Introduction
Pre-application advice is an important part of the planning process and we welcome early discussions before you submit a planning application.
This can help you by:
- giving you advice about the acceptability of your proposed development
- identifying any problems which you may need to solve
- identifying financial contributions
- avoiding abortive work
- providing greater certainty about your application
- speeding up the application process
Level of Service
There are nine levels of pre-application advice available. These are dependent on the size, type and complexity of the development you are proposing. Unless otherwise stated, the fees for this service are fixed.
Apply
If you would like to apply for pre-application, please complete this form:
Growth Charter
Somerset Council has an ambition to support and facilitate appropriate business and housing growth within the county. Somerset Council have also adopted a Charter to support this ambition. You can read the Charter and its commitments here.
Quality Review Panel
For developments in the Somerset West Planning area (excluding minerals and waste applications), use of The Somerset Quality Review Panel is encouraged early on in the planning application process. Further information is available on the Somerset Quality Review Panel page.
Planning Performance Agreements
For some major applications, we encourage the use of Planning Performance Agreements to ensure the best outcomes for everyone. The agreement sets out how the developer and the council will approach the application process, the resources to be allocated and the timescales.
Advice from Historic England
Historic England offer a separate pre-application service for applications where they would be a statutory consultee.
If the proposed planning application affects:
- designated heritage assets
- listed building consent
- faculty consent
- scheduled monument consent
You can use this service to check the likely response from Historic England.
For further information and advice from Historic England, please visit Extended Pre-Application Advice (historicengland.org.uk).
Advice from the Environment Agency
The Environment Agency offer a separate pre-application service.
If the proposed development site is:
- a hectare or more
- in flood zones two or three
- close to a watercourse
- on potentially contaminated land
You can use this service to check the likely Environment Agency response at planning stage.
For further information and advice from the Environment Agency, please visit Planning: a guide for developers (gov.uk).