Pre-application advice fees

Planning pre-application fees increased on 2 January 2025.

What the pre-application service is for

If you need advice on the acceptability of a proposal or the likelihood of planning permission being granted, you will need to apply for pre-application advice.

• For informal general enquires about whether planning permission is required, you should apply online for a paid Duty Planner appointment.
• If you need formal written confirmation to confirm that planning permission is not required, then you must submit a Certificate of Lawfulness application. You can submit this online at the Planning Portal.

The council wants to encourage residents and local small/micro businesses to implement retrofitting measures in their buildings. We also recognise that planning rules can sometimes appear to be complex.

Where works are proposed to an existing residential or micro/small business property and these works relate only to the delivery of energy efficiency, micro-generation and/or sustainability improvement measures, there will be no charge for the council’s pre-application service. Should any works be included in a pre-application submission that are not directly and only relevant to these measures, at the discretion of officers, then you must pay the relevant pre-application fee for these works.

Energy efficiency, micro-generation and/or energy reduction retrofit works for householders and small businesses Pre-Application Service

What will you get from this service

If you are a resident or small business and are proposing energy efficiency measures, micro-generation equipment and/or energy reduction measures to your home or building, this is a free pre-application service providing advice to support you through the planning process to deliver on the council’s aims to address climate change.

Advice

Your submission will be allocated to our Climate Action Planning Officer who will review the proposals and advise of the most appropriate means of providing advice. This may comprise a phone call, a site visit, a meeting and/or a written response.  

Information we need

This service is only available for proposals that relate solely to works to deliver energy efficiency measures, micro-generation equipment and/or energy reduction measures. Should works be proposed that relate to matters beyond this (e.g. an extension to a home), the proposals will need to be submitting using the relevant pre-application service noted below.

We suggest the minimum information you submit should be:

• the address of your property
• as much detail as possible of your proposals, including relevant plans, technical details, product specifications, examples of similar proposals, relevant photographs and any other relevant details
• a completed pre-application submission form.

Householder pre-application service (residential dwelling)

What you will get from this service

We will try to email you an invoice setting out the fees you need to pay and how you can pay online within five working days of receiving your request.

Written advice (only) service

The case officer will undertake a desk-based study and provide you with written advice on your proposal within 30 working days (six weeks) of receiving payment.

If requested, we will advise which documents and information you would need to submit with any future planning application for this proposal, and provide confirmation of the application fee, based on the information submitted.

If your property is a listed building, refer to the ‘Householder Listed Building Pre-Application Service’ section.

Written advice and site visit service

The case officer will contact you, within 10 working days of receiving payment, to arrange a suitable day for a site visit. The site visit will take place within 20 working days of receiving payment.

The site visit will allow assessment of:

• detailed site conditions
• the likely impact of the development
• whether the development is in accordance with planning policy
• any other material planning considerations.

The site visit will usually last for up to 30 minutes and is an opportunity to explain the proposed works with the case officer and for the case officer to clarify the proposals. The case officer will not give a definitive view on the acceptability of the proposal during the site visit.

Depending on the site visit arrangements, we will try to provide you with written advice on your proposal within 30 working days (six weeks) of receipt of payment.

Follow-up advice service

This service is open for further discussion of the original pre-application proposal, or amendments to the original proposal, in line with the previous pre-application guidance that has been provided. This is not for wholly new schemes or proposals, and is not appropriate where the amendments suggested would require a whole new assessment.

All follow-requests must be made within six months of the previous pre-application response.

It is entirely up to the applicant how much information you submit for review. However, the more comprehensive the information provided the more comprehensive the advice in the response will be. Provision of advice can be delayed as a result of missing essential information in the pre-application submission.

Information we need

We need a basic level of information to make sure we can give proper advice. The following is not everything, but is a useful guide for what you will need to provide so that you can get the advice and guidance you need. The more information you provide the more comprehensive our advice will be. 

