Pre-application process
We encourage you to discuss your proposals with us before you submit a planning application. This ensures you understand:
- what planning policies and other requirements affect your proposal
- what information you need to submit
- if there are any changes you can make to your proposal to increase the chances of us granting planning permission
You can find out more about the pre-application process and how to request pre-application advice.
Depending on the type and size of the proposal, you may also want to talk to other relevant statutory authorities and organisations. You should do this as early in the design process as possible.
Other relevant consultees may include (but are not limited to):
- parish/town councils
- Essex County Council (including Education and Schools, Highways and Sustainable Urban Drainage)
- NHS and the Clinical Commissioning Group (health provision)
- Environment Agency (flood risk)
- utility companies (such as Essex and Suffolk Water, Anglian Water, gas and electricity companies and phone operators)
- Natural England and Essex Wildlife Trust
- Historic England
- Sport England
We can also let you know if you should seek advice from other bodies, as part of our pre-application advice. Some of these bodies may charge for advice.
For larger-scale or potentially contentious proposals, we encourage you to engage with the local community before submitting a planning application.