National planning practice guidance says pre-application discussions can improve applications, that councils may charge no more than the cost of the service, and that the advice does not bind the council.
In this guide
Before paying for a conservatory design or a planning fee, a homeowner can ask the council for its view. This guide summarises two pages of the national planning practice guidance on GOV.UK: “Before submitting an application”, which the page shows as last updated on 15 March 2019, and “Making an application”, last updated on 12 May 2025. These are planning practice guidance pages from the GOV.UK collection that sits alongside the National Planning Policy Framework, which the collection page describes as setting out the government’s planning policies for England. The pages address planning generally rather than conservatories specifically. The guides to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland cover those systems separately. General information, not planning advice.
What is pre-application engagement for?
The guidance says that pre-application engagement offers significant potential to improve both the efficiency and the effectiveness of the planning application system, and to improve the quality of applications and their likelihood of success. It lists five ways this can happen:
- understanding the relevant planning policies and other material considerations;
- working with interested parties at an early stage to identify and try to resolve issues;
- discussing the possible mitigation of the impact of a development, including any planning conditions;
- identifying the information needed with a formal application, which reduces the likelihood of delay at the validation stage; and
- putting in place a planning performance agreement where that would help.
It adds that the approach needs to be tailored to the nature of the proposed development and the issues to be addressed.
Can the council charge for it?
Yes, within limits. The guidance says local planning authorities may charge for discretionary services under section 93 of the Local Government Act 2003, and that where charges are made they must not exceed the cost of providing the service. It says councils need to consider whether charging is appropriate in all cases and that charging should not discourage appropriate pre-application discussions. Where possible, authorities are strongly encouraged to provide at least a basic level of service without charge.
Where a council does charge, the guidance strongly encourages it to publish online the scale of charges for different types of application, the scope of work (for example duration and the number of meetings or site visits), the amount of officer time and the outputs to expect, such as a letter or report, with firm response times. The guidance also says there is no one-size-fits-all approach to the pre-application services councils offer.
How much do you have to provide?
The guidance describes the stage as a two-way process. The level of information a council asks for must be proportionate to the development proposed, and an applicant would not necessarily be expected to provide everything that would accompany a formal application. It does need to be enough for the council to take an informed view.
What should you expect back?
A prospective applicant should expect a clear, timely and authoritative view on the merits of the proposal, together with clear advice on consultation requirements and the information to be submitted with a formal application. The guidance also says a proposal may change before a formal application is submitted if pre-application advice is to be meaningful, which could resolve issues or raise new ones to discuss.
Does the advice bind the council?
No. The guidance says pre-application advice from the council cannot pre-empt the democratic decision-making process or a particular outcome if a formal application is made. It could, however, be a material consideration taken into account and given weight in the application process. The householder process that follows is explained in the guide to householder planning applications.
What if the service falls short?
An applicant who thinks the service fell below expectations may raise it directly with the council, if necessary through its formal complaints procedure. Where a fee was paid, the guidance says the scope for a full or partial refund depends on the terms and conditions of any agreement entered into.
What if you are not sure which application you need?
The “Making an application” page lists the applications that can be made, including full and outline planning permission, lawful development certificates, and prior approval for some permitted development rights. It says applicants who are unsure which type of application is needed should speak to their local planning authority. This site explains lawful development certificates and prior approval for larger single-storey rear extensions in separate guides.
FAQs
Do I have to consult neighbours before applying?
The guidance says community engagement is encouraged where it will add value, and names mandatory pre-application consultation only for wind turbine development involving more than two turbines or a hub height above 15 metres.
Is a planning performance agreement part of this?
It can be. The guidance says a planning performance agreement is voluntary, is agreed before the application is submitted and should be proportionate to the scale of the project, with a simple form possible for smaller schemes.
The bottom line
National planning practice guidance presents pre-application engagement as a way to improve applications and reduce delay at validation. Councils may charge under section 93 of the Local Government Act 2003 but not more than the cost of the service, and, where possible, are strongly encouraged to offer a basic service free. The information asked for should be proportionate, the advice does not bind the council but can be a material consideration, and a council’s complaints procedure is open if the service falls short. Anyone unsure which application applies is told to speak to the local planning authority. General information, not planning advice.
Sources
This guide draws on the following sources, read on 25 October 2026:
- Before submitting an application, planning practice guidance, last updated 15 March 2019 (gov.uk)
- Making an application, planning practice guidance, last updated 12 May 2025 (gov.uk)
- Planning practice guidance, GOV.UK collection, last updated 23 September 2026 (gov.uk)
Related guides
Householder applications
Lawful development certificates
Larger rear extensions
Compare Conservatories is an independent guide. We may earn a fee from some links; this never affects what we write. This article is general information, not legal or planning advice on any specific property; always confirm requirements directly with your local planning authority.