We suggest the minimum information you submit should be:

• a plan identifying your property
• sketches of your proposals with dimensions indicated
• photographs of the property, in particular covering the aspect of the property which you wish to change/extend, and details of any windows to neighbouring properties that may be affected by the proposal.

Ideally you should be providing details of ground levels on your property and on those of immediately adjoining properties for relevant applications (for example, rear extensions). 

Charges for Householder pre-application advice

Householder Developments - a single house or flat

Type of advice	Price without VAT	VAT (20%)	Total with VAT
Written advice (only)	£400	£80	£480
Written advice with site visit	£584	£116.80	£700.80
Follow-up advice	£243.86	£48.78	£292.64

Householder Listed Building Consent Pre-Application Service (residential dwelling)

What you will get from this service

We will try to email you an invoice setting out the fees you need to pay and how you can pay online within five working days of receiving your request.

Written advice and site visit service

For minor listed buildings we offer a combined written advice and site visit service so that the case officer can visit the building as this will allow better consideration of the special interest of the listed building in the pre-application advice letter. All drawings and supporting documents should be submitted at this stage and revised drawings will only be accepted where agreed with the case officer.

The case officer will contact you within 10 working days of receiving payment to arrange a suitable day for a site visit. The site visit will take place within 20 working days of receiving payment.

The site visit will allow assessment of:

• the special interest of the listed building and significance
• an understanding of the nature of the proposals and likely impact on significance
• whether the proposed works are in accordance with policy and guidance.

Depending on the nature of the listed building the site visit will usually last 30 minutes to one hour.

At the site visit there is an opportunity to explain the proposed works to the case officer and for the case officer to clarify proposals. The case officer will be assessing the significance of the listed building during the site visit and will not give a definitive view on the acceptability of the proposal nor be making suggestions regarding revisions to the scheme. 

We will try to provide you with written advice on your proposal within 30 working days (six weeks) of receipt of payment. 

Listed Building follow-up advice service

This service is available to follow-up from the written letter of advice. It can cover amendments to the original proposal, in line with the pre-application guidance. This is not for wholly new schemes or proposals and is not appropriate where the amendments suggested would require a whole new assessment.

All follow-up requests must be made within six months of the previous pre-application response.

Information we need

We need a basic level of information to make sure we can give proper advice. The following is not everything, but is a useful guide for what you will need to provide so that you can get the advice and guidance you need. The more information you provide the more comprehensive our advice will be.

We suggest the minimum information you submit should be:

• a plan identifying your property
• a description of the proposed works and how these may affect the historic fabric and design of the building;
• initial plans/sketches of your proposals with dimensions indicated; and
• photographs of the property in particular covering the aspects of the property which you wish to change.

Charges for Householder Listed Building Pre-application advice

Type of advice	Price without VAT	VAT (20%)	Total with VAT
Written advice with site visit	£1,200	£240	£1,440
Follow-up (written) advice	£302	£60.40	£362.40

Small and large-scale minor developments

What you will get from this service

We will try to email you an invoice setting out the fees you need to pay and how you can pay online within five working days of receiving your request.

Written advice (only) service

The case officer will undertake a desk based study and provide you with written advice on your proposal within 35 working days (7 weeks) of receiving payment.

If requested, we will advise you what documents and information you need to submit with any future planning application for this proposal. This may include:

• confirmation of the application fee, based on the submitted information
• advice on whether a s106 legal agreement would be required and, having regard to the relevant planning policies, an indication of the likely general heads of terms
• checklist of documents and information required for submission of a valid application
• details of the likely consultations to be undertaken.

Written advice and site visit service

The case officer will contact you, within 10 working days of receiving payment, to arrange a suitable day for the site visit. We will try to arrange the site visit within 20 working days of receiving payment. The site visit will assess:

• detailed site conditions
• the likely impact of the development
• whether the development is in accordance with planning policy
• any other material planning considerations.

