Get pre-application advice

Our fees cover administration costs and the time spent on research, assessment, meeting/site visit (if necessary), and the written response.

* This additional fee is applicable only if you require a formal review. It is not chargeable for matters of clarification

If your enquiry is for written advice only, we will aim to respond within 20 working days. If we decide that a meeting and/or site visit is needed before we can provide a response, we will contact you to request an additional fee in line with our charges. Your enquiry will be processed once this fee has been received.

If you have paid for a meeting, the case officer will arrange a suitable date based on the complexity of the proposal and the amount of work that will be needed beforehand. We will aim to provide a written summary within 15 working days of the meeting. If your enquiry is particularly complex, we may need more time and will let you know when to expect a response.

We do not normally publish pre‑application enquiries. However, we may be required to disclose this information if a request is made under the Freedom of Information Act or the Environmental Information Regulations.

Disclosure is more likely where a planning application is later submitted for the same or a similar proposal. In these cases, we will contact you to seek your views on releasing the information. If you object, you must explain how disclosure would affect you. We will then decide whether the information should be released.

We will need the following information:

• written details of the address and proposal
• a description of the proposed development, including its scale and intended use of the land and buildings
• site location plan with the site clearly marked (to a recognised scale)
• sketch drawings providing details of the proposal (to a recognised scale)
• photographs of the site and surrounding area, with particular regard to any nearby houses or other development which might be affected by your proposal
• contact details including phone number and email address
• an initial design and access statement
• access and parking arrangements.

You might also need to include ecological, landscape, contamination, flood and transport assessments depending upon the location, nature and complexity of the development.

If you are planning work to a listed building, you may want to seek advice from our heritage team before submitting a Listed Building Consent application.

If your enquiry is brief and only needs general advice, you can contact us by phone free of charge. A fee will apply if your enquiry needs research, a site visit or a written response.

To help us provide accurate advice, please include the following information:

• the address of the listed building
• a description of the proposed works (you may also be asked to provide an initial heritage statement)
• a site location plan showing the site clearly outlined (to a recognised scale)
• sketch drawings showing the existing building and the proposed changes (to a recognised scale)
• photographs of the listed building that are relevant to your enquiry.

There are some exemptions from the fee for listed building pre‑application advice. These include works to improve access for disabled people, enquiries from parish or town councils, and emergency works.

There is no fee for submitting a Listed Building Consent application.

• Find out more about listed buildings and Listed Building Consent

The Environment Agency offers pre‑application planning advice. This can help you understand their position at an early stage and identify environmental issues that may affect your development.

Getting advice can help you:

• understand the Environment Agency’s views on your proposal
• discuss potential issues and options
• identify ways to address environmental constraints on your site
• improve the quality and environmental impact of your development.

You should seek pre‑application advice from the Environment Agency for:

• major developments and Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs)
• developments that require an environmental permit
• development that requires an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

Advice is also available for smaller developments where there are environmental constraints. Early consultation is particularly important for developments:

• in flood zones or close to rivers
• that could cause pollution in sensitive locations
• on sites where land contamination may be present.

Visit the Environment Agency website for further information (opens in new tab)

For local development, the Kent and South London Environment Agency sustainable places team can be contacted via kslplanning@environment-agency.gov.uk (opens in new tab)