Duty Officer Available 10am - 4pm

A Duty Planning Officer is available at the Contact Centre to offer informal planning advice on planning matters. Advice is free and can be obtained in respect to the following matters:

Guidance as to whether planning permission is required for any development proposals
Advice on the completion of planning forms and plans that need to be presented to validate an application
Advice on the costs of submitting a planning application.
Pre application advice in respect to minor development proposals and householder applications. Visitors should bring with plans showing details of their development and any other information i.e photographs of the site and adjacent curtilages, which may assist the Duty Planner understand the proposal.
General advice in respect to the planning process and how planning applications are assessed.
General advice about matters that are taken into consideration in processing an application received.
Advice in respect to details of planning permissions that have been granted and/or conditions that have been attached to planning permissions.
Advice in respect to current proposals e.g. interpretation of plans etc.

The Duty Officer cannot respond to complex development proposals, or provide a definitive answer as to whether planning permission will be granted by the local planning authority. If an applicant, for example, is proposing a development comprising of more than 2 dwellings or is seeking to undertake a major commercial development (more than 1,000sq m. then they should write to the local planning authority to seek informal advice View information on Pre-Application and Permitted Development Advisory Note.

The Duty Planner is available between the hours of 10am and 4pm. There is no appointment system, just turn up and as soon as the Officer is free they will talk to you. Each consultation should last no longer than 10 minutes. All advice is given informally and without prejudice to the formal consideration of any application subsequently submitted.