How to apply for pre-application advice
To request pre-application advice, you will need to complete and submit the application form along with the appropriate plans and document and fee.
Link to Pre Application Request Form
Pre-application advice fees
A fee will be charged for pre application advice as set out in the schedule below. The fee must be paid before any work on answering the request is undertaken. Any exemptions or reductions will be at the discretion of the Strategic Manager for Planning and Regeneration.
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Threshold |
Charge |
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Category 1 Minor residential developments of 1–4 dwellings. Other development (including changes of use) where the floor space is no greater than 500m² or where the site area is no greater than 0.5 hectares. *Enquiries in respect of a listed buildings. |
·£303.88 + VAT for written advice only.* ·£152.23 + VAT for follow up requests
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Category 2 Residential developments between 5-50 dwellings. Other development (including changes of use) where the floor space is between 500m² and 5000m² or where the site area is between 0.5 ha and 1ha. |
· £607.72 + VAT for initial meeting and written advice. · £303.88 + VAT for all subsequent meetings and written advice.
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Category 3 Residential developments of 51 dwellings or more. Other development (including changes of use) where the floor area is greater than 5000 m² or where the site area is greater than 1ha. |
· £1215.51 + VAT for initial meeting and written advice · £607.75 + VAT for all subsequent meetings and written advice
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Preparation of Planning Performance Agreements - Initial Meeting. Preparation of Planning Performance Agreements - Subsequent Meetings. |
· £1215.51 + VAT for initial meeting and written advice · £607.75 + VAT for all subsequent meetings and written advice |
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Please Note: 1. Meetings: these are held at the Councils Skipton Office or online through either MS Teams or Zoom, meetings on site are not currently offered. 2. Independent technical/specialist advice: In order to give a comprehensive response the Council may need to seek external specialist advice, you will be advised if this is required before the initial meeting is arranged and your agreement to cover any costs in obtaining this advice will be required before any meeting or response is provided. |
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In response to a valid request for pre application advice we will:
For Category 1 Enquiries:
- Allocate the request to an appropriately experienced officer and inform you of the name of the officer dealing with your enquiry.
- Provide formal written response in the form of a letter within a 21 working day timescale for a response, unless an extension of time is agreed to enable further information/clarification, to be sought from the enquirer,
- This response will provide details of any constraints applicable to the site/proposal
- The opinion of a planning officer as to issues or merits of the proposal,
- Details of what information should be provided with ant planning application.
- Once a formal written response has been provided the pre application will be closed
What not to expect:
- a meeting with a planning officer
- input from consultees e.g., the Highway Authority, Lead Local Flood Authority, Heritage England
- a guaranteed outcome on a planning application.
For Category 2 & 3 Enquiries
- Allocate the request to an appropriately experienced officer and inform you of the name of the officer dealing with your enquiry.
- Inform you of any additional information required before a meeting is arranged.
- Advise you of the date of the meeting.
We will normally seek to set up a meeting within 21 working days. However, we have a limited number of planning officers, and the time taken to respond will depend upon the availability of officers and the complexity of the case.
At the meeting, we will aim to provide a comprehensive assessment of the proposal. This may involve officers from other disciplines being present at meetings or providing input in any written advice.
Following the meeting we will provide you with written advice. We will aim to do this within 14 days of the meeting. Where this is not possible, for example due to the issues being more complex, a specific time scale will be agreed at the meeting.
For cases where a meeting is not part of the pre-application advice service, we will aim to provide you with written advice within 21 days of the receipt of a valid request.
The precise nature of the advice will vary depending upon the nature of the proposal, but will typically include:
- Identification of key planning policies and constraints which may affect the proposed development.
- A broad assessment of whether the principle of the proposed scheme and its detailed layout/design is acceptable or not
- An indication of factors which require further investigation or could lead to the scheme being refused planning permission.
- An indication of matters which may need to be addressed by a Section 106 legal agreement and/or planning conditions
- Any recommendations relating to pre-application community involvement
What not to expect:
- input from consultees e.g., the Highway Authority, Lead Local Flood Authority, Heritage England
- a guaranteed outcome on a planning application
The final written advice will be considered by an experienced Officer who has the delegated authority to determine planning applications, but please be aware the advice will be an informal officer opinion only that is not formally binding on the Council. The final decision on applications may be made by Council Members and will only be taken after consultations with neighbours, statutory consultees, and other interested parties. You should therefore be aware that pre-application advice cannot give any guarantees about the decision that will be made on any subsequent application(s).
Please note that the Strategic Manager for Planning and Regeneration may decline a request for pre application advice where it is not considered either appropriate or necessary.
