Pre-application planning advice
On 1 April 2024 we updated our pre-application service tariff and introduced new services for customers. We are now updating our pre-application enquiry application form which will be available shortly. In the meantime, please submit the below information to plan@great-yarmouth.gov.uk for us to register your enquiry.
Information required for pre-application enquires
- covering letter or email setting out the proposed development/project
- a clear site location plan showing the location and at least two named roads
- any plans and drawings relevant to clearly show your proposals
- any photographs and other supporting information you wish us to take into consideration
- confirmation of the type of enquiry/level of service you request from the pre-application options listed below
- details of how you wish to pay the fee; we will provide a reference number and payment option details for you on receipt of your email
What is pre-application advice?
Pre-application planning advice is a service of informal advice from Great Yarmouth Borough Council prior to the submission of a planning application. It is a chargeable service offered by the Council.
The Council is able to provide advice and information if you are considering submitting a development proposal. We welcome and encourage discussions before you submit your application and understand that early discussions of your proposal can provide advantages for all parties involved.
We are able to provide advice to developers and their agents on key issues prior to a formal submission, where the function is to speed up the development process and avoid unacceptable proposals, and sustain and improve the service provided.
The provision of advice on development schemes is time consuming and the current statutory planning fees do not cover the cost of these discussions. Our pre-application advice is a popular service and we try to provide a reply as quickly as possible, so we will provide a detailed response based on the information provided to us, with the effect that 'the more detail you can provide to us, the more guidance we can provide in return'; in order to provide a response in a suitable timeframe we do not generally request additional information if it is not provided initially, and instead we respond to the information provided on submission.
The advice that we provide does not include consultation with neighbours or the parish councils, and does not always include advice from statutory bodies. This would be part of the formal application process. It is strongly advised that applicants discuss their proposals with neighbours or other parties interested in the relevant site before submitting a formal planning application.
We will make every effort to ensure that the advice given in the pre-application process is as accurate as possible. However, any advice given by Council officers for pre-application enquiries constitutes advice only. It is not a formal response or decision of the Council with regards to any future planning application and, while it may be a material consideration, cannot be held to bind the Council in its validation or formal determination of a subsequent application. If an application is subsequently submitted which fails to take on board advice given by officers, then the Council may refuse it without further discussion with the applicant or their agent.
What is the cost of the pre-application service?
Written pre-application advice
| Householder and small scale development | Total fee including VAT |
|---|---|
| Pre-application: written only advice (desktop assessment) | £150.00 |
| Optional site visit (set charge for 1 officer for 2 hours including travel) | £125.00 - in addition to above fee |
| Optional meeting at Council offices (up to 1 hour ) fixed fee | £85.00 - in addition to above fee |
| Minor residential development - residential development of between 1 & 9 dwellings | Total fee including VAT |
|---|---|
| Written advice (inclusive of site visit) - 1 dwelling | £380.00 |
| Written advice - each additional dwelling (max 9) | £75.00 |
| Optional site meeting (administration fee and travel) plus hourly rate(s) | £25 + hourly rates(s) of assigned officer (see table below) in addition to above fees |
| Optional meeting (up to 2 hours) fixed fee | £105 - in addition to above fees |
| Medium residential development - residential development of between 10 & 49 dwellings | Total fee including VAT |
|---|---|
| Written advice (inclusive of site visit) - 10 dwellings | £1,500.00 |
| Written advice - each additional dwelling (max 49) | £75.00 |
| Optional site meeting (administration fee and travel) plus hourly rate(s) | £25 + hourly rates(s) of assigned officer (see table below) in addition to above fees |
| Optional meeting at Council offices (up to 2 hours) fixed fee | £345.00 - in addition to above fees |
| Major residential development - 50 dwellings or more | Total fee including VAT |
|---|---|
| Written advice (inclusive of site visit) | £5,000.00 |
| Written advice - each additional dwelling above 50 | £25.00 |
| Optional site meeting (administration fee and travel) plus hourly rate(s) | £25 + hourly rates(s) of assigned officer (see table below) in addition to above fees |
| Optional meeting at Council offices (up to 2 hours) fixed fee | £625.00 - in addition to above fees |
| Non-residential development | Total fee including VAT |
|---|---|
| Written advice - Non-residential development less than 100sqm net internal floorspace | £693.50 |
| Written Advice - Non-residential development less than 9,999sqm net internal floorspace | £1,891.50 |
| Written Advice - Non-residential development more than 10,000sqm net internal floorspace | £3,893.00 |
| Optional site meeting (administration fee and travel) plus hourly rate(s) | £25 + hourly rates(s) of assigned officer (see table below) in addition to above fees |
| Optional meeting at Council offices - Non-residential development less than 100sqm net internal floorspace - fixed fee | £85.00 - in addition to the relevant fee above |
| Optional meeting at Council offices - Non-residential development less than 9999sqm net internal floorspace = fixed fee | £345.00 - in addition to the relevant fee above |
| Optional meeting at Council offices - Non-residential development more than 10,000sqm net internal floorspace = fixed fee | £625.00 - in addition to the relevant fee above |
| Officer involved | Rate |
|---|---|
| Planning Technician | £40.00 |
| Planning Officer | £60.00 |
| Senior Planning Officer | £80.00 |
| Principal Planning Officer | £100.00 |
| Development Manager / Strategic Planning Manager | £120.00 |
| Head of Planning | £150.00 |
Other pre-application services
Pre-application meeting
This is a meeting with a planning officer(s) to informally discuss the proposal and provide verbal advice. No follow-up written advice will be provided, but notes/minutes taken by the applicant will be agreed by the Council following the meeting.
| Development type | Total fee including VAT |
|---|---|
| Householder and small scale development | £85.00 |
| Minor residential development - residential development of between 1 & 9 dwellings | £105.00 |
| Medium residential development - residential development of between 10 & 49 dwellings | £345.00 |
| Major residential development - 50 dwellings or more | £625.00 |
| Non-residential development less than 100sqm net internal floorspace | £85.00 |
| Non-residential development less than 9999sqm net internal floorspace | £345.00 |
| Non-residential development more than 10,000sqm net internal floorspace | £625.00 |
Pre-submission validation check
This is a service to check that plans and material to be submitted with a planning application meet national and local validation requirements. This helps ensure applications get validated more quickly.
| Development type | Total fee including VAT |
|---|---|
| Householder and small scale development | £40.00 |
| Minor residential development - residential development of between 1 & 9 dwellings | £80.00 |
| Medium residential development - residential development of between 10 & 49 dwellings | £160.00 |
| Major residential development - 50 dwellings or more | £360.00 |
| Non-residential development less than 100sqm net internal floorspace | £80.00 |
| Non-residential development less than 9999sqm net internal floorspace | £160.00 |
| Non-residential development more than 10,000sqm net internal floorspace | £360.00 |
Planning performance agreements
A planning performance agreement is a project management tool which the Council and applicants can use to agree timescales, actions and resources for handling particular applications. It should cover the pre-application and application stages but may also extend through to the post-application stage.
Please contact plan@great-yarmouth.gov.uk for further information.
There is a set-up fee of £500 for a planning performance agreement and the fee is calculated based on the anticipated number of hours to deal with the case based on the hourly rates above.
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