What is pre-application advice
Pre-application advice is an optional service designed to help you understand how planning policies relate to your proposed development. While it may not be suitable for every situation, it is recommended if you know that planning permission will be required.
We provide a written response, available to both the public and developers, highlighting 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 to:
- Understand relevant planning policies
- Assess a site's potential
- Identify if specialist input is needed
- Improve the quality of your application
- Save time and reduce costs during development
- Spot potential issues early on
Any advice provided by us does not constitute formal consent. It does not guarantee that a future application will be successful or that development can commence. You are entitled to submit a planning application regardless of the advice received.
What to include
The level of detail required in your request 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 complexity of your proposal. Fees are reviewed annually and updated each April.
View planning fees and charges
To estimate your planning application costs, please 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, see our developer contributions guidance to estimate these costs. Include them 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 required 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.