Planning Advice

Pre-application and other Planning Charges came into effect from 1st November 2010

As from 1st November 2010, Malvern Hills District Council, Planning Services now charge for pre-application and other planning advice for certain types of development. Planning charges will ensure that we can continue to offer customers a high quality service, whilst providing a much fairer service to our residents.

The Guidance Note and Scale of Charges explains why these planning charges have been introduced, as well as what you will have to pay depending on the service you are after.

If you would like to use this service please complete each section of the appropriate planning advice request form, as this will help the planning officer to provide a comprehensive response to your enquiry, so we can provide the best possible advice.

A  Guidance Note to Applicants and Agents on the Type and Scope of Pre-Application advice offered by Planning Services
The Pre-Application Advice Form

Do I actually need Planning Permission? Some domestic extensions and outbuildings may not require planning permission. If you require advice on whether a domestic development proposal requires planning permission please use the following form.

DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENT Enquiry Form No.1 - ADDITIONS to Dwellings (extension, porch, roof alteration, chimney, flue, soil and vent pipe, solar panel.)

DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENT Enquiry Form No.2 - GARDEN STRUCTURES (detached outbuildings, enclosures, pools, oil or LPG tanks, walls and fences, hard surfaces, raised platforms and decking.)

The Benefits of Pre-Application Advice:-

• It gives you an opportunity to understand how policies will effect your development.
• It can identify at an early stage where there is a need for specialist discussions, for example on matters relating to listed buildings, trees, landscape, noise, transport, contaminated land, ecology and archaeology.
• It will assist you in preparing proposals for a planning application which, providing you have taken our advice fully into account, is likely to be handled more quickly and smoothly.
• It may lead to a reduction in time spent by your professional advisors in putting together a planning application.
• It may indicate at an early stage that a proposal is contrary to adopted planning policy and completely unacceptable, saving you the cost of pursuing a planning application.
• It can ensure a planning application is complete and comprehensive to a satisfactory standard, to avoid rejection at registration stage or early refusal of planning permission because of inadequate or insufficient information.

The fee must be received with your application before your request can be dealt with. You can pay at the desk at the Worcestershire Hub (Great Malvern Library or Tenbury Library) by using a credit or debit card or if you are paying cash. You can also pay by telephone (Tel. 01684 862151), using a credit or debit card.

The relevant form can be sent to Planning Services either:-

by email to:-
development.control@malvernhills.gov.uk

by post to:-
Planning Services, The Council House, Avenue Road, Malvern, Worcs, WR14 3AF

Duty Planner Service:

Although we will make a modest charge for advice on permitted development and for householder enquiries, we continue to offer a free “drop in” service at the Library in Great Malvern, 10am to 1pm Mondays to Thursdays and at the Library in Tenbury Wells fortnightly on Tuesdays 1.30pm to 4pm.

We also hold 'surgeries' in Tenbury on a fortnightly basis to discuss proposals with local people. 

Please note that this is a drop-in service only, with no appointments made.

The Duty Planner Service at the library in Great Malvern and in Tenbury Wells aims to provide the following:

• The forms, plans and supporting information required for submitting a planning application and the required fee.
• Queries about planning applications pending determination.
• Identification of the relevant development plan policies for particular development types.
• Where to find advice regarding Permitted Development.
• Our procedures for handling and determining planning applications.
• Making a complaint about alleged unauthorised development.
  

The Duty Planner Service does not aim to provide detailed advice on whether site specific proposals will require planning permission or comply with the Development Plan. Such advice is now subject to a scale of charges.