From 1st April Tandridge District Council is introducing a charge of £100 for pre-application advice for household planning applications.

Local residents who want to extend their property and need planning permission can get advice from the Council’s planning department. This aims to help make sure the proposals comply with the Council’s policies and minimise the impact on neighbours. This advice is given without prejudice to a formal application.

Architects, surveyors or other agents acting for a resident usually discuss their proposals with the Council before a formal planning application is made. The £100 charge is a very small proportion of the overall cost of designing and building an extension. Fees for pre-application advice on commercial developments have been in place for over two years.

Advice about the need for planning permission is freely available on the Planning Portal (www.planningportal.gov.uk/house) and confirmation about whether planning permission is or is not required can be obtained by submitting an application to the Council for a Certificate of Lawfulness.

Chairman of the Planning Policy Committee, Councillor David Weightman, said: ‘We have a good record in giving help to those who want to make planning applications for improvements, resulting in better schemes for all concerned. We want to continue helping residents improve their homes. This small additional charge will enable us to maintain and improve this service. We hope anyone who wants to develop their property will use it.”