For small-scale minor developments

The site visit will usually last for up to 30 minutes (depending on the size and complexity of the development) and during this time you can discuss the main issues with the case officer. The case officer will not give a definitive view on the acceptability of the proposal during the site visit. An office meeting may be offered to discuss the development in more detail if the case officer considers this necessary.

For large-scale minor developments

The case officer will assess and advise whether the best process is a site visit and subsequent office meeting for discussion or a single site meeting with discussion.

Depending on the site visit arrangement, we will try to provide you with written advice on your proposal within 35 working days (7 weeks) of the site visit.

Follow-up advice service

This service is open for further discussion of the original pre-application proposal, or amendments to the original proposal, in line with the previous pre-application guidance that has been provided. This is not for wholly new schemes or proposals and is not appropriate where the amendments suggested would require a whole new assessment.

All follow-up requests must be made within one year of the previous pre-application response.

The follow-up advice service is usually only a written response providing advice. However, it can sometimes include a 30-minute meeting at the council offices.

It entirely up to the applicant how much information is submitted for review. However, the more comprehensive the information provided the more comprehensive the advice in the response will be. Provision of advice can be delayed as a result of missing essential information in the pre-application submission. The more comprehensive submissions may need an agreed extended timeframe, particularly if responses from internal consultees are required to inform a reply.

Information we need

We need a basic level of information to ensure that we can give proper advice. The following is not everything, but gives a useful guide to what you will need to provide. The more information you provide the more comprehensive our advice will be.

For small and large-scale minor development proposals

• Ownership: Clarification of applicant’s status, particularly if a legal agreement is required including details of other relevant interests such as tenancies, mortgages etc.
• Existing site or building: Full site address and location plan at 1:1250 with site outlined in red, any adjoining land owned by the applicant outlined in blue.
• Site history: Existing lawful use of the site and planning history, e.g. applications, appeals, enforcements
• Your proposal: Full description of the range of proposed development: scale, uses, schedule of floor space, housing details including tenure, mix, size, existing and proposed drawings and sketches that show the proposal in the context of neighbouring sites and buildings.
• Urban Design Analysis: Depending on the development type and how advanced the scheme is, an urban design analysis/principles of the site and area and definition of the key design characteristics of the scheme may be required.
• Small Sites Contributions: For schemes creating new residential units, identify the proposed small sites contributions required and outline how you propose to meet the policy requirements in future applications. Detailed viability arguments and disclosure of viability details should be made within future applications.
• Planning Obligations (Large-scale minor developments only): List of identified planning obligations commitments/suggestions, including a commitment to S106 legal agreement and to paying the council’s legal costs involved in negotiating, preparing and completing the agreement.
• Photographs of site/surroundings - clearly annotated

We should receive all documentation 10 working days before the pre-application site visit/meeting. If we don't,the site visit/meeting may be rescheduled.

What will be covered at the site/office meeting (large-scale minor schemes only)

Islington’s planners have unique knowledge of how local and national planning policies would apply to your proposal. At the pre-application meeting the case officer will review and comment on the following issues:

• land use policies – local and strategic
• design
• residential/housing quality – density, size of units, mix, tenure, amenity space, access
• impact on neighbouring amenity – daylight/sunlight, privacy, noise
• impact on Heritage Assets – listed buildings/conservation areas
• natural environment – open space, ecological diversity
• sustainability
• servicing/access/parking/highways works/traffic orders/transport
• planning obligations / S106
• any other relevant issues.

The more information you give, the more comprehensive and clear the advice in the response will be.

Charges for minor schemes Pre-Application advice

Small-scale minors

• Creation of up to three new residential units.
• Creation of up to 499sqm of non-residential floor space.
• Change of Use up to 499sqm.
• External works to more than one residential property, for example two or more flats.
• External works to non-residential buildings, for example shopfronts, air-con, plant, equipment.
• Landscaping works.
• Amendments to previously approved non-major schemes.
• Approval of details/discharge of conditions.
• Listed building/conservation/heritage advice - for a property which is not a single dwelling house or residential flat.
• Advertisements.
• Telecommunications equipment.

