A new pre-application flowchart has just been introduced to advise on the different steps of the pre-application process with both in person advice for small scale projects and written advice for major or detailed projects.This will ensure that the application process is more transparent and easier to navigate for applicants and officers alike.
Pre-application advice flow chart
In person advice
You can meet a duty planning officer in person Monday to Friday, 10am to 2pm at the Customer Hub. You don’t need to make an appointment.
This service is for householders and small businesses wishing to discuss the planning process or what may require planning consent.
We can offer advice on minor changes or developments, including:
- house extensions and loft conversions
- conservatories, garages, sheds
- windows and doors
- fences and decking
- parking and driveways
- removal of boundary walls and structures
- advertisement and signage
- domestic solar panels and wind turbines
If you’re planning a major project, you can request written pre-application advice.
This service is currently free.
Written pre-application advice
Anyone can ask for written pre-application planning advice, but most queries come from major projects.
Advice is offered without prejudice, but is designed to provide the best available opportunity to secure a positive outcome at planning application stage.
The service allows us to engage in a collaborative manner, to discuss design details, policy application and interpretation, and detailed submission requirements before a planning application is submitted.
Our advice will tell you if you need to do any of the following before submitting a planning application:
- provide additional information
- change your proposals
- consult other groups or organisation
We will consult with other departments and services on your behalf. If we receive comments in time, they will be included in your pre-application advice.
A pre-application meeting with a planning officer can be scheduled by adding this specific request in the “description” box on the application form.
If you don’t request a meeting, you may not be contacted before receiving written advice. However, the planning officer may contact you if further clarity is needed to fully understand a proposed scheme, especially in more complex cases.
How to request written pre-application advice
You can submit your request through the Planning and Building Portal if you have an account. If you do not have an account, you can register on the portal.To process your request, you must provide:
- the full site address
- a description of the proposed development
These are the minimum requirements.
The quality of the advice we give depends on the information you provide.
To receive more detailed advice about your project, include as much of the following as possible:
- site and location maps showing existing buildings and features
- details of existing and proposed uses, floor space and occupation
- photographs of the site, existing buildings and the surrounding area
- sketch drawings showing elevations, floor plans, access, parking, architectural treatment and materials
If you can't register for a
Planning and Building Portal account you can:
- complete a
Pre-Application Advice Request
- email it to
planning@gov.je
Your request will be reviewed by a planning officer. They should give you written advice within 6 weeks.
Once we've received your pre-application you can choose to meet the planning officer for up to 45 minutes. Make sure you indicate on the portal or within your application form that you want a meeting. We will set up the meeting within 2 weeks.
We can provide you with a written summary of what was discussed after the meeting, which in some cases will be the pre application written advice.
What we can’t advise you on
The advice we give you isn’t binding on the final decision of a formal planning application.
We base pre-application advice on the planning circumstances at the time, which has its limitations.
The pre-application process doesn’t involve or include:
- public consultation
- advice from other technical sources
- input everyone who may make the final decision
Advice is given with the best of intentions, but proposals can’t be pre-determined outside the formal application process because situations change, projects evolve, issues emerge.
You should get advice from your own professional team. For major projects, you may want to include:
- planning consultancy input
- architectural and design services
- other specialist technical disciplines
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