Pre-application advice
If you need planning information on extensions and alterations to a residential property (including domestic outbuildings) you can find it by accessing the national Planning Portal. It provides simple-to-use interactive guidance for householders about a wide range of planning related matters.
- you can look for previous applications on a site/building on our website
- you can also find out what policies and constraints/designations (e.g. conservation areas) apply to a site/building on our website
- you can access our development plan documents
- you can find Government guidance on planning on GOV.UK
- planning advice can be found on The Royal Town Planning Institute website
You can find professional advisors (‘agents’) who are registered with relevant bodies here:
Formal pre-application advice (charges apply)
We offer pre-application advice via a pre-arranged meeting or written advice. Advice will be given on one proposal per meeting and only information attached with your submission will be discussed.
If a meeting is held we will not usually provide written advice. If you require a written record of the meeting, you may make a record and ask us to confirm its accuracy. If you require further advice you will need to make another application.
We will advise you of specific constraints affecting your site, key policy considerations (including what infrastructure contributions might be required), what documentation we will expect to be submitted with a planning application, and an opinion as to the likelihood of permission being granted. We may also make recommendations about how your proposal could be improved.
To access this service you will need to complete our pre application advice service form and pay the relevant charge. Pre-application enquiries can either be submitted by email or post.
- Email: planning@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk
- By post: Development Planning, Cheshire West and Chester Council, The Portal, Wellington Road, Ellesmere Port, CH65 0BA
You will also need to submit this information:
- a location and site plan (giving post code and grid ref where appropriate), which can be obtained from the Planning Portal website.
- sketches of the proposal
- photographs of the site and surroundings
- a brief summary of the proposals and the condition of the existing site
- a list of any key issues about which you require specific advice
The more relevant information you submit, the more useful the meeting is likely to be. If the information supplied is inaccurate, our advice may not stand when you come to apply for planning permission.
Once we have registered your application you will be contacted by a planning officer. We are unable to make assurances about timescales at present.
Pre-application advice fees
For each type of development a fee will apply for formal pre-application advice given by us. All charges are inclusive of VAT.
- dwellings: 750 or more
- all other developments: 75,000 square metres (sq m) or more or where site area is 8.5 hectares (ha) or more
- 5 or more wind turbines
- all applications defined within Schedule 1 Development within The Town and Country Planning Act (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017
- dwellings: 250 - 749
- all other developments: between 25,000 square metres (sq m) and 74,999 square metres (sq m) or the site area is between 3.5 hectares (ha) and 8.49 hectares (ha)
- 4 or less wind turbines
- dwellings: 100 - 249
- all other developments: between 10,000 square metres (sq m) and 24,999 square metres (sq m) or the site area is between 2 hectares (ha) and 3.49 hectares (ha)
- dwellings: 30 - 99
- all other developments: between 3,000 square metres (sq m) and 9,999 square metres (sq m) or where there is a site area between 1.3 hectares (ha) and 1.99 hectares (ha)
- dwellings (including changes of use): 10 - 29
- all other developments: between 1,000 square metres (sq m) and 2,999 square metres (sq m) or development being carried out where the site area is between 1 hectare (ha) and 1.29 hectares (ha)
- dwellings (including changes of use): 5 - 9
- all other developments: between 500 square metres (sq m) and 999 square metres (sq m) or development being carried out where the site area is between 0.5 hectares (ha) and 0.99 hectares (ha)
- dwellings (including changes of use): 2 - 4
- all other developments: between 76 square metres (sq m) and 499 square metres (sq m) or development where the site area is below 0.49 hectares (ha)
- all other changes of use where the number of planning units is being increased
- dwellings (including changes of use): 1 new dwelling or a replacement dwelling
- all other developments: 75 square metres (sq m) or less
- non- residential lawful development certificates
- changes of use where no additional planning units are being created
- householder applications for alterations and/or extensions to dwellings or flats
- car parking (hard standing), service roads or other accesses
- works to a listed building
It is envisaged that householder advice will be provided free of charge via the general planning advice service (duty planning officer). However, if you require a formal response for householder advice the charge is set out above (Category H).
If you are not sure which category of pre-application advice your proposal falls into please use our enquiry form to contact us.
We have decided that the cost of providing this service should be recovered directly from the applicant and not fall as a general cost to our taxpayer. It should be noted that the current statutory planning application fees do not cover the cost of pre-application advice given by us.
If I pay for the advice will it secure my planning permission?
No. We will do our best to work positively and proactively with applicants, but all advice is given without prejudice to the outcome of any subsequent application. Any subsequent planning application will be subject to notification/consultation of interested parties and, dependent on the views expressed, this may affect the outcome of your application. We encourage prospective developers to liaise with neighbouring owners/occupiers, parish councils and any statutory consultees prior to submitting planning applications.
Advice will be given in good faith, based on the legal and policy position at the time of application and the information provided. All advice is given without prejudice and is not binding in any way on us.
More information can be found on GOV.UK.
General planning advice service
To ask a general planning question you can use our enquiry form.
Prior to speaking with a planning officer, we recommend you look at the permission and approval page and the pre-application advice page. This service is appropriate for discussing specific types of proposals, for which formal pre-application advice will not normally be provided:
- simple householder applications (for extensions, outbuildings, etc.)
- discharge of or compliance with planning conditions
- proposals requiring 'prior approval' or 'prior notification' under the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015
Please provide some information to us about your query and a member of staff will contact you by email or telephone. We will try to contact you within five working days between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday. If you have a particular requirement with regard to contact, please provide any information within the form.
Alternatively, you can contact us by phone on 0300 123 7027 and leave a message.