Request pre-application advice
If you would wish to obtain planning advice from the council, we now offer a range of services. These include;
- Written advice on a range of projects including householder alterations, adverts, new dwellings and commercial proposals
- Advice on listed buildings in writing and in person
- Booking a meeting to speak to a planner to discuss an initial proposal as part of the 'Planning Surgery' services.
- Written or on-site Tree advice
- Written or on-site Listed Building Advice
- Guidance on what you need to include with a planning application
- Site Constraint Checks
- Advice in writing as to whether Advertisement or Listed Building Consent is required
- Advice in writing as to whether planning permission is required.
- Meetings following on from the determination of your planning application
- Speaking to a member of the team by telephone as part of the 'Duty Planner Service' to gain advice on the appropriate pre-application route for your enquiry.
If your site address falls within the boundary of South Downs National Park please visit South Downs National Park pre-application advice (opens new window)
Details of what you can expect from each of the pre-application advice services are provided below. A full list of the services and fees are available to view.
Pre-Application Advice Charging Scheme 2024 (Word doc, 51 KB)
Please be aware that pre-application advice is informal only and does not guarantee the outcome of an application. Formal decisions on a proposal can only be achieved through the submission and consideration of a formal application, i.e. Planning Application, Lawful Development Certificate or Application for Advertisement Consent.
Pre-application requests for advice will not be subject to any publicity but we may be obliged to release documents and information if we receive a Freedom of Information request or Environmental Information Request and our file notes will form part of the public file if an application follows.
In addition, in the event a formal application is submitted for the proposal the enquiry shall be published.
Pre-Application Advice Form (PDF, 160 KB)
Pre-application requests for advice will not be subject to any publicity but we may be obliged to release documents and information if we receive a Freedom of Information request or Environmental Information Request and our file notes will form part of the public file if an application follows.
In addition, in the event a formal application is submitted for the proposal the enquiry shall be published.
Please be aware that all enquiries for written advice need to be accompanied by a location plan clearly identifying the enquiry site.
Duty planner service
Our telephone Duty Planner Service is available:
- 09:00 - 13:00 Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday; and,
- 09:00 - 16:00 on a Wednesday.
the Duty Planner Service is to guide you to the appropriate pre-application service for your enquiry, or direct you to where you can find out about how to submit a planning application.
Please be aware that the council's telephone Duty Planner Service will not be able to advise whether a particular proposal would be acceptable or whether it would require planning permission or not, as this will depend on the specific material considerations of the proposal and site. Our Pre-application and Do I Need Planning Permission services are the appropriate route to obtain this advice.
What to expect:
Guidance from a Planning Officer / Planning Technician to advise on the appropriate pre-application route
What not to expect:
- Advice on a specific proposal or site
- Advice on whether a proposal would be acceptable
- Advice as to whether a particular proposal would be permitted development
Planning surgery
Planning Surgery
Please only book a Planning Surgery once a Duty Planner has confirmed this is the correct service for your enquiry. Our telephone Duty Planner Service is available 09:00 - 13:00 Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and 09:00 - 16:00 Wednesdays on 01243 785166.
The Planning Surgery service allows for an up to 30 minute meeting with a Planning Officer to discuss a single proposal, to obtain broad advice on the merits of an initial proposal.
Planning Surgeries differ from the Written Pre-application Advice services in that they are designed for a discussion on broad advice for an initial proposal, and with a shorter time period than the Written Pre-Application Advice.
The scope of the Planning Surgery service means that if your proposals have developed beyond an initial proposal (for example you wish to discuss detailed elevations/layouts), then the Written Pre-application Advice services may be more appropriate for your enquiry as they are designed to allow for more detailed comments to be made on the merits of a scheme.
There are three different categories for Planning Surgeries based on the scale of the proposal:
- Planning Surgery (Householder) - for enquiries for development in the curtilage of a dwellinghouse which would fall within a Householder Planning Application
- Planning Surgery (Minors) - For enquiries which would fall within a Minor Planning Application
- Planning Surgery (Majors) - For enquiries which would fall within a Major Planning Application
What to expect:
- A 30 minute meeting to discuss a single case
- Meetings will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays only
- Meeting dates will be arranged at a mutually agreed date and time
- Officer will provide broad views on an initial proposal
- A summary of the advice will be emailed to you
- The advice will be made public if a subsequent application is received.
What not to expect:
- A guaranteed outcome on a planning application
- An in-depth analysis of a specific proposal. If more detailed advice is required, our written advice procedure would be more appropriate.
- Confirmation that a proposal would be permitted development.
- Views of consultees or other specialist advice.
- Detailed advice in respect of Listed Buildings.
Book a planning surgery meeting
Meeting following a Recent Application
A new service has been introduced for meetings to discuss an application which was determined or withdrawn within the previous 12 months. We will endeavour that the meeting is with the previous case officer, and held over the telephone, video call or in the office where possible. Notes summarising the points discussed will be provided following the meeting.
Should you wish to submit revisions for discussion these must be provided at the time of booking the meeting to enable time for them to be considered.
Advice following a recent application, or as a 'follow up' meeting for a previous written pre-application submission must be of the same character and on the same site as the earlier application, and submitted by the same applicant. Where significant changes have been made, whether the proposal falls within the scope of these follow up services will be at the discretion of officers.
Listed building advice
Listed Building Advice allows for advice from our Conservation and Design Team, and is a separate service to our planning pre-application advice services. For example, if you are seeking advice about extending a Listed Building, you may wish to seek Listed Building Advice as well as planning advice.
There are two options, for 'written Listed Building Advice' and 'Listed Building Advice on site'.
