Will the information I submit with my application remain confidential?
Whilst the council will not publicise details of pre-application requests on its website, it cannot guarantee that all information will remain confidential. For example, under the provisions of the freedom of information act and/or the environmental information regulations, third parties can ask to see pre-application documentation, and the council has to decide whether information is exempt from disclosure. If you consider any information is particularly sensitive and should remain confidential you must provide specific reasons for this in your application.
If the pre-application advice I receive is positive, will any subsequent planning application I submit definitely be approved?
Any advice given by council officers at pre-application stage is not a formal planning decision by the council as local planning authority. We will give you the best advice possible based on the information provided. This advice will be offered in good faith and to the best of our ability, without prejudice to consideration of a formally submitted planning application which may generate previously unknown issues either through responses to statutory consultations or evaluation of the more detailed information submitted with the application. The decision on the formal application may also be made by the planning applications committee which, democratically, is entitled to arrive at a different conclusion to the planning officers provided that decision is based on reasonable planning grounds.
Will you consult other statutory agencies when dealing with my pre-application advice request?
We will not consult statutory agencies in the process of providing pre-application advice, but will advise you to consult these independently depending on the scale, nature, complexity and location of your proposal.
How do I obtain further advice on submitting the pre-application advice request?
Should you require further advice on submitting a pre-application query or wish to provide any feedback on the process or service provided, please contact the development control team by emailing [email protected] or by writing to Planning Support, Development Control, P.O. Box 8045, Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, DE14 9JG