Pre-planning advice helps you understand whether a proposed development is likely to be feasible before you commit significant time and money to architectural drawings or a planning application.
Planning By Design’s town planners can assess your proposal against relevant planning policy, planning history and site constraints, identify potential risks, and advise on the most appropriate route forward.
Depending on your project, this may involve an initial Planning Appraisal or a formal pre-application submission to the local planning authority.
One of the first things our Planning Appraisal considers is whether we believe planning permission is required at all.
In some cases, the work may fall within Permitted Development rights, meaning a full planning application may not be needed. Where planning permission is required, we explain the likely route, supporting information and next steps.
Planning advice for projects across the UK.
Planning strategy and design expertise under one roof.
Pre-application planning advice is advice obtained before submitting a full planning application to help assess whether a proposed development is feasible and identify potential planning issues at an early stage.
Early planning advice can help establish:
Getting answers to these questions early can reduce the risk of committing unnecessary time and money to a proposal with fundamental planning problems.
A Planning Appraisal is not mandatory, but we strongly recommend it for most projects because it can reduce planning risk, avoid unnecessary costs and clarify what is needed before you commit to the next stage.
Planning Appraisal fee credited back: if you proceed with any further Planning By Design service, including architectural drawings, the Planning Appraisal fee is deducted from your quotation/invoice — effectively making the appraisal free.
Price Match Guarantee: our quotations are backed by a price-match guarantee on genuine like-for-like quotes.
Planning Appraisal effectively becomes FREE if you proceed with any further Planning By Design service.
The appraisal fee is deducted from your quote/invoice, including if you proceed with drawings only.
For most projects, a Planning Appraisal is the fastest and most cost-effective first step. Formal council pre-application advice is recommended only where it is likely to add value.
| Compare | Planning By Design Planning Appraisal | Council Pre-Application Advice |
|---|---|---|
| Who provides it? | Planning By Design town planner | Local planning authority town planner |
| Primary purpose | Establish feasibility, requirements and accurate costs for planning and design | Establish feasibility, requirements and obtain the LPA’s feedback on the proposal |
| Are detailed drawings always needed? | No | Yes |
| Is the advice binding? | No | No |
| Can Planning By Design manage it? | Yes | Yes, if required and instructed — although formal pre-app can often be skipped after a Planning Appraisal |
| Accurate fixed-price quote? | Yes — for the planning and design work we know will be required at the appraisal stage | No — the LPA does not provide a quotation for PBD’s planning/design services. |
| Typical timescale | 1 working day for many projects | Typically 5–8 weeks |
| Cost position | Usually the lowest-cost route; the appraisal fee is credited back if you proceed with a PBD service | Separate LPA pre-app fees apply and are not refundable |
| Best for | Getting the answers needed quickly before committing to the next stage | Obtaining formal LPA feedback where that additional step is likely to add value |
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Important: the local planning authority may request additional information or specialist reports later in the process. Planning outcomes are never guaranteed.
A Planning Appraisal is designed to give you the practical answers you need before spending heavily on drawings, reports or an application.
We explain whether we believe planning permission is required, or whether another route such as Permitted Development may be available.
We identify the drawings, planning statements, specialist reports and other supporting information we currently expect will be needed.
We give our professional view on feasibility and planning risk. Planning outcomes can never be guaranteed, including for LDC or Permitted Development routes.
Based on everything we know is likely to be required, we provide an accurate fixed-price quote for the Planning By Design planning and design services needed to progress your project.
Important: the local planning authority may request additional information or specialist reports later in the process. Any additional information or specialist reports requested later by the LPA may result in additional costs, which can be discussed and quoted separately. Planning outcomes are never guaranteed.
Prefer to hear it explained? Watch our short video on how pre-planning advice works, what it can help you establish, and when formal council pre-application advice may be worth considering.
Send the address, proposal and any existing plans or relevant information.
We review planning policy, planning history and known site constraints.
Discuss feasibility, planning risks and the options available to you.
Get clear written findings, likely requirements and recommended next steps.
Move to drawings, council pre-application advice or the appropriate application.
For many projects, once we have the information needed to complete the planning research and consultation.
Timescales vary by local authority and project complexity.
For most projects, the Planning Appraisal is the quickest and lowest-cost way to establish feasibility and understand the likely next steps.
If you proceed with any further Planning By Design service, the Planning Appraisal fee is deducted from your quotation/invoice.
No. Pre-application advice does not grant planning permission and cannot guarantee that a future application will be approved.
A formal application still goes through the normal decision-making process. However, early advice can help identify potential issues before submission, giving you the opportunity to address them in advance.
It can help reduce uncertainty, but approval can never be guaranteed.
Early advice may reveal policy conflicts, design concerns, site constraints, missing evidence or a more appropriate planning route before you commit to a full application.
Real project evidence and client feedback showing how early planning advice can help clients make informed decisions and progress with confidence.
Planning context: Conservation area
Approach: Planning appraisal → architectural drawings → supporting planning and heritage information → formal council pre-application submission.
Outcome: Positive pre-application feedback was received.
Hear directly from a client following planning approval for a garage conversion.
Client feedback following planning approval for an outbuilding and decking project.
Client feedback following planning approval for the conversion of a chapel into a residential dwelling.
Professional expertise, real project evidence and transparent pricing — all under one roof.
Our team includes Chartered MRTPI Town Planners with experience in both private practice and local-authority planning.
Planning and architectural expertise can be coordinated in-house, helping clients move efficiently from feasibility into design and application work.
Our portfolio contains more than 1000 approved planning projects, with formal council pre-application advice required in only a small proportion of cases.
470+ Google reviews averaging 4.6/5, plus additional client reviews across other platforms.
Planning By Design has received multiple industry awards recognising its architecture and town-planning work.
Our quotations are backed by a price-match guarantee on genuine like-for-like quotes.
If your proposal appears feasible, the next step may involve drawings, specialist reports, formal council pre-application advice or the relevant planning application.
Not necessarily for an initial Planning Appraisal. Formal council pre-application advice may require drawings and supporting information.
Yes. An early appraisal can help identify planning constraints, relevant policy and likely development potential before you commit to a purchase.
No. Pre-application advice does not grant planning permission and cannot guarantee the outcome of a later application.
Yes, in many cases you can. However, where the planning position is uncertain or the project involves significant cost or risk, a feasibility appraisal can be useful before progressing.
Yes. Where formal local-authority feedback is recommended, Planning By Design can assist with the drawings, planning information and submission required for the pre-application process.
Head of Planning, Planning By Design
Aaron is a Chartered MRTPI Town Planner with experience in both private and public-sector planning, giving him insight into the planning process from both the applicant and local-authority perspective.
Last reviewed: September 2026 | Meet our planning team →
Our planning team can assess the proposal before you commit to the next stage.
