Pre-application Advice for Householders Guidance

Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council encourages all applicants to seek pre-application advice at the earliest possible opportunity prior to the submission of a planning application.

Open and constructive pre-application discussions provide an opportunity for members of the public, agents, and developers to work with the local planning authority to achieve the most appropriate form of development for the local area and their property.

Pre-application advice can help to:
• save time and frustration by highlighting relevant planning issues at an early stage in the planning process;
• avoid wasted resources on unsuccessful planning schemes and costs of planning appeals;
• gain community confidence from the initial stages of a development scheme;
• support an end-to end management of the delivery chain to sustainable development; and
• deliver high quality development on the ground

Advice will be provided in writing to help you submit your planning application. For larger or more complex schemes, meetings are encouraged, after which the written advice will be provided. Pre-application advice is given in good faith and will represent the case officer's professional view. The advice provided will be as accurate as possible, but it will be based only on the information available at the time of the enquiry. Feedback provided in pre-application discussions does not automatically mean that a planning application will be granted or refused permission.

This webpage may be read in conjunction with any written pre-application advice provided or as an independent document in order to assist you with the preparation and submission of your planning application.