Pre-application advice for major development - charges

Understanding our charges

At Exeter City Council, we are committed to supporting high-quality and sustainable development throughout the city. This is set out in the Liveable Exeter Placemaking Charter. To continue providing detailed and valuable feedback on 'major development' proposals, we have introduced a tiered charging schedule.

Our pre-application advice helps you understand how planning policies and other requirements apply to your proposals.

The definition of 'major development' is:

• the provision of dwellinghouses where:
  • the number of dwellinghouses to be provided is 10 or more; or
  • the development is to be carried out on a site having an area of 0.5 hectares or more and it is not known whether the development falls within sub-paragraph 3a;
• the provision of a building or buildings where the floor space to be created by the development is 1,000 square metres or more; or
• development carried out on a site having an area of 1 hectare or more.

As well as the following, which are currently processed by Devon County Council:

• the winning and working of minerals or the use of land for mineral-working deposits:
• waste development

Devon County Council have more information on pre-application advice on mineral and waste development. 

Why choose our pre-application advice?

Our pre-application advice can significantly enhance the likelihood of obtaining planning permission by:

• Identifying potential issues early.
• Providing clear guidance on local planning requirements.
• Helping streamline the formal application process.

Our pre-application advice offers

Level 0 – Scoping

Fee: £316.67 + VAT

Extras:

• Additional meeting: £316.67 + VAT
• Site visit: £158.33 + VAT

Service Offer:

• 1-hour meeting (in person or via Teams) with case officer.
• Discussion on the principle of development/proposed amendment/s106 modification/condition discharge, as applicable.
• Identification of key issues to be resolved through the pre-application process.
• Advice on the appropriate level for continued pre-application engagement (Level 1 or 2) or proposals unlikely to be acceptable.

Output:

• Short bullet point list summarising discussion.
• Identification of next steps and whether Level 1 or 2 should be pursued (including Design Review recommendation).

Timescale:

• Contact within 7 working days to arrange a meeting.
• Meeting within 15 working days.
• Meeting note issued within 5 working days.

 

Level 1 – Standard

Fee: £3,750 + VAT

Extras:

• Additional meeting: £316.67 + VAT
• Site visit: £158.33 + VAT
• Review of additional material and further advice: £316.67 + VAT

Service Offer:

• Accompanied site visit.
• Provision of relevant site history.
• Advice on validation requirements.
• Opportunity to present to the Planning Member Working Group.
• Consultation with key internal departments and statutory consultees.
• Up to three meetings with the case officer, including at least one "design team" meeting with relevant internal consultees.

Output:

• Written report incorporating design review feedback (subject to a separate fee), consultee feedback, and officer comment.

Timescale:

• Contact within 7 working days.
• Estimated process time of 8-12 weeks, depending on the complexity of the proposal.

 

Level 2 – Planning Performance Agreement (PPA)

Fee: Bespoke, tailored to project scope and requirements.

Service Offer:

• Customised service using Level 1 as a base, with additional meetings, workshops, and engagement as needed.
• Designed to match the scale and complexity of the project.
• Incorporates the PPA design approach from the Exeter Design Quality Partnership Charter.
• Please note that PPAs are subject to the City Council agreeing that this approach is appropriate for the proposal concerned.

 

Changes to our charges

Please note that these charges apply to all new pre-application enquiries from 24 April 2024 for applications related to major developments. Applications related to non-major developments and basic enquiries will continue to receive free advice. We ensure transparency in all our service charges and welcome your feedback for continuous improvement.

How to apply for pre-application advice

• Review the details of our pre-application advice levels to choose the most suitable option.
• Complete the pre-application advice request form by clicking the Start button below.
• Submit the form along with the required documents.

How to pay

Pre-app payments are made via an online payment link sent to applicants by the admin team after the Pre-Application Form is submitted.

Need further assistance?

For more details or specific queries related to pre-application advice, please contact our planning services team via our contact us form.