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Pre-application service
If you are making a planning application we encourage you to get pre-application advice from us. It could improve your chances of having your application approved.
We can provide you with detailed comments and advice relating to your proposed development, identifying any issues at an early stage, so they can be addressed before a formal planning application is made.
This page contains details on how to apply, what levels of service we can offer and how much it will cost.
How to apply
You can apply by using our online form. You will be required to submit appropriate plans and details together with an appropriate fee.
For Major planning applications see our pre-application advice relating to Major schemes section.
Fees and Charges
The fee for each service level is different, depending on the scale of the development proposed.
Charges and fees for pre-application advice
| Service Level | Householder or Commercial floorspace up to 50sqm | Commercial floorspace 51sqm to 499sqm and new telecommunications masts ** | Residential development (1 to 9 dwellings) on sites of less than 0.5 hectares or Commercial floorspace up to 999sqm* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bronze | £95.00 | £195.00 | £295.00 |
| Silver | £195.00 | £395.00 | £595.00 |
| EXTRAS | |||
| Consideration of Additional Plans | £95.00 | £195.00 | £295.00 |
| Meeting required - charge per officer in attendance (one hour maximum). | £95.00 | £95.00 | £95.00 |
* Floorspace figures refer to the Gross Floor Area measured externally (not internal floor area)
** Please note that there is no bronze level of service for new telecommunications masts
There is no charge for Listed Building advice or Tree Work advice, unless associated with a development proposal.
Fee Exemptions
- For alterations, extensions, to a dwelling for the benefit of a registered disabled person - no fee.
- If the application is being made on behalf of the parish or community council then the fee is 50%
The provision of pre-application advice comes with no guarantee of planning permission being granted. However, it does provide the applicant with a better understanding of the likelihood of obtaining planning permission prior to submitting an application and should speed up the time taken in dealing with the formal application.
Advice following the Refusal of planning Permission or Withdrawal of a planning application
Officers are often asked to provide advice following the refusal of planning permission or the withdrawal of a planning application, in these cases, charges will be the same as for the ‘silver’ level of service.
| Service Level | Householder or Commercial floorspace up to 50sqm | Householder or Commercial floorspace 51sqm to 499sqm | Residential (1to 9 dwellings) on sites of less than 0.5 hectares or Commercial floorspace up to 999sqm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advice following the refusal of planning permission or withdrawal of an application | £195.00 | £395.00 | £595.00 |
Our Service
We provide three different levels of pre-application advice depending on the type of application.
Levels of Service offered by North Norfolk District Council
| Level of Service | What is to be provided |
|---|---|
| Bronze |
Written response advising constraints and relevant policy considerations. No officer opinion provided. Timescale for response - 10 working days |
| Silver - Household |
Site visit for officer to gather information, and written response assessing proposal with officers opinion, with basic advice provided as how to overcome any issues, e.g. design changes (where possible). Timescale for response - 20 working days. |
| Silver - small residential/commercial |
Site visit for officer to gather information, and written response assessing proposal with officers opinion, with basic advice provided as how to overcome any issues, e.g. design changes (where possible). Please note, only other departments of North Norfolk District Council will be consulted under this level of service. For advice from Highways and other Statutory Consultees you may need to approach them direct. Timescale for response - 40 working days. |
Which level of service should you use?
The Council considers that applicants and agents can benefit from engaging in our pre-application advice service which offers a written response.
Bronze
This is intended for proposals that involve householder extensions and commercial development including change of use up to 499 sq/m. You could also use this level of service to seek an in principle view for larger proposals or for advice on constraints affecting the site, and which may be relevant to your proposal i.e. conservation areas. Responses at this level will include a full planning history of the site.
Silver
Proposals which are subject to this level of service are likely to be predominately householder extensions and small residential or commercial development. The applicant will need to provide plans of the proposed development and the Case Officer will carry out a site visit and will then provide written comments on the proposal.
