Do I need planning permission?

The council is unable to provide informal written or verbal advice on whether or not a proposal requires planning permission, however guidance is available from the Planning Portal Interactive House.

If you require formal written confirmation of whether a planning application is required, you can apply for a Certificate of Lawful Development - Proposed

Planning pre-application advice

For proposals that do require a planning application, the council offers a pre-application advice service. We strongly recommend that pre-application advice is sought before submitting an application as this may greatly increase the chances of gaining planning permission.

As part of this service we can:

  • Meet with you to discuss your proposal where necessary - more complex minor proposals and major proposals
  • Give an indication of the acceptability or otherwise of a proposal and how likely it is that planning permission would be granted
  • Advise on how a proposal can be amended or improved to make it more likely to gain planning permission or offer alternative solutions
  • Set out the relevant planning policy considerations
  • Consult relevant consultees e.g. the Local Highway Authority and highlight any issues raised
  • Set out what supporting documentation your application will need
  • Set out the above in a written response

Timescales for responses will vary depending on the complexity of the proposal or site.

We aim to respond as follows:

  • Householder proposals – up to 4 weeks
  • Simple minor proposals – up to 6 weeks
  • Complex minor and major proposals - expected timescales would be set out by the case officer at the point of validation.

Please note: all pre-application advice is given without prejudice and doesn't bind the Council to any decision on a future planning application.

Please complete the pre-application advice request form below, the form also has details of what information you will need to submit with a pre-application enquiry.

Fees are shown in the planning pre-application advice fees table further down this page.

Design PAD

To help ensure that the quality of development reaches the requirements of the Peterborough Local Plan, the National Planning Policy Framework and the National Model Design Guide, the council has established a monthly Planning and Design Review Panel called Design PAD.

We recognise that good design includes a collaborative approach across a number of different overlapping disciplines. The Design PAD brings together applicants and relevant experts, to appraise and provide advice and guidance on major proposals in a collaborative setting to help shape development.

Pre-application enquiries for major proposals include the opportunity for landowners and developers to present their proposals directly to planning officers and key consultees at the Design PAD meeting and engage in a round table discussion. Major proposals are those with 10 dwellings or above and 1000sqm floorspace and above, or schemes considered to be particularly sensitive. 

Key consultees attending Design PAD meetings include:

  • The Local Highway Authority
  • Lead Local Flood Authority
  • The council Pollution Control Officer
  • The council Open Space Officer
  • The council Tree Officer
  • The council Ecologist
  • The case officer and other consultees as required, for example heritage, affordable housing or consultant urban designer.  

Planning applications which are subject to a Planning Performance Agreement (PPA) also include Design PAD. Attendance at additional or one off Design PAD meetings can also be arranged for a fee.

Planning performance agreements - PPAs

The council strongly encourages the use of planning performance agreements, especially for major proposals – both at the pre-application and planning application stages.

PPAs enable us to target resources and progress complex major proposals, with a focus on agreed timetables, collaborative working, problem solving and proactive project management.

Fees are bespoke for each project and are calculated on the basis of officer hourly rates for all activities or services over and beyond the council’s statutory duties.

Listed buildings

For advice on whether listed building consent is required and guidance on methods of repair contact the Conservation Team by email conservation@peterborough.gov.uk.

Pre-application advice for listed building proposals is offered, fees are shown in the planning pre-application advice fees table further down this page.

As part of this service we can:

  • Meet with you on site to discuss your proposal where necessary.
  • Provide an indication of how likely it is that listed building consent would be granted.
  • Where possible, advise on how a proposal can be amended or improved to make it more likely to gain listed building consent or offer alternative solutions.
  • Advise on the relevant consultees for any forthcoming application
  • Set out the relevant legislative and policy considerations.
  • Set out what supporting documentation your application will need.
  • Set out the above in a written response.

We aim to provide a written response within 3-6 weeks of submission.

Planning pre-application advice fees

The following table of fees is valid from 1 January 2024, all fees shown in are inclusive of VAT. 

Dwellings - including change of use to dwellings

Number of Dwellings Fee
Householder £180
Single dwelling £360
Dwellings - 2 to 9 £360 for 1st dwelling, then £120 per dwelling
Dwellings - 10 to 49 £1,320 for 1st 9 dwellings, then £65 per dwelling 
Dwellings - 50 to 99 £3,920 for 1st 49 dwellings, then £50 per dwelling
Dwellings - 100 and above £6,125 for 1st 99 dwellings, then £20 per dwelling - capped at £12,000

Commercial and non-residential - including minerals and waste 

Description Fee
Non-residential - less than 1,000 sqm floorspace £360 for 1st 100sqm, then £60 per 100sqm
Non-residential - more than 1,000 sqm floorspace £900 for 1st 1,000sqm, then £50 per 100sqm - capped at £12,000
Non-residential - development of buildings where floorspace unknown, or other development of land not falling into any other category, including minerals and waste.  £360 for 1st 0.1ha, then £350 per 0.1ha - capped at £12,000 
Non-residential – change of use or no increase in floorspace  £260

Listed buildings

Description Fee
Listed buildings - minor schemes £180
Listed buildings - large complex schemes Fee to be agreed on a case-by-case basis

Discharge of conditions

Description Fee
Discharge of conditions relating to minor development  £180 per condition
Discharge of conditions relating to major development £500 per condition

Other fees

Description Fee
Telecoms £130
Advertisements £130
Design PAD* - additional or one-off meeting £1,300 
Mixed use sustainable urban extensions - SUEs Fee to be agreed on a case-by-case basis 
Planning performance agreements Fee to be agreed on a case-by-case basis

*Please note: Design PAD is included in the fee for all pre-application advice for major proposals

Make a payment for planning pre-application advice

If you know how much you need to pay for your planning pre-application advice enquiry you can go straight to the payments screen by clicking on the Pay Online button.

You will need to provide either your reference number or the first line of the site address to enable us to link your payment to the correct application

Related pages

This page contains the fees relating to applications for planning pre-application advice, related service fees can be found using the links below.