County Planning: pre-application advice

1 Overview

Pre-application advice can help to:

• verify local requirements
• reduce the likelihood of submitting invalid applications
• help you understand how planning policies and other requirements affect your proposals.

Please note: For pre-application advice from County Highways, please see Pre-application advice for roads and transport.

2 Costs

Written advice only

Written confirmation of the County Council’s views, based solely on a ‘desktop’ assessment and the information you submit.

• Charge - minor proposals: £200
• Charge - major proposals: £500

Meeting at County Hall

A meeting with you (and your representative(s)) at County Hall for up to 2 hours. Written advice based on a ‘desktop’ assessment.

• Charge - minor proposals: £300
• Charge - major proposals: £650

Meeting on site

A meeting with you (and your representative(s)) at the site, for up to 2 hours (excluding travelling). Written advice.

• Charge - minor proposals: £350
• Charge - major proposals: £850

Follow-up meetings

Additional advice provided with respect to any further information or alterations to the proposals.

• Charge - minor proposals: £100
• Charge - major proposals: £250

Payment

You will be asked to make payment online once we have received your application.

3 Request pre-application advice

We offer several levels of advice charged at different rates. The guidance document explains the types of advice offered and how much they cost.   

• Pre-application advice guidance (PDF, 56KB)   

After reading the guidance, complete our online the application form.

4 Request environment and heritage advice

Our Environment and Heritage Team provides a chargeable advice service on matters such as landscape, ecology and archaeology.

The advice will assist:

• statutory undertakers when undertaking works that may impact on the natural or historic environment
• developers of major planning applications where they impact on a key or sensitive site.

For more information, email: environment.heritage@westsussex.gov.uk.

5 Request advice on highways issues

To request advice on highways issues associated with any proposed development, visit Pre-application advice for roads and transport.