How Much Does a Pre Planning Application Cost?

How Much Does a Pre Planning Application Cost?

Pre planning application advice is, for many people, the first stage on their journey to gaining planning permission. Pre planning application advice is an increasingly important part of the planning process in the UK, but is it always necessary, and is it worth the extra costs?

The main reason that people seek early advice at a pre planning application stage, is to get an early steer about whether the planning application is likely to succeed or fail before going to the time and expense of submitting a full planning submission.

It also reduces the chances of your full planning application being rejected as invalid when it is submitted, by clarifying key issues and ensuring that you fully understand what is expected by the Local Planning Authority. Many applications are rejected as ‘invalid’ because they fail to enclose the correct information. Pre planning application advice is helpful in giving you a clearer sense of what you need to do to progress at the next stage.

How Much Does a Pre Planning Application Cost?

This is a service that will be provided by your Planning Authority (which is usually your Local Authority). Each Authority will have its own charging structure, which will be set out on its website. There is usually a charge for this service, although in some areas pre planning application advice is still free. 

Charges for the pre planning application process vary, but are usually between £100 and £200. Some Authorities also offer different levels of service depending on the size or complexity of your proposed development. 

It is also worth remembering that a pre planning application will require submission and discussion of some design information. There will likely be costs associated with the appointment of consultants to produce this information and you may need to engage structural engineers, environmental consultants, building surveyors and/or architects.

Is a Pre Planning Application Worth It?

The more important thing that you will want to know is, is a pre planning application worth it?”

As always, the answer will depend on your budget, your project and the local plan. However, there is always a value to engaging early with the officers who will be working alongside you and your planning consultant as your progress through the planning system. A pre planning application demonstrates that you are someone who is engaging with the process, and seeking to work collaboratively to find a way forward.

It is also important to remember that value can come in a range of different ways. If at the pre planning application stage you are told that your proposal is unlikely to succeed, then you have probably saved yourself a great deal of money in not progressing it, even if the outcome is not the one that you wanted.

However, it may be the case that your application is so straightforward that the pre planning application advice stage is not really necessary, and simply becomes something which adds costs and delay without any real benefit. 

Finding out whether it will add value in the case of your planning application is sometimes worth seeking professional advice about, even at an early stage. A reputable Planning Consultant can help in two ways.

Firstly, they can help you prepare for or can complete any pre planning application meeting. This can involve making sure you have all of the information you need, check that what you are proposing fits with the local plan, and help you frame the questions that you need to get answered.

Secondly, seeking early professional advice might help you conclude that, for your project, pre planning application advice is not necessary. Remember, any professional you appoint will have worked on similar schemes before, and will have a clear idea about the likelihood of success or failure. If they tell you that your scheme is straightforward, then it may be possible to move straight to the full application. This will save both time and money. 

Costs vs Value 

It is always difficult to give a definitive answer as to whether the value of pre planning application advice is worth the cost. As ever, the devil is in the detail. Ultimately, the planning system has lots of moving parts, and so much will depend on the area where you live, and the size, scale and complexity of the proposals that you are putting forward.

Generally, however, it is always worth looking at the cost of one element as part of the over-all costs of the project. Spending £100 to speed up something that might be costing you £50,000 seems like value. Costs that you incur now may well end up saving you money further down the line.

At UK Planning Consultants, we offer Pre Planning Application advice in the following locations: Pre Planning Application Bristol, Pre Planning Application London, Pre Planning Application Manchester.