Pre-Application Advice
What is Pre-Application Advice?
The service is not compulsory. However, the Council actively encourages pre-application discussions for all development proposals before submission for formal consideration.
Pre-application advice will provide you with the following benefits:
- An understanding of how our policies will be applied to your proposal
- Identify the need for specialist input at an early stage e.g. for listed buildings, transportation, trees, landscape, noise, health, ecology, contaminated land or archaeology
- Assist in the preparation of proposals for formal submission, which, if you follow our advice, should be handled more quickly and be more likely to result in a positive outcome
- Help to reduce the time that you or your professional advisors spend in working up the proposals
- Identify those proposals that are completely unacceptable, so saving you the cost of pursuing a formal application
Pre-application advice, confidentiality and information requests
Worcester City Council offers pre‑application planning advice to assist applicants at an early stage in developing proposals. However, the Council is also committed to ensuring that the planning process is open and transparent.
Information held by the Council in relation to pre‑application enquiries is subject to the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 and, where applicable, the Freedom of Information Act 2000. This means that members of the public may request access to recorded information relating to pre‑application discussions.
Any request for information is considered on a case‑by‑case basis. The Regulations include a number of exceptions that may apply, for example where information is commercially sensitive. These exceptions are subject to a public‑interest test, and information will only be withheld where the public interest in maintaining the exception outweighs the public interest in disclosure.
If you believe that any information provided in support of a request for pre‑application advice should not be disclosed, you should clearly identify this and explain your reasons when submitting your enquiry. While the Council will take these views into account, it cannot guarantee that such information will be withheld if a request is received.
Where a formal planning application is subsequently submitted for the same or a substantially similar proposal, the Council may publish the pre‑application advice it has provided as part of the planning application record.
Where appropriate, the council will normally consult the applicant before releasing pre‑application information, recognising that circumstances may have changed since the advice was given.
Pre-Application Advice Fees 2026/2027
Permitted Development Enquiry
| Proposed Development Type | Cost £ (Flat Rate) |
|---|---|
| Householder | 37.60 |
| Other | 80.00 |
Pre-application and General Advice
Proposed Development Type
| Residential Development* | Development Site Area | Proposed Gross Floor Area** | Cost £ | Cost of additional meetings £ (each) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Householder | - | - | 61.00 | 31.00 |
| 1 dwelling | less than 0.5ha | - | 215.00 | 90.00 |
| 2-4 dwellings | less than 0.5ha | 500m2 or less | 425.00 | 215.00 |
| 5-9 dwellings | 0.6 - 0.99ha | 501 - 999m2 | 910.00 | 305.00 |
| 10 - 49 dwellings | 1.0 - l.25ha | 1000 - 2499m2 | 1525.00 | 605.00 |
| 199 dwellings | 1.26 - 2.0ha | 2500 - 9999m2 | 3040.00 | 1215.00 |
| 200+ dwellings | More than 2ha | 10000m2 + | 4560.00 | 1525.00 |
Other
| Type | Cost £ | Cost of additional meetings £ (each) |
|---|---|---|
| Advertisements | 90.00 | 31.00 |
| Change of Use | 250.00 | 61.00 |
| Telecommunications | 250.00 | 61.00 |
| Glasshouses/Poly Tunnels | 305.00 | 90.00 |
| Works to listed buildings | 90.00 | 31.00 |
| Works to trees | 90.00 | 31.00 |
| Landscape advice | 90.00 | 31.00 |
| Variation or removal of condition/s | 90.00 | 31.00 |
| Amendments to minor/householder application | 31.00 | 15.00 |
| Amendments to other applications | 90.00 | 31.00 |
| Other*** | 182.00 | 91.00 |
| Discharge of conditions - minor applications | 31.00 | 15.00 |
| Discharge of conditions - major applications | 62.00 | 31.00 |
| Data retrieval fee | 18.50 | 0.00 |
| Officer Letter of assurance without site visit | 91.00 | 0.00 |
| Officer Letter of assurance with site visit | 155.00 | 0.00 |
| Enforcement Legal and management costs (To be determined on a case by case basis) | Case by Case | 0.00 |
* Includes one-for-one replacements and conversions/subdivisions
** measured externally
*** includes all other development proposals not falling within any of the above categories such as car parks & roads and certificates of lawfulness, prior approval etc.
Please check that your property falls within Worcester City Council administrative boundary. We are unable to respond to property queries outside of Worcester City (refunds are subject to £10 administrative fee).
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