Type of advice	Price without VAT	VAT (20%)	Total with VAT
Written advice (only)	£942.97	£188.59	£1,131.56
Written advice with site visit	£1,378.42	£275.68	£1,654.10
Follow-up advice	£791.91	£158.38	£950.29
Extension of time for applications agreement	£518.67	£103.73	£622.40

Large-scale minors

• Creation of 4–6 residential units.
• Creation of 500–699sqm non-residential floorspace.
• Change of use to 500–699sqm.

Type of advice	Price without VAT	VAT (20%)	Total with VAT
Site visit / meeting and written advice	£2,644.54	£532.91	£3,197.45
Follow-up meeting and written advice	£1,452.78	£290.56	£1,743.34
Extension of time for applications	£1,432.05	£286.41	£1,718.46

• Creation of 7–9 residential units.
• Creation of 700–999sqm non-residential floorspace.
• Change of use 700–999sqm.

Type of advice	Price without VAT	VAT (20%)	Total with VAT
Site visit / meeting and written advice	£3,115.13	£623.03	£3,738.16
Follow-up meeting and written advice	£1,643.15	£328.68	£1,971.78
Extension of time for applications	£1,912.44	£382.49	£2,294.93

Extension of time for applications

This applies where, during the life of an application, we agree with the applicant that an extension to the statutory decision period is needed. The agreement must be in writing and set out the timescale within which a decision is expected.

Major Schemes Pre-Application Advice and Planning Performance Agreements (PPA)

Role of councillors

We will seek the views of elected councillors for more significant major schemes.

Islington has set up a monthly internal member/officer meeting, the Members’ Pre-application Forum. This is not a public meeting but, where appropriate, developers are invited to present their scheme at the pre-application stage. The Members’ Forum receives reports on major and strategic developments within the borough and provides a forum for Member discussion. No meeting minutes are taken of these meetings, but verbal feedback is often given.

Why you should get pre-application advice for a Planning Performance Agreement (PPA) and what information we need

For major developments, it is strongly recommended that applicants sign up to a PPA with us from the beginning. This gives applicants a responsive bespoke service that covers the development proposal from the pre-application stage to the determination and issuing of the planning decision. Where appropriate, it may also include the implementation phase with the discharge of planning conditions and planning obligations.

We recommend that you undertake an early meeting with us to assess the nature of the scheme and whether a PPA would be an appropriate format for your pre-application.

We will need a basic level of information to start. This is the same as what we would need for regular pre-application advice and is detailed below.

Once we have the information, we will set out a project management framework for handling the proposed development, which will form the basis of the PPA. The PPA commits both parties to an agreed timetable, which contains milestones that make clear what level of resources are needed. This includes the likely number of necessary meetings and the officers required to take forward the relevant issues and ensure that all key planning issues are properly considered. It will also ensure that priority is given for review of the proposal by our Design Review Panel, Members’ Pre-Application Forum and Planning Committee, and any other necessary council bodies.

Information we need

We need a basic level of information to make sure we can give you proper advice. The following is not everything but provides a useful guide for what you need to provide so that you get the right advice and guidance. The more information you give, the more comprehensive our advice in response will be.

Major scheme proposals

• Ownership: Clarification of applicant’s status, particularly if a legal agreement is required including details of other relevant interests such as tenancies, mortgages etc.
• Existing site or building: Full site address and location plan at 1:1250 with site outlined in red, any adjoining land owned by the applicant outlined in blue.
• Site history: Existing lawful use of site and planning history for example, applications, appeals, enforcements.
• Your proposal: Full description of the range of proposed development: scale, uses, schedule of floor space, housing details including tenure, mix, size, existing and proposed drawings and sketches that show the proposal in the context of neighbouring sites and buildings.
• Urban Design Analysis: Depending on how advanced the scheme is, an urban design analysis/principles of the site and area and definition of the key design characteristics of the scheme may be required.
• Planning obligations: List of identified planning obligations commitments/suggestions, including a commitment to s106 legal agreement and to paying the council’s legal costs involved in negotiating, preparing and completing the agreement.
• Photographs of site/surroundings – clearly annotated.

