What is pre-application advice
Pre-application advice is an optional service designed to help you understand how planning policies apply to your proposed development. While it may not be suitable for all situations, it is recommended if you know that planning permission is required.
We provide a written response to both the public and developers, highlighting the key issues to consider during the planning process.
Benefits of seeking advice
There are significant advantages to obtaining advice before submitting an application.
Early advice can help you:
- understand relevant planning policies
- assess the potential of a site
- identify if specialist input is needed
- improve the quality of your application
- save time and reduce costs in developing your proposals
- identify issues early on
Any pre-application advice provided by us does not constitute formal consent. It does not guarantee that a future application will be successful or that development can begin. You are entitled to submit a planning application to us regardless of any advice received.
What to include
The level of detail in pre-application advice largely depends on the information you provide. The more comprehensive your submission, the more detailed our response will be.
All requests must be made in writing using our online forms. If mandatory information is missing, your request and fee will be returned.
Fees
Pre-application advice is a paid service. Fees vary depending on the scale and nature of your proposal. Fees are reviewed annually and updated in April.
View planning fees and charges
To estimate your planning application costs use the fee calculator.
Developer contributions
If you plan to develop land in Highland, you may need to contribute financially towards infrastructure and services.
Before applying, consult our developer contributions guidance to estimate costs. Include these in your project budget when purchasing land or planning your development.
Freedom of Information
Pre-application advice is treated as confidential and is not published online. However, we may be asked to release information under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act.
To request confidentiality, include a cover letter explaining:
- why the information should be withheld
- how long it should remain confidential
We may still disclose information if it is in the public interest. Once a planning application is submitted, related pre-application advice may no longer remain confidential.