space or change of use 500 sqm or more and less than 2,500 sqm or where site area 1 hectare or more and less than 1.25 hectares
- Agricultural development (including for livestock) 2,000 sqm or more and less than 3,000 sqm
- Polytunnels and associated infrastructure up to 15 hectares
- Commercial renewable energy development with a site area 1 hectare or more and less than 15 hectares. Includes solar, wind, biomass, hydro and ground source heat pumps
- Minerals and waste applications that are non-EIA of less than 15 hectares
- Remove or vary conditions on a pre-app Category 4 development type application
- Modify or discharge a planning obligation on a pre-app Category 4 development type application
- Multiple developments taken from a pre-app Category 3 development type application
You will receive a response in 40 working days.
Available services and fees:
- Desktop only £950
- Desktop Plus £1360
- Full £1810
Medium major - Category 5
- Residential development of 40 - 99 dwellings or where site area is 1.5 hectares or more and less than 3 hectares
- Commercial development of new floor space or change of use 2,500 sqm or more and less than 10,000 sqm or where site area is 1.25 or more and less than 2 hectares
- Agricultural development (including for livestock) 3,000 sqm or more and less than 4,000 sqm
- Polytunnels and associated site infrastructure 15 hectares or more
- Commercial renewable energy developments with a site area 15 hectares or more. Includes solar, wind, biomass, hydro and ground source heat pumps.
- Minerals and waste applications that need an EIA
- Remove or vary conditions on a pre-app Category 5 development type application
- Modify or discharge a planning obligation on a pre-app Category 5 development type application
- Multiple developments taken from a pre-app Category 4 development type application
You will receive a response in 40 working days.
Available services and fees:
- Desktop only £1995
- Desktop Plus £2830
- Full £3770
Large major - Category 6
- Residential development of 100+ dwellings or where site area is 3 hectares or more
- Commercial development of new floor space or change of use 10,000 sqm or more or where a site area is 2 hectares or more
- Agricultural development (including for livestock) 4,000 sqm or more
- Remove or vary conditions on a pre-app Category 6 development type application
- Modify or discharge a planning obligation on a pre-app Category 6 development type application
- Multiple developments taken from a pre-app Category 5 development type application
You will receive a response in 40 working days.
Available services and fees:
- Desktop only £2640
- Desktop Plus £3595
- Full £5275
Listed building advice - Category 7
- Listed building consent / repairs / pre-purchase advice that does not include Planning Officer advice
You will receive a response within 30 working days.
Available services and fees:
- Desktop only £145
- Full £300