Learn how development proposals are discussed or consulted on before an application is submitted.
Last updated: 2 July 2025
Before a planning application is submitted, an applicant may decide to discuss their development proposal informally with the local planning authority (LPA) or submit a pre-application enquiry. However, the only opportunity for the community or interested parties to engage in pre-application discussions is often via developer-led public consultation. Read on to learn more.
When drawing up development proposals, developers may approach the LPA for informal advice on whether an application is likely to be successful and to discuss any other issues in advance of an application being made. However, there is no obligation on an LPA to engage in informal discussions with a developer and many authorities will take the view that any pre-application advice should only be given in a formal context.
A pre-application enquiry is a request for pre-application advice. It is presented by the developer as a formal application but with a lot less detail than is required for a planning application. Sufficient information needs to be provided to allow the LPA to take an informed view of the proposed development, and it will then issue a written response indicating whether or not the pre-application proposal complies with planning policy.
Pre-application enquiries are often not published online by the LPA, and in any case they are not subject to public consultation and so do not usually provide any opportunity for third party engagement or representations. However, some LPAs do publish pre-application enquiries online so it’s worth checking what your own LPA’s approach is.
The LPA's response to a pre-application enquiry can give a good indication of how the planning application is likely to be determined. It’s worth requesting a copy of any such advice if it’s not already provided as part of the planning application documents.
Pre-application engagement with the local community is encouraged in national planning policy, however in most cases it is not compulsory. At present, proposals for certain types of wind turbines are the only developments for which the local community must be consulted before a planning application is submitted.
Where a scheme is likely to have a significant impact on the community, for example a new large-scale residential or commercial development, the developer may choose to consult with stakeholders and the general public well in advance of submitting a planning application. Such public consultation, which is usually well advertised locally, may include public drop-in sessions and presentations as well as the opportunity for local communities to make written representations and online comments.
However, only relatively few development proposals will undergo pre-application public consultation, so for the majority of planning proposals the local community will not be consulted prior to a planning application being submitted.
Keeping an eye on the land allocations proposed within your area’s local plan will give you an idea of large-scale development proposals likely to be coming forward.
Where pre-application public consultation for a local development proposal does take place, that is an excellent opportunity to try to influence the scheme.
Engaging with the applicant and/or the LPA before the planning application is submitted increases the chances of positively influencing the development to reflect local wildlife interests and for enhancement and mitigation measures to be designed into the scheme.
