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The Planning Application Journey

An interactive guide to the UK planning process — from pre-application advice through to appeal. Click each stage to learn what happens, how long it takes, and what you can do.

Pre-Application

Typical duration: 2–6 weeks

Before submitting, you can request informal advice from the council's planning department. This helps identify potential issues early.

What happens at this stage

Contact the council's planning department for pre-application advice
Check if your proposal needs planning permission (some work is 'permitted development')
Review the Local Plan and any relevant planning policies
Consider whether your site has any designations (conservation area, listed building, etc.)
Engage with neighbours early to address concerns before formal submission

Tips for this stage

Pre-app advice typically costs £50–£600 depending on the scale of development
The council's response is not binding but gives a strong indication of likely outcome
Check our constraint badges on the application detail page to see what designations apply

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