Apply for planning permission

To make sure we add value to development in the area, deliver our core business and key priorities for customers and stakeholders, we focus our pre-application advice on major development only.

To allow us to give you pre-application advice, you will need to email us as much information as possible.

The minimum information we need is:

• location plan (1:1250 or 1:2500 scale) with the site outlined in red
• site layout plan, including indicative details of site access
• elevations
• photographs of site
• draft design and access statement

If you are submitting proposals for major development and would like pre-application advice, please make your request using this form. 

We will only arrange a meeting if we consider it necessary.

We will respond to you within 28 days with an initial assessment of the development against the development plan and other relevant guidance. We will give an opinion of what the key issues are likely to be and a note of what supporting information should accompany the planning application.

Please be aware that pre-applicaton advice cannot guarantee your planning application will be successful.

Pre-application consultation with community

Major development applications need pre-application consultation (PAC) to be carried out between developers and communities. 

Comments during this period can only be made to the applicant or agent and not to the council. This is to allow the applicant to consider community comments before submitting the planning application.

Where a PAC is required, the applicant must submit a proposal of application notice (PAN) at least 12 weeks before the submission of a planning application. A proposal of application notice is available from ePlanning.scot. 

The Scottish Government has published guidance on pre-application consultations for public events and all consultation events must meet these requirements.   

In summary, this should include as a minimum:

• an online interactive event (including the opportunity for two-way communication)
• the provision of information about the project
• the facility to provide feedback 
• the opportunity for anyone not online to get information, speak to someone about the scheme and also provide feedback

There are also some amended timescales for aspects of the process during this period. The required press advertisement should also be carefully worded to clearly explain the consultation event as well as the different participation opportunities and timescales involved.