Skip to main content

Pre-application advice fees

General information about our fees

You should be aware that we're experiencing a high volume of requests and the advertised time frames are taking longer than anticipated. You will therefore not be given a target date for when you can expect to receive a written response, but meetings and discussions will continue to take place. Applications where you request multiple options to be considered will not be accepted under one application without an adjusted fee and timeframe being agreed with the case officer.

The fees in this section apply for the various types of advice required. Unless otherwise stated, meetings are held at the Town Hall in Brentwood. A public pay and display car park is available outside the main building, however there are limited spaces and you may wish to make alternative parking arrangements prior to your meeting.

Developments are split into the following advice types. If you have any queries in relation to what type of category your development would fall within, email planning@brentwood.gov.uk or call the Customer Contact Centre on 01277 312500.

Payments can be made over the phone - when making your payment, you should state this is for a pre-application submission.

Householder

Householder pre-application advice fees
Advice Type Fee Including VAT (£) Timescales
Householder 
Householder - written response only 80 20 Working Days
Up to 30 minutes meeting and written summary / with specialist advice (Where the proposal falls within a conservation area and/or the setting of a listed building, or involves works to a residential listed building) 190 / 360 30 Working Days
CON29R including LLC1 40
Follow up comments per additional  set of drawings (within 3 months timescale) 40 10 Working Days

Change of use of a building or land

Change of use to a building or land pre-application advice fees
Advice Type Fee Including VAT (£) Timescales
Change of Use of a Building or Land where the proposal does not constitute Minor or Major development - NB this would include a change of use of the land to additional residential garden; paddocks; and buildings to non-residential use
Up to 1-hour in-house meeting and written summary/ with specialist advice (Where the proposal falls within a conservation area and/or the setting of a listed building, or involves works to a residential listed building 470 / 655 30 Working Days
Up to 1-hour onsite meeting and written summary/ with specialist advice (where the proposal falls within a conservation area and/or the setting of a listed building, or involves works to a residential listed building) 500 / 685 30 Working Days
Follow up comments upon per additional set of drawings 200 10 Working Days

Creation or replacement of a singular dwelling house or residential annex

Creation or replacement of a singular dwelling house or residential annex
Advice Type Fee Including VAT (£) Timescales
Creation of a singular: dwelling house; replacement dwelling house; or residential annex
Note: in excess of 1 but below 10 units constitutes Minor development
Up to 1-hour in-house meeting and written summary/ with specialist advice (Where the proposal falls within a conservation area and/or the setting of a listed building, or involves works to a listed building, specialist advice is required and is charged as follows. 470 / 655 30 Working Days
Up to 1-hour onsite meeting and written summary/ with specialist advice Where the proposal falls within a conservation area and/or the setting of a listed building, or involves works to a listed building, specialist advice is required and is charged as follows. 500 / 685 30 Working Days
Follow up comments upon per additional set of drawings 200 10 Working Days

Minor development

Minor development pre-application advice fees
Advice Type Fee Including VAT (£) Timescales
Minor Development

Written summary only/ with specialist advice
470 / 655 30 Working Days
Up to 1-hour inhouse meeting and written summary/ with specialist advice 970 / 1150 40 Working Days
Up to 1-hour onsite meeting and written summary/with specialist advice 1000 / 1180 40 Working Days
Additional 1-hour inhouse meetings and written summaries/ with specialist  620 / 800  
Follow up comments per additional set of drawings 225 15 Working Days

Major development

Major development pre-application advice fees
Advice Type Fee Including VAT (£)
Small major development (includes Heritage Assets/ Urban Design)
New building has between 1000 and 2499 sqm of floor space
Or the site is between 0.5 and 1.99 hectares (where you don’t know the floor space.
Up to 1-hour in-house meeting and written summary 2,775
Up to 1-hour onsite meeting and written summary set  2,850
Subsequent follow up advice – if you have: already received advice about a similar development on the same site in the last three months or received a refusal of planning permission for a similar development on the same site in the last three months.  
Written advice 335
A subsequent meeting with a planning officer  2,030
Large major development (includes Heritage Assets/ Urban Design)
If your new building has between 2500 and 4999 sqm of floor space
Or the site area is up between 2.0 and 4.99 hectares (where you don’t know the floor space)
Up to 1-hour in-house meeting and written summary 3,390
Up to 1-hour onsite meeting and written summary set  3,415
Subsequent follow up advice – if you have: already received advice about a similar development on the same site in the last three months or Received a refusal of planning permission for a similar development on the same site in the last three months.
A subsequent meeting with a planning officer  2,500

Other pre-application advice fees

Other pre-application advice fees
Advice Type Fee Including VAT (£)
Strategic Development (Principal Planner) 
Your new building has 5000 or more sqm of floor space
The site area is 5 or more hectares (where you don’t now the floor space)
Up to 1-hour in-house meeting and written summary 3,840
Up to 1-hour onsite meeting and written summary 3,870
A reduced fee for follow up meetings if you have: already had a meeting in relation to the same site in the last three months or received a refusal of planning permission for a similar development on the same site in the last three months 3,050
Planning Performance Agreement - Separate set of Fees
BBC can offer a tailored service to developers in regard to the above advice types. 
These can include meetings with elected members including ward members and members of the Planning Committee. We can negotiate compliance with conditions during the course of construction and through the redevelopment and conversion of listed buildings with the appropriate specialist advisors offering direct and timely contact with Officer’s.
Post-Application Conditions Advice
Some developments may result in conditions which you may wish to discuss in more detail with the Planning Officer to consider your options. Particularly where there are requirements for particular materials. Officers can advise on the requirements in consultation with specialist advisors where applicable.
Note: Developers are reminded of the provisions of the NPPF with particular regard to paragraph 130.
Written summary only 170
Up to 1-hour in-house meeting and written summary 282
Up to 1-hour onsite meeting and written summary 315
Advice from Officers specialising in the Heritage Assets, Urban Design or Landscaping may also be required and is charged separately.