We should receive all documentation 10 working days before the pre-application site visit/meeting. If we don't,the site visit/meeting may be rescheduled.

What will be covered at the site/office meeting (major schemes only)

Islington’s planning officer's have unique knowledge of how local and national planning policies would apply to your proposal. At the pre-application meeting the case officer will review and comment on the following issues:

• land use policies – local and strategic
• design
• residential/housing quality – density, size of units, mix, tenure, amenity space
• impact of neighbouring amenity – daylight/sunlight, privacy, noise
• historical impact – listed buildings/conservation areas
• natural environment – open space, ecological diversity
• sustainability
• servicing/access/parking/highways works/traffic orders/transport
• planning obligations/S106
• any other relevant issues.

The more information that you provide, the more comprehensive and clear the advice will be.

Site visit/meeting service

This fee is charged for either a site visit or a meeting and does not cover both. If the applicant wants both to take place, and additional fee will be charged at the officer’s discretion.

Follow-up meetings

This allows for issues raised at the first meeting to be discussed again with officers and for revisions that address officer concerns to be presented. Please note the purpose of the ‘follow up meeting’ is not to engage with new issues and this meeting should not take place any later than six months after the issue of the first meeting written response. Otherwise, this will be charged at the standard Majors Pre-application advice meeting fee. Please note the follow up meeting service and fee is not applicable to PPAs as the meeting fee for this service is bespoke.

Charges for major Pre-Application advice

Major schemes

• Creation of 10–20 residential units.
• Creation of 1,000–1,999sqm commercial floor space.
• Creation of 1,000–1,999sqm mixed use floor space
• Change of use that is larger than or equal to 1,000sqm.
• Approval of details relating to major applications.

Meetings are with planning case officers only. The attendance at meetings or input in formulating responses by other officers in addition to the case office may incur an additional charge. This will be based on the extent and level of input required.

Type of advice	Price without VAT	VAT (20%)	Total with VAT
Site visit/meeting and written advice	£9,351.87	£1,870.37	£11,222.24
Follow-up meeting and written advice	£3,060.82	£612.16	£3,672.98
Planning Performance Agreement set-up (only)	£10,237.69	£2,047.54	£12,285.23
Planning Performance Agreement meetings and advice package	Bespoke	20% on bespoke price	Bespoke price plus VAT
Conditions: Planning Performance Agreement	Bespoke	20% on bespoke price	Bespoke price plus VAT
Planning Performance Agreement (s73)	Bespoke	20% on bespoke price	Bespoke price plus VAT
Planning Performance Agreement (s96a)	Bespoke	20% on bespoke price	Bespoke price plus VAT
Extension of time for applications	£9,351.87	£1,870.37	£11,222.24

• Creation of 21 or more residential units.
• Creation of commercial floor space that is more than or equal to 2,000sqm.
• Creation of mixed use floor space that is more than or equal to 2,000sqm

Meetings are with planning case officers only.

Type of advice	Price without VAT	VAT (20%)	Total with VAT
Site visit/meeting and written advice	£13,272.90	£2,654.59	£15,927.48
Follow-up meeting and written advice	£6,639.49	£1,327.90	£7,967.39
Planning Performance Agreement set-up (only)	£10,237.69	£2,047.54	£12,285.23
Planning Performance Agreement meetings and advice package	Bespoke	20% on bespoke price	Bespoke price plus VAT
Conditions: Planning Performance Agreement	Bespoke	20% on bespoke price	Bespoke price plus VAT
Planning Performance Agreement (s73)	Bespoke	20% on bespoke price	Bespoke price plus VAT
Planning Performance Agreement (s96a)	Bespoke	20% on bespoke price	Bespoke price plus VAT
Extension of time for applications	£12,269.07	£2,453.81	£14,722.88