Pre-application enquiries

There are now two ways to deal with pre-application enquiries but these are not to be confused with the major pre-application consultation process. Please view one of the following for the relevant fees and requirements:

Please email completed pre-application and statutory pre-application forms to planningregistration@cardiff.gov.uk

Fees can be paid over the telephone following confirmation of an application number which will be emailed to you.

Statutory Pre-application Advice

This is a process set by Welsh Government.

We require a completed pre-application advice enquiry form (121kb PDF) Link opens in a new window External link opens in a new window along with indication of the increase in floor space and/or the number of new units proposed, site address and location plan at a minimum.

The appropriate fee must be included to enable processing:

Householder - £25
Minor Development - £250 (1-9 dwellings; floor space including change of use less than 999 sqm)
Major Development - £600 (1—24 dwellings, floor space including change of use 1,000 to 1,999 sqm)
Large Major Development £1000 (More than 24 dwellings, floor space including change of use more than 1,999 sqm)

This will enable the department to provide a written response to all valid enquires and should, at a minimum provide the following:

Relevant planning history of the site
Relevant development plan policies
Relevant supplementary planning guidance
Any other material planning considerations
An initial assessment of the proposed development, based on the information above

Discretionary Pre-application Advice

The information in this document has been designed for print and may not be fully accessible online.

Householder / Minor applications - £60
Minor Development - £300 (1-9 dwellings; floor space including change of use less than 999 sqm)
Major Development - £1500 (1—24 dwellings, floor space including change of use 1,000 to 1,999 sqm)
Large Major Development £3000 (More than 24 dwellings, floor space including change of use more than 1,999 sqm)

A discretionary pre-application response will do the following:

Explains which policies/standards are likely to apply to the development
Identifies at an early stage any need for specialist input (e.g. about listed buildings, trees, landscape, noise, transport, contaminated land, ecology and archaeology),
Helps ensure that your application is complete and, for validation to avoid rejection at registration stage or early refusal because of inadequate information,
Indicates where a proposal is unacceptable, saving you the cost of an application.

Once you have submitted the form we will contact you to arrange a meeting if necessary and will write to you with our advice and recommendations. This will be between 30 days and eight weeks from when we receive your application, depending on what type of building project it is.

A pre-application enquiry is not a legal requirement and you can apply for planning permission without it.

Pre-application consultation for major applications

Not to be confused with the above pre-application processes, there is also now a requirement to undertake certain consultation for major applications prior to submission of any planning application to the authority.

If, as part of your pre-application consultation, you need to contact the Highways Authority for Cardiff please use the following address - TransportConsultations@cardiff.gov.uk

Pre-application consultation reports will be required from 1 August 2016.

Get a formal decision on whether you need planning permission (Lawful Development Certificate - LDC)

A pre-application enquiry offers professional advice about your building work but it is not a formal planning decision. If you want a definite yes or no answer about whether or not you need planning permission you can submit an application for a Lawful Development Certificate (LDC).

LDC applications for proposed use or development is half the usual planning fee. Existing use or development is the full fee.

For more information about Lawful Development Certificates, and to apply, visit the national Planning Portal website External link opens in a new window .

Advice about land use

Planning Aid Wales External link opens in a new window is an independent charity which provides advice and support on all aspects of planning permissions for how pieces of land are used in Wales.