Planning pre-application service
For a small fee, we can offer advice on your planning application before it is submitted to us
- About our pre-application service
- Apply for pre-application advice
- Response times
- Fees
- When pre-application advice can't be taken into account
- Public availability of pre-application information
Our pre-application service
As part of our pre-application service, we can indicate to you whether your proposal is acceptable. We will also explain what supporting information you will need to submit with your planning application.
If your proposal is unacceptable, we will explain why. We can also explain what changes could be made in order to make your proposal more acceptable.
Please note that this service does not include consultations with any organisations outside of Fenland District Council. This is because the majority of these charge for their advice, which is not included within our fee. We will not consult Town Councils, Parish Councils or neighbouring properties.
Please note that if you withdraw your pre-application enquiry before a response is provided by us, we may be able to offer a part refund on the fee you paid, dependant on the extent of work carried out on on the enquiry.
Apply for pre-application advice
Apply online for planning pre-application advice.
Response times
We aim to respond within 42 days for Major proposals and 21 days for Other or Minor proposals.
If our internal consultees do not respond promptly, we may provide you with a reply on a 'subject to' basis. This reply will be updated once we receive their information.
Fees
Fees listed below cover all research time on a case and a final written response. They are inclusive of VAT. There is an additional charge for a virtual meeting.
Type of Pre-App | Written Advice Only Fee | Meeting Fee (in addition to the written advice fee) |
---|---|---|
Householder | £300 | £200 |
Lawful Development Certificates (existing or proposed householder) | £400 | £200 |
Lawful Development Certificates (proposed minor) | £500 | £200 |
New dwelling (1 dwelling) | £400 | £400 |
New dwellings (2-3 dwellings) | £750 | £400 |
New dwellings (4-9 dwellings) | £1,000 | £400 |
New dwellings (10-19 dwellings) | £2,000 | £500 |
New dwellings (20-40 dwellings) | £3,000 | £500 |
New dwellings (41-99 dwellings) | £5,000 | £600 |
New dwellings (100+ dwellings) | Not available | Bespoke price starting at £7,000 |
Residential development (where the proposed number of units is not specified) with a site area of below 0.5 hectares | £1,000 | £400 |
Residential development (where the proposed number of units is not specified) with a site area of 0.5 hectares or more and less than four hectares | £3,000 | £500 |
Residential development (where the proposed number of units is not specified) with a site area of more than four hectares | Not available | Bespoke price starting at £5,000 |
Commercial (Development relating to shops, offices, factories or other commercial business property) (Below 150 sqm) | £400 | £400 |
Commercial (Development relating to shops, offices, factories or other commercial business property) (150-999 sqm) | £800 | £500 |
Commercial (Development relating to shops, offices, factories or other commercial business property) (1,000-9,999 sqm) | £5,000 | £600 |
Commercial (Development relating to shops, offices, factories or other commercial business property) (10,000 sqm or above) | £10,000 | Bespoke price starting at £12,000 |
Agricultural development including equestrian uses, agricultural buildings, polytunnels and glasshouses with a site area of up to 0.5 hectare or a floor area of below 499 sqm | £250 | £400 |
Agricultural development including equestrian uses, agricultural buildings, polytunnels and glasshouses with a site area of between 0.5 hectare and 1 hectare or a floor area of between 499 sqm and 1,000 sqm | £500 | £500 |
Agricultural development including equestrian uses, agricultural buildings, polytunnels and glasshouses with a site area of over 1 hectare or a floor area over 1,000 sqm | £3,000 | Bespoke price starting at £4,000 |
Change of use | £300 | N/A |
Principle of development (minor) | £1,000 | N/A |
Principle of development (major) | £5,000 | N/A |
Mixed Use Development | Two fees outlined above added together | Highest fee of the component uses |
Confirmation that a clause within a S106 Agreement has been met | £250 | N/A |
Any other development | Bespoke price | Bespoke price |
Note 1: In addition to the standard written advice fee, an additional charge applies for proposals involving alterations to listed buildings or development within the curtilage of a listed building. This additional fee is set at £200 for householder applications and £400 for all other types of queries. Similarly, for proposals related to retrospective applications or enforcement matters, an additional fee of £200 applies to householder applications and £600 for all other queries.
Note 2: Where meetings involve attendance by additional officers, such as a Conservation Officer or an Environmental Health Officer, an additional charge will be incurred. This will be calculated on a cost-recovery basis. This fee will be confirmed by the Planning Officer during the arrangement of the meeting and must be paid in full prior to the meeting taking place.
When pre-application advice can't be taken into account
When deciding a subsequent planning application, we cannot give any weight to pre-application advice if:
- it is over one year old; or
- it was given before a significant change in policy or circumstances; or
- a consultee has raised significant issues relating to the proposal
Public availability of pre-application information
We will not publish pre-application information for the public to view. However, we must provide it if we receive a Freedom of Information Request.