Guide to planning services

Formal pre-application is a great way to get advice and guidance on your project from Cheltenham’s development management team. This service can be used for development that may include new residential dwellings, commercial developments, a change of use of a building or site, advertisement consent and various other forms of non-householder development.

Residential and commercial pre-application services

We offer different levels of engagement and response, depending on the service you require and the complexity of the proposal. You can choose from the following:

• a written response
• a meeting and written response
• a site visit and written response
• general principles meeting (no written response)

To use the service, you'll need to complete a pre-application form, provide the required information, pay the relevant fee, and to submit to us for processing.  A pre-application submission will only be valid once we've received all relevant information and payment. Officers will then strive to provide a written response within the following timescales:

• Minor development (up to 10 dwellings or up to 1000m2 of non-residential floor space): written response within 20 working days
• Major development: written response within 30 working days, unless a Planning Performance Agreement (PPA) is in place

Note: where a meeting or site visit is requested, the timescales above will start from the date of the meeting or site visit.

A general principles meeting is an option for you to simply discuss the principles of your project with a member of the development management team. The proposal can relate to both new residential or non-residential development. The advice provided in the meeting will highlight the specific policy areas that may be relevant to the development, as well as offering initial feedback on the project. This service will involve a virtual meeting which will last no more than 60 or 90 minutes, depending on the scale of development. A written response will not be provided.

The relevant fees for the different levels of service can be found in our fee schedule. Please note, if specialist comments are required, there may be additional fees.

How to request the service

For more information on how to book an appointment, how to make payment and how to submit the necessary information, visit our page about submitting a request for pre-application advice.

Planning Performance Agreements (PPAs)

In some cases, where a development is particularly complex, a Planning Performance Agreement (PPA) may be the best way to process your pre-application submission.

The aim of a PPA is to improve the quality of planning applications and the decision-making process. By giving you a clear understanding of the resource we will invest and in agreeing the key milestones and timelines that all parties will work to, they can offer a greater level of clarity, certainty and confidence.

PPAs aim to set out a realistic timetable for the delivery of the project, identifying and defining key milestones and identifying key team members, stakeholders and consultees.

They can run for the duration of a development proposal if desired: from pre-application advice through to validation, determination and discharge of conditions. Such certainty throughout the course of a project can prove invaluable.

While a PPA will help ensure an application is processed to an agreed timetable, the agreement does not prejudice the outcome of a planning application nor does it guarantee a planning permission.

The fee for the service will be bespoke for each development proposal and is best discussed with a member of the development management team.