Pre-Application Planning Advice
Pre Application Planning Advice
For clients at a very early stage, we offer pre-application advice to help establish what may be achievable before significant investment is made. This typically includes initial feasibility and concept development, early and informal engagement with the local planning authority, and strategic guidance to identify key constraints, risks, and opportunities.
Our approach is deliberately selective. In the majority of cases, where a proposal sits comfortably within established planning policy and guidance, our recommendation is to proceed directly to a full planning application. This allows momentum to be maintained and avoids unnecessary delay or duplication in the process.
However, in a small number of projects, typically less than 10% of our work where there is a higher degree of uncertainty, sensitivity, or potential policy conflict, we recommend undertaking a pre-application process. This acts as a critical “sense check”, enabling us to test the principle of development, engage with the local authority at an early stage, and understand any fundamental barriers or likely areas of concern before committing to a full submission.
This is particularly valuable for schemes involving heritage assets, sites within conservation areas, complex planning histories, or proposals that may challenge established policy. In these instances, early dialogue can significantly improve the outcome by identifying were adjustments, supporting information, or a revised strategy may be required.
The process is therefore collaborative and strategic rather than procedural. It allows proposals to be shaped constructively, reducing risk and helping ensure that any subsequent planning application is well-positioned for approval. It also provides clients with a clear understanding of planning risk, enabling informed decision-making before further design development or cost is incurred.
Where a project is supported in principle, the work undertaken at this stage is not lost. The majority of the analysis, drawings, and strategic thinking is carried forward and developed as part of the full planning submission, typically forming the foundation of RIBA Stages 1–3.
Hargreaves 3 Phase Pre-Application
