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Pre-application advice

We are able to provide you with advice and information if you are considering submitting a development proposal. We welcome and encourage discussions before you submit your application. We acknowledge the advantages of providing good quality advice to developers and their agents prior to the formal submission of a planning application in order to help speed up the development process and avoid unacceptable proposals.

The Benefits of Pre application Advice

Pre application advice will provide you with the following benefits:

  • understanding how our policies will be applied to your development including planning obligation requirements under section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990
  • identifying the need for specialist input at an early stage e.g. for listed buildings, transportation, trees, landscape, noise, health, contaminated land or archaeology
  • guiding in the preparation of proposals for formal submission, which, if you follow our advice, should be handled more quickly
  • potentially reducing the time your professional advisors’ spend in working up the proposals
  • indicating those proposals that are completely unacceptable, so saving you the cost of pursuing a formal application

How to Make a Request for Pre Application Advice

Before a meeting can be arranged you should send the following information to the relevant Area Team Leader:

  • A site location plan.
  • A brief summary of the proposed development.
  • Sketch drawings and photographs to describe the site/building as existing.
  • Sketch drawings to describe the proposal.
  • Confirmation that you are willing to pay the appropriate fee. (what fee?)
  • Contact details email/phone and postal address

Within 14 days of receiving a request for a meeting or submission of pre application proposals the Area Team Leader will contact you either by phone/email or in writing to confirm:

  • That your proposal requires a meeting to provide pre application advice; the Area Team Leader has the right to decline a request for a meeting to provide pre application advice where it is not considered either appropriate or necessary.
  • Any additional information that is required before meeting is offered; and
  • The name(s) of the planning officer(s) who will be handling your enquiry.

The Pre Application Meeting and Written Confirmation of Officer Advice

Following the meeting you will receive a written response confirming the advice given. The information set out in the written response will be verified by the Area Team Leader and, where appropriate, Head of Planning and Building Control.

Our aim is to issue a responsewithin 2 weeks of the meeting being held. Where this is not possible due to the issues being more complex, aspecific time scale reflecting this will be agreedat the meeting

Footnote

The final decision on planning applications maybe made by Development Control Committee and in some cases delegated to senior officers. The decision can only be taken following consultations with adjoining occupiers, statutory consultees and other interested parties once we have received and accepted your application(s) and following detailed assessment of the facts of the case. You should therefore be aware that the council officers are unable to offer any guarantees about the decision that will be made on your application(s).

Contact us

Regeneration and Performance
Planning and Building Control
Civic Centre
Darwall Street
Walsall
WS1 1DG

Email planningservices@walsall.gov.uk
Telephone (01922) 652452
Textphone 0845 111 2910
Translation Line (01922) 652426
Fax (01922) 623234

Visit us

At the First Stop Shop www.walsall.gov.uk/first_stop_shop.htm

Office opening times

  • Monday: 8.45am – 5.15pm
  • Tuesday: 8.45am – 5.15pm
  • Wednesday: 9.30am – 5.15am
  • Thursday: 8.45am – 5.15pm
  • Friday: 8.45am - 4.45pm

Christmas and New Year 2008 opening times

  • Tuesday 23 December:- 8.45am – 5.15pm
  • Wednesday 24 December: closed
  • Thursday 25 December: closed
  • Friday 26 December: closed
  • Monday 29 December: 8.45am – 5.15pm
  • Tuesday 30 December: 8.45am – 5.15pm
  • Wednesday 31 December: 9.30am – 4pm
  • Thursday 1 January: closed
  • Friday 2 January: 8.45am – 4.45pm

Complaints/compliments

Please view our complaints and compliments webpage where you can complete an online contact form or alternatively you can print and complete our comments, compliments and complaints form.