Charging for pre-application advice
- Search for Applications
- Making a Planning Application
- Heritage and Conservation
- Planning Policy
- Neighbourhood Planning
- Designated Neighbourhood Areas
- Abberley Neighbourhood Plan
- Broadwas and Cotheridge Neighbourhood Plan
- Malvern Town Neighbourhood Plan
- Hanley Castle Parish Neighbourhood Plan
- Clifton upon Teme Neighbourhood Plan
- Kempsey Neighbourhood Plan
- Martley, Knightwick and Doddenham Neighbourhood Plan
- Hallow Neighbourhood Plan
- Leigh & Bransford Neighbourhood Plan
- Welland Neighbourhood Plan
- Great Witley and Hillhampton Neighbourhood Plan
- Powick Neighbourhood Plan
- Planning Policy Monitoring
- Brownfield Land Register
- Self-Build and Custom Housebuilding Register
- SWDPR Review
- Neighbourhood Planning
- Other Planning Services
- Community Infrastructure Levy
- Planning Obligations (Section 106)
- Street Naming and Numbering
- Local Land Charges
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- Planning Committee and Meetings
- Planning Conditions and Fees
- Footpath Diversions (S257)
- Supplementary Planning Documents (SPD)
- Local Development Scheme (LDS)
- Planning Weekly List
- Planning History Search
- Planning Enforcement
- South Worcestershire Building Control
Charging for pre-application advice
We do not charge for pre-application advice for new and expanding businesses creating employment opportunities.
We also do not charge for pre-application advice for developments that meet environmental standards or deliver a meaningful contribution to carbon reduction.
From 19 July 2021, pre-application advice applications will have their fee refunded where the applicant commits to and delivers on:
- The installation of a low carbon/renewable energy technology on an existing building (solar panels, heat pumps etc).
- Householder developments that include the installation of low carbon/renewable energy technology (e.g. extensions with a solar panel etc) that exceed the policy/regulatory requirements in operation at that time.
To request a refund, please email the Planning Support Team at
Pre-application advice charges for businesses
The table below sets out our fees for offering pre-application advice from the 1 April 2025 for residential developments.
| Residential development (including one-for-one replacements, conversions and sub-divisions) | Development site area | Proposed gross floor area (measured externally in metres squared) | Initial Pre-Application fee (including VAT) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 to 4 dwellings | Less than 0.5ha | 500 or less | £389.66 |
| 5 to 9 dwellings | 0.6 to 0.99ha | 501 to 999 | £799.97 |
| 10 to 49 dwellings | 1 to 1.25ha | 1,000 to 2,499 | £1,542.49 |
| 50 to 199 dwellings | 1.26 to 2ha | 2,500 to 9,999 | £3,094.48 |
| 200 or more dwellings | More than 2ha | 10,000 or more | £4,642.29 |
The table below sets out the fees for offering pre-application advice from the 1 April 2025 for other types of development.
| Type of development | Initial Pre-Application fee (including VAT) |
|---|---|
| Advertisements | £81.74 |
| Change of use | £232.70 |
|
Glasshouses or Poly Tunnels |
£344.31 |
| Householder development | £56.58 |
| All other development proposals not falling within any of the above categories such as variation of removal of conditions, car parks, roads and certificates of lawfulness | £157.33 |
| For pre-planning application specialist and technical advice relating to trees, ecology, listed buildings, conservation areas and other heritage assets. | £375.00 |
Where a development proposal falls within one or more categories, the higher fee will apply.
Payment should be made at the time of the pre-application advice request.
Payment can be easily made over the telephone by calling 01684 862221. Alternatively you can send a cheque payable to Malvern Hills District Council.
Exemptions
Advice sought in the following categories is free:
- Where the enquiry is made by a local authority or county council.
- Where the enquiry is made by a parish or town council.
- Where the enquiry is made by a housing association, registered social landlord, or an equivalent affordable housing provider or an architect/agent acting directly on their behalf.
- Where the development is for the direct benefit of a disabled person, i.e. an extension, ramp, annex (excludes a new dwelling house), (and as such there would be no fee incurred to make the planning application).
- Advice on how to submit a planning application or a fee enquiry.
- Planning discussions in relation to enforcement investigations.