Pre-application planning advice
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About pre-application advice
We have a pre-application advice service which we encourage you use before making your planning application.
Pre-application advice can benefit you by discussing your application to:
- identify planning issues and requirements
- speed up the development process
- help minimise extra planning application costs
- avoid wasted applications
- conferencing facilities are available to hold meetings safely and remotely
Pre-application advice fees
We charge a fee for pre-application advice on some development proposals and briefs.
Our charges for pre-application advice are based on the size and complexity of the proposed development and if a meeting is included. More charges may be applied where meetings need more specialist advice.
If you are in a hurry you can also pay for our fast track service. (Subject to availability)
Making a payment
You must pay the standard fee before the first meeting.
You can pay this online. You can also pay by phone on 020 8359 3000. Payment must be made by card.
How to request pre-application advice
Complete our online form and submit the documents listed:
- description of the proposed development and schedule of proposed uses
- site location plan (scale 1:1250)
- photographs and sketch drawings showing the site, buildings and trees as existing, together with the schedule of uses
- outline of proposal (on plans scale 1:200)
Request pre-application advice online
For pre-application queries contact planning.preapp@barnet.gov.uk
What happens next
We will send an acknowledgement letter to you within 2 working days.
The letter will tell you whether we have accepted your submission or if we need further information. It will also give you the contact details for the planning case officer.
We will endeavour to provide the written response within 4 weeks from registrations or from the meeting, if applicable.
We have the right to decline a request for pre-application advice.
Prioritising local procurement in your development
Barnet Council is committed to encouraging more use of the local supply chain by developers and contractors working in the borough.
The current Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) stipulates that developers should ensure that local companies are represented on their tender lists and, in the case of larger developments, make them aware of the opportunities on their development and support them in accessing them.
The SPD is being revised to contain a more comprehensive local procurement requirement.
Making use of the local supply chain is often difficult when you don’t know what companies there are in the area and which are suitable for subcontract or materials supply. Main contractors often do not have time to research the local area.
For further details please refer to:
Disclosure of pre-applications
Although the Council does not automatically publicise the details of pre-application discussions with potential developers and treats them as commercially sensitive, under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 we may from time to time receive a request from a member of the public to provide information regarding enquiries that we have received for pre-application advice and of any advice given.
Subject to certain exemptions, we are obliged to provide this information, although personal data is protected from disclosure under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
Additional considerations following a pre-app
Once you have received your pre-application, you will also need to consider several factors in preparing a formal application. The document below includes some helpful topics which could be relevant to your application.
Please refer to this document alongside the National and Local Requirements.
Exemptions
The exemptions relate to commercially sensitive and confidential information. It is, therefore, important that you bring to the Council's attention in writing at the outset any information which you consider may, if disclosed, prejudice your commercial interests or which you consider would breach confidentiality.
You should also set out the reasons why, and for what period, you consider the information falls into these categories.
It is then for the Council to decide whether it believes the information falls into these exempt categories, if a Freedom of Information request is subsequently received.
We may also treat as exempt from disclosure information which, if disclosed, may prejudice the effective conduct of public affairs. This can be particularly relevant at the outset of major applications where a lot of exploratory discussion takes place. If the disclosure of this exploratory information is likely to prejudice the process of leading to a proper determination of the subsequent planning application, then it may not be disclosable.
Apart from these exemptions any other recorded information resulting from these pre-application discussions is very likely to be disclosable. Once a planning application for a similar scheme on a site has been submitted the pre-application advice will be disclosable.