Consultation: Pre-application Advice Charging Schedule

Introduction

Exeter City Council is seeking feedback on its draft pre-application charging document for non-major development. The purpose of this consultation is to determine whether the proposed charging schedule, descriptions of the services offered, expected response times, exemptions, and supporting guidance are all clear, reasonable and user-friendly.

Rationale for Introducing Charges

The Council proposes implementing charges for pre-application advice because this service is currently discretionary, which means high demand can exceed officer capacity, which can lead to extended response times. Exeter is currently one of the few local planning authorities in the UK that does not charge for this type of service. Introducing a charging schedule is intended to promote a more consistent and robust service for residents, agents and applicants. Furthermore, the revenue generated from these charges will be reinvested into the service to support its ongoing delivery, enhance service quality, and reduce reliance on the availability of officer capacity at any given time.

Summary of the Draft Charging Document

The draft charging document provides details on the types of enquiries included, the level of service that will be provided, the information applicants need to supply, and the timescales for responses. The Council invites residents, agents, and other stakeholders to share their views on the clarity of the document and the practicality of the proposed arrangements.

Paper copies of the survey and draft charging template are available upon request from reception at the Civic Centre, Paris Street, Exeter, EX1 1JN

Civic Centre is open Monday - Friday, 9am - 2pm

Complete the survey below - it will take no longer than 5 minutes