Pre-Application Validation Requirements

Pre-Application Validation Process

When the pre-application is received by the Planning Department, it will get registered with a reference number and will undergo a validation process to ensure that we have sufficient information to progress the request to a Case Officer.  The case officer will then assess the proposal, conduct a meeting (if requested) and provide you with a written response.

Your pre-application will need to be accompanied by adequate plans/documents and information to enable the case officer to provide a comprehensive response on your proposal.

The quality of the Council’s pre-application response will be based upon the information provided.

What are the validation requirements for pre apps?

To accompany your pre-application submission, you must include:

• Pre-Application form.  This should be completed in full;

• Pre-Application Addendum of Information (if a Householder Pre Application);

• Site Location Plan – a Google earth image outlining the site boundary may be sufficient;

• Pre-Application Fee (see further information below);

• Sketch Plans (see further information below); and

• Photos of the existing site/building(s) (desirable).

In addition to the above, while not mandatory it would be beneficial if you can provide a supporting statement that provides an outline of the proposal, and may also include the reasoning or aims of the development. For more complex developments, you may wish to consider covering more specific matters related to that particular development, for example heritage matters, highways, ecology or flood risk.

Fee

If not already known, you can find out how much you need to pay for your pre-application here.  

Alternatively, you can pay via credit/debit card over the phone by contacting our Validation Team on 01255 686190.

Sketch Plans

Sketch Plans should consist of:

Site Layout / Block Plan – this should accurately show the size and position of the development in relation to boundaries, neighbour property, the highway and the surrounding area in general;

Floor plans – to show the existing and proposed layout, room uses etc;

Elevations – to show the existing and proposed building before and after development;

Note: If the proposal relates to an entirely new building/structure then existing floor plans and elevations will not be applicable.

Note: In the event that you consider it is not necessary to submit any sketch plans, please explain the reasoning for this. For example, no sketch plans are required because you are seeking an ‘in-principle’ view of the development.

We would like to reassure you that it is not a necessity for you to provide us with architecturally drawn, or even scaled plans at this stage of the process.  We would however request that for us to provide you with the best possible response you include as many metric measurements as possible.  For example: the distance of the development to site boundaries, the length and width of the proposed, as well as the height to the eaves and the ridge.

If you would like to see some examples of how the plans should look, please follow this link.

Planning Application Validation Requirements

If you would like to see more information on the Validation Requirements for Planning Applications, these can be found here.