Pre-application planning advice
On 01 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 / 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. In view of this, and taking into account the increased number of requests for advice, in line with many other authorities we introduced fees for providing pre-application planning advice in 2018, along with formalised procedures for handling this area of work.
The advice that we provide does not include consultation with neighbours or 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.
Can I still get planning advice if I do not use the pre-application service?
The Borough Council will still offer a basic level of service free of charge, which gives customers access to basic information to allow them to identify some broad principles/issues associated with their developments. This provides:
- the requirements to submit an application
- guidance on where to obtain policy information
- an indication of any potential specialist advice that may be required
What is the cost of the pre-application service?
| Householder and small scale development | Total fee including VAT |
|---|---|
| Pre-application: Written only advice (desktop assessment) | £150.00 |
| Site visit (set charge for 1 officer for 2 hours including travel) | £125.00 |
| Pre-submission validation check | £40.00 |
| Meeting (administration fee) plus hourly rate(s) | £25 + hourly rates(s) (see table below) |
| 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 |
| Site meeting (administration fee and travel) plus hourly rate(s) | £25 + hourly rates(s) (see table below) |
| Meeting (administration fee) plus hourly rate(s) | £25 + hourly rates(s) (see table below) |
| Pre-submission validation check | £80.00 |
| 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 |
| Site meeting (administration fee and travel) plus hourly rate(s) | £25 + hourly rates(s) (see table below) |
| Meeting (administration fee) plus hourly rate(s) | £25 + hourly rates(s) (see table below) |
| Pre-submission validation check | £160.00 |
| 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 |
| Site meeting (administration fee and travel) plus hourly rate(s) | £25 + hourly rates(s) (see table below) |
| Meeting (administration fee) plus hourly rate(s) | £25 + hourly rates(s) (see table below) |
| Pre-submission validation check | £360.00 |
| 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 |
| Site meeting (administration fee and travel) plus hourly rate(s) | £25 + hourly rates(s) (see table below) |
| Meeting (administration fee) plus hourly rate(s) | £25 + hourly rates(s) (see table below) |
| Pre-submission validation check - non-residential development less than 100sqm net internal floorspace | £80.00 |
| Pre-submission validation check - non-residential development less than 9,999sqm net internal floorspace | £160.00 |
| Pre-submission validation check - non-residential development more than 10,000sqm net internal floorspace | £360.00 |
| 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 |
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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