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Pre-application advice fees

General information about our fees

You should be aware that we're experiencing a high volume of requests and the advertised time frames are taking longer than anticipated. You will therefore not be given a target date for when you can expect to receive a written response, but meetings and discussions will continue to take place. Applications where you request multiple options to be considered will not be accepted under one application without an adjusted fee and timeframe being agreed with the case officer.

The fees in this section apply for the various types of advice required. Unless otherwise stated, meetings are held at the Town Hall in Brentwood. A public pay and display car park is available outside the main building, however there are limited spaces and you may wish to make alternative parking arrangements prior to your meeting.

Developments are split into the following advice types. If you have any queries in relation to what type of category your development would fall within, email planning@brentwood.gov.uk or call the Customer Contact Centre on 01277 312500.

Payments can be made over the phone - when making your payment, you should state this is for a pre-application submission.

Householder

Advice type Fee including VAT (£) Timescales
Householder - written response only 105 20 working days
Up to 1 hour meeting and written summary / with specialist advice (Where the proposal falls within a conservation area or the setting of a listed building, or involves works to a residential listed building) 288/612 30 working days
Follow up comments per additional set of drawings (within 3 months timescale) 54 10 working days

Change of use of a building or land

Change of Use of a Building or Land where the proposal does not constitute Minor or Major development, this would include a change of use of the land to additional residential garden, paddocks and buildings to non-residential use.

Advice type Fee including VAT (£) Timescales
Householder - written response only 269 30 working days
Up to 1 hour meeting and written summary / with specialist advice (Where the proposal falls within a conservation area or the setting of a listed building, or involves works to a residential listed building) 624/948 30 working days
Up to 1 hour onsite meeting and written summary / with specialist advice (where the proposal falls within a conservation area or the setting of a listed building, or involves works to a residential listed building) 665/989 30 working days
Follow up comments upon per additional set of drawings 269 10 working days

Creation or replacement of a singular dwelling house or residential annex

In excess of 1 but below 10 units constitutes Minor development.

Advice type Fee including VAT (£) Timescales
Written advice only/with specialist advice 275/599 30 working days
Up to 1 hour online meeting and written summary/ with specialist advice (Where the proposal falls within a conservation area or the setting of a listed building, or involves works to a listed building, specialist advice is required and is charged as follows). 624/948 30 working days
Up to 1 hour onsite meeting and written summary/ with specialist advice (Where the proposal falls within a conservation area or the setting of a listed building, or involves works to a listed building, specialist advice is required and is charged as follows). 665/979 30 working days
Follow up comments upon per additional set of drawings 269 10 working days

Minor development

Building 2 to 9 dwellings or the site area is up to 0.5 hectares.

Advice type Fee including VAT (£) Timescales
Written advice only/with specialist advice 275/599 30 working days
Up to 1 hour online meeting and written summary / with specialist advice 624/948 40 working days
Up to 1 hour in person or onsite meeting and written summary / with specialist advice 665/979 40 working days
Additional 1-hour online meeting and written summaries/ with specialist advice 600/924
Follow up comments upon per additional set of drawings 269 15 working days

Major development including Heritage Assets and Urban Design

Small major developments include:

  • 10 to 49 dwellings
  • the new building has between 1000 and 2499 sqm of floor space
  • the site area is between 0.5 and 1.99 hectares (where you don't know the floor space)

Large major developments include:

  • 50 to 99 dwellings
  • the new building has between 2500 and 4999sqm of floor space
  • the site area is between 2 and 4.99 hectares (where you don't know the floor space)
Small major developments pre application advice fees
Advice type Fee including VAT (£)
Written advice only 1018
Up to 1 hour online meeting and written summary 3726
Up to 1 hour in person or onsite meeting and written summary set 3816
Follow up written advice* 348
A subsequent online meeting with a planning officer* 2684
Large major developments pre application advice fees
Advice type Fee including VAT (£)
Up to 1 hour online meeting and written summary 4680
Up to 1 hour in person or onsite meeting and written summary set 4770
A subsequent online meeting with a planning officer* 2750

*Subsequent follow up advice – if you have already had advice about a similar development on the same site in the last three months or received a refusal of planning permission for a similar development on the same site in the last three months.

Strategic development

  • 100+ dwellings
  • the new building has 5000sqm or more of floor space
  • the site area is 5 or more hectares (where you don't know the floor space)
Strategic development pre application advice fees
Advice type Fee including VAT (£)
Up to 1 hour online meeting and written summary 5067
Up to 1 hour in person or onsite meeting and written summary set 5157
A reduced fee for follow up meetings if you have already had a meeting in relation to the same site in the last three months or received a refusal of planning permission for a similar development on the same site in the last three months. 4026

Planning performance agreements (PPA)

We can offer a tailored service to developers in regards to the above advice types. These can include meetings with elected members including ward members and members of the Planning Committee. We can negotiate compliance with conditions during the course of construction and through the redevelopment and conversion of listed buildings with the appropriate specialist advisors offering direct and timely contact with Officers.

Each PPA programme and fee will vary dependent on the development proposal, however an indication of cost is set out below.

Development type Comprising Meetings PPA fee
Small scale major 10 to 24 dwellings, Commercial development 1000 to 2499 sqm, Sites between 0.5 and 1.99ha. 5 £12,000 +VAT
large scale major 25 to 99 dwellings, Commercial development 2500 to 4999 sqm, Sites between 2 and 4.99ha. 8 £18,000 +VAT
Strategic major 100 + dwellings, Commercial development 5000+ sqm, Sites of 5ha+ 12 £30,000 +VAT
Bespoke Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) Solar Farms Discharge of Conditions Miscellaneous proposals Tailored to specific requirements Bespoke fee +VAT

Post-Application Conditions Advice

Some developments may result in conditions which you may want to discuss in more detail with the Planning Officer to consider your options, especially where there are requirements for particular materials. Officers can advise on the requirements in consultation with specialist advisors where applicable.

Advice from Officers specialising in the Heritage Assets, Urban Design or Landscaping may also be required and is charged separately.

Advice type Fee including VAT (£)
Written advice only 193
Up to 1 hour online meeting and written summary 320
Up to 1 hour in person or onsite meeting and written summary set 357

Planning research

You can find out the planning history and check whether a property has any restrictions regarding Permitted Development.

You will get a written response which costs £80.