As part of the Silver service for small residential development or commercial development we will consult with other services within the Council where relevant, including:
- Conservation and Design
- Landscape and Ecology
- Environmental Health/Public Protection
- Strategic Housing
- Economic Development
Please note, only other departments of North Norfolk District Council will be consulted under this level of service. For advice from Highways and other Statutory Consultees you may need to approach them direct.
We do recognise that in exceptional circumstances a meeting may be required for a smaller development scheme. An applicant/agent may indicate within their pre-app submission that a meeting is required, along with the justification. The case officer will then consider whether a meeting is required (the case officers decision will be final). Should a meeting be considered necessary an additional fee of £95.00 per officer attending will be required before the meeting takes place.
Supporting documentation
Depending on the level of service you choose, you will need to supply additional documentation to support your pre-application.
Documentation you will need to supply to support your application
| Level of Service | Documentation required to validate |
|---|---|
| Bronze |
Completed pre-application advice form (if not applying online). Site Location Plan with the site layout outlined in red and other land in your ownership or control in blue at a scale of 1:1250 or 1:2500. |
| Silver - Householder |
Completed pre-application advice form (if not applying online). Site Location Plan with the site layout outlined in red and other land in your ownership or control in blue at a scale of 1:1250 or 1:2500. Plans to scale, floor plans and elevations as required. |
| Silver - small residential/commercial |
Completed pre-application advice form (if not applying online). Site Location Plan with the site layout outlined in red and other land in your ownership or control in blue at a scale of 1:1250 or 1:2500. Plans to scale, floor plans and elevations as required. Any other information which may assess officers in providing a response. This may include reports in relation to trees, protected species, contamination, flood risk etc. |
Further information and FAQs
Other ways to apply
You can make a pre-application by post by filling in the relevant form:
- Pre-application advice form (PDF)
- Listed Building pre-application advice form (PDF)
- Tree works pre-application advice form (PDF)
Please post to the following address:
Planning Department
North Norfolk District Council
Council Offices
Holt Road
Cromer
NR27 9EN
Will your pre-app be subject to consultation?
Only the Silver service for small residential development or commercial development offers consultation with other services within the Council including:
- Conservation and Design
- Landscape and Ecology
- Environmental Protection
- Strategic Housing
- Economic Development
Please note, only other departments of North Norfolk District Council will be consulted under this level of service. For advice from Highways and other Statutory Consultees you may need to approach them direct.
What happens after you receive your response?
Should the development proposal be acceptable the officer will advise you to proceed to the planning application stage. If the scheme is not acceptable the case officer will try to advise what steps would overcome the objections (silver level of service only).
The service does allow for additional plans to be submitted as part of the same pre-app process with a supplementary fee payable.
If the case officer believes that they are unable to advise how to overcome the concerns then this will be clarified in the response.
The subsequent planning decision
Please note:
No guarantee that a particular decision will be taken or recommendation made can be given.
The comments provided will be those of competent planning officers acting reasonably on the basis of the information supplied, based on current law and policies and given in good faith.
Pre-application advice is without prejudice to the formal consideration of any planning application, which will be the subject of statutory and public consultation, where new material planning considerations may be raised.
Material changes in policy at either national or local level may mean that advice that has already been given is no longer accurate or appropriate.
Little or no reliance can be placed on the content of the Council's pre-application advice for schemes which are submitted more than one year after the advice has been issued.
It remains up to the applicant to demonstrate through their planning application that their proposal meets the relevant and most up to date, planning policies and guidance.
Details of pre-application enquiries and advice will be available for public inspection on the Internet or by personal callers after the advice has been provided. The advice will also be placed on the planning file should a subsequent planning application be submitted. Please also be aware that the Council may be required to supply details to any party making a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 or the Environmental Information Regulations 2004.
Confidentiality of pre-application submissions
Please note that all documents submitted and generated in relation to this pre-application advice request, including the Council's formal response, will be made publicly searchable and viewable on the Council's website via Public Access (unless the information submitted meets the exclusions tests under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 or Environmental Information Regulations 2004).
Local Members will be made aware of the receipt of requests for pre-application advice.
Should a planning application be submitted following the pre-application enquiry we will publish the pre-application response on the planning application file.