Can I get advice before I put in my planning application?

Yes, we will happily discuss your plans with you before you apply and will always try to have someone available to provide help.  There is no charge for this service.  However, if you want to discuss a specific proposal please make an appointment so that you can see the right person who can deal with your enquiry efficiently. You can also speak to members of the Countryside, Landscape, Design & Conservation and Archaeology teams if you require specialist advice.

From 1st October 2008 there are important changes to the rules allowing you to alter or extend your house. Please view the Planning Portal Interactive House for more information.

Talking to us first can help you put your proposals in the best possible format with the correct details so we can deal with your application as quickly as possible.  Although we cannot tell you if your application will succeed, we can usually give you a good idea about whether it is worth pursuing.  We may also suggest how you could change your plans to make them more likely to succeed.

We can give you accurate and objective advice about:

1. National and Local Planning policies which are relevant to your application,
2. Previous similar or related decisions,
3. Any particular design requirements or standards which will apply to your plans, such as providing car parking or open space, and
4. Any other special permission you might need.

For further guidance see the Do I need additional approvals page. Here you can find out about Building Regulations, Trees, Hedgerows, Wildlife, Conservation Areas, Listed Buildings, Advertisements and Lawful Develoment Certificates.

Advice at this pre-application stage, however, can only be informal and it is only when an application is submitted that a full assessment will take place.

How to contact us

The Council's Development Control Service can be contacted at the Forum Offices on the 2nd Floor (lift available) during the normal office hours of 8.30 am. to 4.45 pm. Monday to Friday.   In the first instance, please call (01244) 324324 and ask for the Development Control duty officer.

Depending upon the nature of your enquiry, the Development Control duty officer may be able to give you the required informal planning advice over the telephone, or alternatively, need to arrange an informal meeting with a Planning officer, either at our offices or on the proposal site address.  Please note that in some cases, you may be required to write in and provide sketch details of what you propose to do.

The Council has also published free advice leaflets, which give further advice on a range of topics, including design guidance for occupiers of listed buildings and properties within a conservation area.  To read the up-to-date list of all the publications available from our office, including those produced by Communities and Local Government  (external link), please see the Planning Publications page.

The Local Plan can also be inspected at the 2nd floor Planning reception during normal office hours.

Do you recommend professional agents to prepare and submit a Planning and Building Regulation application on my behalf?

The council cannot recommend anyone to act on your behalf. However, it does recommend that you use a member of one of the professional associations listed below. Alternatively, examine the list of planning applications to find a local agent who submits applications for the type of work that you are considering.

List of professional bodies (all external links)

Association of Building Engineers, (http://www.abe.org.uk/) (external link) Jubilee House, Billing Brook Road, Northampton

Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists, (http://www.ciat.org.uk/)  (external link)397 City Road, London, EC1V 1NE

Chartered Institute of Building, (http://www.ciob.org.uk/) (external link) Englemer, Kings Ride, Ascot, Berkshire, SL5 8BJ

Institute of Structural Engineers, (http://www.istructe.org.uk/) (external link) 11 Upper Belgrave Street, London, SW1X 8BH

Royal Institute of British Architects, (http://www.architecture.com/go/Architecture/Home.html)  (external link) 66 Portland Place, London,WIN 4AD

Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, (http://www.rics.org.uk/default) (external link) 12 Great George Street, Parliament Square, London, SW10 3AD

Royal Town Planning Institute, (http://www.rtpi.org.uk/) (external link) 41 Botolph Lane, London, EC3R 8DL

Contact Details

Planning - Development Control

Email - planning@chester.gov.uk

Opening hours - 8.30am - 4.45pm

Phone number - 01244 402404

Fax - 01244 320946

Address - Development Control, Development Directorate, Chester City Council, The Forum, Chester, CH1 2HS