Planning Advice from the Council

The Council operates a free Duty Officer advisory service at its offices. The Duty Planning Officer is available to see at our Planning Information Desk or by calling 01799 510617 between 9 am and 4.30 pm Monday,Wednesday, Friday and 9 am - 12.45pm Tuesday and Thursday. This service is, however, for basic general enquiries such as whether planning permission or listed building consent required and for advice on householder developments such as house extensions. This type of advice can also be applied for in writing – using the attached form to find out if planning permission is required or by writing with a Preliminary Enquiry giving details of a proposed householder development  an requesting an officers opinion of the proposal.

Enquiry form to find out if you need planning permission  (Please note: No charge is made for this service)  (46 kb)

From 1st November 2007 the Council will be charging for other pre-application advice as set out below. To apply for this advice please use the attached form and send with the appropriate fee to The Council Offices, London Road Saffron Walden Essex CB11 4ER.

Request form for pre-application planning, listed building & landscape advice  (Please note: A charge will now usually be made for this service)  (73 kb)

Charge sheet for pre-application advice  (66 kb)

CHARGES FOR PRE-APPLICATION ADVICE

ALL CHARGES INCLUDE VAT

* = definition of major development:

For residential development: 10 or more dwellings, or a site area of 0.5 hectares.

For all other uses: 1000 square meters or more of floorspace, or where the site area is 1 hectare or more. This includes changes of use of existing buildings.

** = definition of minor development:

For residential development: 1 to 9 dwellings

For all other uses: new building or change of use of building of up to 999sqm floorspace

¹ = There will be no charge for householder developments, including ancillary domestic works within the curtilage of the dwelling, unless the property is a listed building.

² = There will be no charge for confirmation of whether or not planning or listed building consent is required for development affecting a listed building.

³ = The Council will no longer provide an advisory service  in respect of trees that are not subject of a Tree Preservation Order or in a Conservation Area. General advice on tree matters can be obtained from an arboriculturist.

Procedures

1. The 'additional officer' could include an officer from the Council's Development Control, Planning Policy, Conservation, Legal, Engineering, Housing and Environmental Health services. Additional officers may also attend meetings from external providers e.g. Essex County Council Highways, Environment Agency, etc.

2. All meetings will result in a follow-up letter or notes of meeting within 10 working days after the meeting.

3. All payment must be received (and cleared) at least 2 days prior to the meeting taking place, or it will be cancelled.

4. All meetings either on site or in the office will be restricted to 1 hour (or for slightly longer duration at the discretion of the officer), excluding travel time.

5. The Council will continue to operate a free Duty Officer advisory service at its offices. This service is however for basic general enquiries and householder developments – any matter that falls within the definitions outlined above will not be handled by the Duty Officer, and the enquirer will be given details of the Council's pre-application service.

6. The Council will continue to respond without charge to written requests for advice on householder developments (not including proposed new dwellings) and whether or not planning permission is required (all types of development, including commercial and listed buildings).

7. The reduced fee for a follow-up meeting will only apply if the second meeting relates to revisions to the original scheme. It will not apply to a materially different proposal.

8. Any meeting that is arranged will be to discuss a single proposal. Officers will not discuss any second proposal at that meeting if advance notice of it and the relevant fee and plans have not been provided.

EXEMPTIONS:

• Post-Decision Discussions: If planning permission has been refused or granted, one post-decision discussion may take place without incurring a fee (unless previous pre-application advice was given and disregarded). Subsequent meetings would take place at the standard fee. However, one meeting following a decision by the Council plus one meeting following an appeal decision will be permissible.

• Householder Extensions: these are exempt unless the property is a listed building (see separate category). This will include all extensions to a dwelling, outbuildings within the garden area for domestic use, residential annexes, etc.

• Development of Exception Sites by Housing Associations: this will be for new houses to be constructed on exception sites only, and not for affordable housing schemes as part of larger general-market housing schemes.

• Development by Town and Parish Councils

• Development by Community Groups: this will include for example, village hall groups, scout groups, sports groups and other non-profit making community groups. This however only applies to projects for that group, and if part of a wider development scheme would be subject to the standard fee.