Pre-Application Advice

Enquiries can be made, before the submission of a planning application, in order to have an informal view as to whether a proposal is acceptable or not in planning terms.  We are committed to providing this pre-application discussion service. However, please note that this is not a statutory part of the service.

If your enquiry is whether planning permission is likely to be granted for a proposed development (other than a domestic extension), please refer to the advice below.

Pre application advice is an important element of the application process and we encourage the use of this facility in order to achieve high quality developments for the benefit of all concerned. It provides the council with the opportunity to give advice on the current adopted UDP and Black Country Core Strategy policies and local issues that the applicant/developer may not be aware of.

The Benefits of Pre application Advice

Pre application advice and discussion provides the following benefits:  

• Helps to encourage and add value to the quality of development proposals
• Speeds up the processing of the application.
• Identifies schemes that are unlikely to receive a favourable decision.
• Ensures that statutory consultees are engaged from the outset.
• Avoids delays during the formal application process.
• Identifies a case officer who will normally deal with any subsequent application.

• Identified any planning obligations that will be required and provides advice on the use of Unilateral Undertakings and S106 Agreements.

How to Request Pre-Application Advice

We encourage pre-application advice in the form of letters or e-mails, with associated plans and documentation, well in advance of submitting a planning application. You can submit your enquiry direct to the Development Control team. It is advisable for you to be familiar with the development planpolicies which will guide the outcome of preliminary discussion. Planning Guidance Notes for particular development proposals will highlight council standards to be adopted in the proposal.

It may well be worth considering from the beginning who may be affected by the proposal and sound out the views of neighbours or the wider community in advance. This allows potential objections to be dealt with, if necessary, prior to a formal application being submitted.