What to expect:
For on-site advice:
- A date for site visit arranged within 10 working days where on-site advice is sought
- Meeting on the application site of no more than 1 hour
- A summary of points discussed in writing
Where written advice is requested, a written response in the form of a letter, email or notification based on a desktop assessment of the submitted details
- Access to the council's Conservation and Design Team
- Advice as to how best to take your scheme forward or areas to avoid
What not to expect:
- Advice on other planning matters or input from a Planning Officer
- A guaranteed outcome on a listed building application
Do I need planning permission?
Do I Need Permission / Consent
If you wish to know whether a particular proposal requires planning permission, the council offers the Do I Need Planning Permission service. This is split into the following categories depending on the nature of the development:
- Do I Need Planning Permission (Householder) - for permitted development enquiries for development in the curtilage of a dwellinghouse
Do I need planning permission (householder)
- Do I Need Planning Permission (Other) - For other permitted development enquiries for commercial and residential proposals
Do I need planning permission (other)
Our Do I Need Listed Building Consent service allows for advice as to whether Listed Building Consent would be required for works.
Do I need listed building consent?
Advice is also available on whether displaying an advertisement would need consent through the Do I Need Advertisement Consent service.
Do I need advertisement consent?
Other General Advice
Should you only require advice on what will need to be included with a planning application or the constraints of a particular site, we offer a Validation Local List Advice service, and a Site Constraints Check service.
Written pre-app householder and others (i.e. replacement dwelling, change of use)
The written pre-application advice services allow for advice to be sought on the planning merits of a broad range of proposals, ranging from Householder Development (extensions/alterations/outbuildings within the curtilage of a dwellinghouse) to Major Developments. The council has also introduced new written pre-application advice categories for alterations to shop fronts and for businesses at residential properties where a change of use or operational development is required.
Written pre-application advice can be requested by completing the application form and paying the relevant fee depending on the type of development. The advice given will be based on the information provided, and at a very minimum we will require a location plan to be submitted.
What to expect:
- A formal written response in the form of a letter, email or notes of a meeting
- For minor proposals 4 week timescale for response
- For major proposals a bespoke timescale
- For major proposals a site visit and input from key consultees
- Input from a Planning Officer or Senior Planning Officer
- A full analysis of a proposal and officer opinion as to issues or merits of a particular proposal
What not to expect:
- A site visit or meeting in every case. The need for a site visit for minor proposals will be determined by the case officer.
- A guaranteed outcome on a planning application
- Advice on whether the proposals would constitute permitted Development
Written pre-app for minors (i.e. 1-9 dwellings)
What to expect:
- A formal written response in the form of a letter, email or notes of a meeting
- A 20 working day timescale for a response, unless an extension of time is agreed
- Input from a Senior Planning Officer
- A full analysis of a proposal and officer opinion as to issues or merits of a particular proposal
What not to expect:
- A site visit or meeting on site or in the office in every case. The need for a site visit will be determined by the case officer.
- Input from all consultees
- A guaranteed outcome on a planning application
Written pre-app for majors (10+ dwellings)
What to expect:
- A site visit
- A formal written response in the form of a letter, email or notes of a meeting
- A bespoke timescale for response
- Input from a Senior Planning Officer within the Majors and Business Team
- Input from key consultees
- A full analysis of a proposal and officer opinion as to issues or metis of a particular proposal
What not to expect:
- A meeting in every case. The need for a site visit will be determined by the case officer.
- A guaranteed outcome on a planning application
Tree Advice
The council has introduced options for 'written tree advice' and 'tree advice on site' to provide advice about works proposed to trees which are the subject of a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) or trees that are located within a Conservation Area.
Please be aware that such advice will be provided in response to specific proposals for applications for works to trees. The Arboricultural advice will not extend to an assessment of the health or soundness of a tree and will not cover those trees that are not 'protected'. For other matters, including surveys to inform applications, you would need to employ the advice of an arborist or suitably qualified tree surgeon.
What to expect:
- Advice will be provided in response to specific proposals for applications for works to trees.
- Where written advice is requested, a written response in the form of a letter, email or notification
- A 15 working day timescale for response to a request for written advice
- A meeting arranged within 10 working days of receipt of the application form
What not to expect:
- Advice on the health or soundness of a tree
- Advice regarding trees that are not 'protected' (i.e. within a conservation area or the subject of a Tree Preservation Order). For other matters, including surveys to inform applications, you would need to employ the advice of a specialist
- Input from a Planning Officer
- A guaranteed outcome on an application
South Downs National Park
The Chichester District council pre-application advice services are available for sites within the area of the Chichester District which are not within the South Downs National Park (SDNP).
For guidance on the pre-application advice services offered for sites within the Chichester District which are within the National Park please see the SDNP pre-app advice (opens new window).
History Planning Information and Plotting Sheets
1948 to 1992
Planning Applications submitted between 1948 and 1992 are held on microfiche and details can be viewed at the council offices during opening hours with no prior appointment. Alternatively, you can research the application references using the 'Plotting Sheets' and complete the Request Planning Information form, so the details can be sent to you. These options will be temporarily suspended between Monday 16 September and Friday 3 January. During this time please direct any microfiche enquiries to dcplanning@chichester.gov.uk where a member of the Planning Administration Team will be able to help and advise.
Planning history plotting sheets
1992 to present day
Planning Applications submitted from 1992 to present day are held electronically and are available to view and download using the council's Public Access System.
View planning applications (opens new window)
Contact us
For further information and advice email dcplanning@chichester.gov.uk. Alternatively, you can phone us on 01243 534734.
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