PLANNING SERVICE
Tel: 0345 045 5215
Contact Centre:
Mon - Sat: 8.00am - 8.00pm
Offices:
Mon - Fri: 8.30am - 5.00pm
Fax: 01954 713152
Email: planning@scambs.gov.uk (This link will open in a new window)
Address, directions & map to our headquarters
Planning FAQs
External Links
- Planning Portal (This link will open in a new window)
- Planning Aid (This link will open in a new window)
- Town & Country Planning Act 1990 (This link will open in a new window)
- Planning Obligations Circular 2005 (This link will open in a new window)
- Planning Act 2008 (This link will open in a new window)
- Community Infrastructure Levy Regulations 2010 (This link will open in a new window)
- Planning Portal Good Practice Advice on Submitting Planning Obligations (This link will open in a new window)
Pre-application planning advice
South Cambridgeshire District Council is committed to providing an efficient and effective planning service. The value of pre-application planning discussions is recognised and considered to be an important aspect of the planning process.
Providing considered advice prior to the formal submission of a planning application could ensure that the quality of a development is improved and that certainty in the outcome can be increased for the applicant.
In light of increased requests for advice, we have formalised the procedures for requesting advice and with effect from 5 October 2009 have introduced a charge for formal pre-application advice.
Please ensure that your cheque is for the correct amount as anomalies will delay us being able to process your application. The amount payable, including VAT @17.5% is shown in the below noted table. (VAT is charged at 17.5%, effective from 1 January 2010).
| Written advice only (Follow up written advice will not be chargeable) | Meeting with planning officer (including written follow-up) | Follow-up meeting (including written advice) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strategic Development For all developments of over 100 residential units. For all other uses: over 5000 square metres or on sites greater than 2 hectares in area. | N/A | £600 plus VAT VAT is £105 Total payable: £705 | By negotiation |
| Major Development For residential development: 10 or more dwellings, or a site area of 0.5 hectares. For all other uses: 1000 square meters or more of floorspace, or where the site area is 1 hectare or more. This includes changes of use of existing buildings. | £200 plus VAT VAT is £35 Total payable: £235 | £600 plus VAT VAT is £105 Total payable: £705 | £100 plus VAT VAT is £17.50 Total payable: £117.50 |
| Minor Development For residential development: one to nine dwellings. For all other uses: new building or change of use of building of up to 999sqm floorspace. | £100 plus VAT VAT is £17.50 Total payable: £117.50 | £300 plus VAT VAT is £52.50 Total payable: £352.50 | £50 plus VAT VAT is £8.75 Total payable: £58.75 |
| House Extension & Alterations | No Charge | No Charge | No Charge |
| Listed Building Advice | No Charge | No Charge | No Charge |
| Tree Advice | No Charge | No Charge | No Charge |
The following are exempt to charge:
- People with disabilities
- Charities
- Parish Councils
- Permitted development proposals caught by Art 4 Directions
- Householder developments
- Small businesses (up to 5 employees)
- Works to listed buildings and demolition in conservation areas
- Trees
The charging scheme does not apply to minor householder developments (house extensions and alterations), listed building advice or tree advice.
Applying for pre-application planning advice
- Read our pre application guidance before submitting your request.
- Print off and fill out the request for pre application planning advice form, enclose a cheque (using the above table for the correct amount) and send it to the address below. Alternatively, you can request a form by calling our Duty Officer, 01954 713155 or emailing pre-app@scambs.gov.uk (This link will open in a new window).
Planning & Sustainable Communities
South Cambridgeshire District Council
South Cambridgeshire Hall
Cambourne Business Park
Cambourne
Cambridge
CB23 6EA
As a fee is payable, we are unable to provide an online request form.
We will acknowledge receipt of your enquiry and advise you how long we will take to respond to your proposal. We aim to provide a response within 10 working days, depending on the complexity of the proposal.
It should be clearly understood that the advice given will not bind the Council to making a particular decision and that any views expressed are at officer level only and provisional. Until a formal application is made not all relevant information will be to hand, neither will formal consultations with interested parties take place.
The formal pre-application planning advice service is not available at Reception in our Cambourne Headquarters. Our reception staff will however accept delivery of your request form.
Planning permission does not over-ride the need to obtain any necessary approvals under the Building Regulations, Party Wall Act or any other relevant legislation.
Separate approval may also be required in other areas, for example, restrictive covenants, shared agreements, easements, rights of way etc.
Freedom of Information Act
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 requires us to make all documents available to members of the public, if requested. Pre-application advice can only be treated as confidential if there are clearly demonstrable issues of commercial sensitivity or other significant reasons why this information may not be made public. (Any enquiry in this category should be clearly marked as confidential). If a planning application is made as a result of pre-application advice, all documentation may be publicly available, as they will form background papers to the application.
Please call our Duty Officer on: 01954 713155
Tell us what you think
- Was this service useful? Please tell us what you think of the pre-application advice service by completing our online questionnaire.
- If you would like to comment on your experience with this service, please email pre-app@scambs.gov.uk (This link will open in a new window)
