Pre-application Advice Service
Effective from 1 July 2025
The council operates a chargeable pre-application service which enables applicants/developers to enter into early discussions regarding the acceptability, or otherwise, of schemes or proposals. The service also helps to ensure a better understanding of planning issues and the requirements of any subsequent planning application.
Depending on the scale and nature of the proposal, the council will also involve relevant consultees in the pre-application process. Applicants should note, however, that some consultees do not have a duty to respond to pre-application requests. Furthermore, some consultees operate their own, chargeable pre-application service.
Please complete the pre-application form and email to dcon.mailbox@chorley.gov.uk
Fee Schedule
Pre-application fees apply to all forms of development proposals, there are no exemptions.
|
Development Type |
Fee (inclusive of VAT) |
1.no Meeting and/or Site Visit Included (if requested) |
Aim to Respond Time |
|
Significant Major |
£5,000 |
|
40 working days |
|
Other Major |
£1,800 |
|
40 working days |
|
Medium Scale |
£1,200 |
|
40 working days |
|
Small Scale |
£480 |
|
40 working days |
|
Householder |
£180 |
|
20 working days |
|
Additional meetings |
£96 per hour |
|
|
The pre-application meeting will be held with the case officer and will not involve any consultees.
Fee Schedule Development Types
Significant Major:
- residential schemes of 50 units or more; or site area 2 hectares or above where the number of units are not specified
- retail, commercial and industrial schemes above 2,000sq m or 2 hectares or above
- education / hospital / leisure / recreation schemes site area 2 hectares or above
- schemes with 2 or more land uses on sites of 1.5 hectares or above
- changes of Use of building(s) with a gross floor area of 1,500 sqm or above
- any Scheme requiring an Environmental Impact Assessment.
Other Major:
- residential schemes of between 10 units and 49 units; or site area 0.5 hectares and above, but less than 2 hectares where the number of units are not specified
- non-residential schemes with a floor space of 1000 sqm and above but less than 2,000 sqm; or on sites 1ha or above but less than 2ha
- schemes with 2 or more land uses on sites of 1 hectare and above, but less than 1.5 hectares
- changes of use of building(s) with a floor area of 1,000 sqm.
Medium Scale:
- residential schemes between 3 units and 9 units
- non-residential schemes or changes of use with a floor space of 100 sqm or above but less than 1,000 sqm.
Small Scale:
- residential schemes of 1 or 2 units
- advertisements unrelated to the premises on which they are displayed
- new telecoms installations
- non-residential schemes or changes of use with a floor space of less than 100 sqm.
Householder:
This relates to any development or works to a dwellinghouse or within its curtilage, such as extensions, outbuildings.
Information requirements
The level of information necessary for effective pre-application engagement will vary depending on the scale and nature of the proposed development; and it needs to be sufficient to allow the council to take an informed view. Accordingly, the pre-application response will be based on the level of detail submitted. In some cases, the council may indicate that further detail is required in order to provide a considered response, or alternatively, may return the pre-application submission.
The information requirements are set out below, however, the council acknowledge that this level of information may not be required in all instances.
|
Householder and Small-scale Proposals
|
|
|
Location Plan |
Scale 1:1250 or 1:2500 |
|
Existing Site Plan |
Scale 1:500 or 1:200 |
|
Proposed Site Plan |
Scale 1:500 or 1:200 |
|
Existing Elevations |
Scale 1:50 or 1:100 |
|
Proposed Elevations |
Scale 1:50 or 1:100 |
|
Existing Floor Plans |
Scale 1:50 or 1:100 |
|
Proposed Floor Plans |
Scale 1:50 or 1:100 |
|
Parking Plan |
Where parking provision is required Where increased parking is required due to number of bedrooms increasing Scale 1:500 or 1:200 |
|
Sections |
Where there are level changes on site, or level changes are proposed Scale 1:50 or 1:100 |
|
Heritage Statement |
Where a heritage asset is affected e.g. if the dwelling is listed or situated within a conservation area |
|
Volume calculations |
For sites situated within the Green Belt and Open Countryside, Householder extensions will require original volumes and the volume of any existing extensions and those proposed |
|
Medium, Other Major and Significant Major Proposals |
|
|
Draft Planning Performance Agreement (PPA) |
The Council encourages the submission of a PPA and will negotiate the terms with the applicant |
|
Supporting Statement |
Explanation of the proposal and the identified issues. Consideration of relevant Development Plan policies and material considerations Explanation of the design concept |
|
Affordable Housing Statement |
|
|
Location Plan |
Scale 1:1250 or 1:2500 |
|
Existing Site Plan |
Scale 1:500 or 1:200 |
|
Proposed Site Plan |
Scale 1:500 or 1:200 |
|
Elevations |
Scale 1:50 or 1:100 |
|
Floor Plans |
Scale 1:50 or 1:100 |
|
Levels |
To an appropriate scale |
|
Parking Plan |
Scale 1:500 or 1:200 |
|
Landscape Plan |
Scale 1:500 or 1:200 |
|
Tree Survey |
Where tree removal or impacts have already been identified Where TPOs are present |
Pre-application response
A written response will be provided for all pre-application submissions. It will cover the following matters:
- recent relevant planning history of the site
- relevant planning policies
- relevant site constraints such as Tree Preservation Orders, Conservation Areas, Listed Buildings
- the key planning issues and acceptability, or otherwise, of such issues
- any contributions required
- identify any further information requirements or technical reports.
Planning performance agreements (PPA)
The council encourages applicants to enter into a planning performance agreement for complex or major developments. This is an agreement between the council and the applicant, which sets out appropriate timescales for processing and determining the application, including meetings and/or regular contact with the applicant; and agreeing any dedicated resources for progressing the application. The PPA may cover the pre-application stage, application submission and post determination matters such as discharge of conditions. The PPA is expected to be proportionate to the scale and complexity of the proposal and can be a flexible project management tool.
Please note that there is a separate charge for PPAs. This would be arranged on a bespoke basis.
Fee payments and submission
Please call 01257 515151 and state that you wish to pay a fee for the planning pre application service. Please also quote the address of the proposal site.
Other Pre-application Services
Chorley Council’s pre-application response will not contain advice in relation to the following aspects*, as these operate their own pre-application services which may be subject to charge:
- Archaeology (Lancashire County Council)
- Highways (Lancashire County Council)
- Lead Local Flood Authority (Lancashire County Council)
- Environment Agency
- English Heritage
- Agricultural advice
- Health and Safety Executive - for complex proposals outside the scope of the Planning Web Advice App
If you have already obtained pre-application advice from any of the above, please include it in your pre-application submission to us.
* Please note that this list is not exhaustive.
Disclaimer
The council cannot pre-empt the democratic decision-making process or a particular outcome, in the event that a formal planning application is made. The pre-application response will, therefore, be based on the information provided and will be made without prejudice to any formal determination which may be given in the event of an application being submitted.
Lawful Development Certificates
The pre-application service relates only to those proposals which require planning permission. It cannot be used to confirm whether or not an existing or proposed development is lawful. A Certificate of Lawful Development application would be required in this case.
Householder Development
For Householder development only, further guidance on whether or not you need planning permission can be found on the Planning Portal, however, these guidelines do not apply to any properties that do not have Permitted Development Rights. We therefore advise that before consulting the planning portal you first check the planning history of your property to find out whether these Rights have been removed. Requests for planning history searches can be sent to dcon.mailbox@chorley.gov.uk If these rights have been removed then planning permission will automatically be required for any development proposed at the site.