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
- 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
- Planning Appeals
- 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) | Fee for the first three meetings (including VAT) | Fee for additional meetings, (per meeting and including VAT) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 to 4 dwellings | Less than 0.5ha | 500 or less | £378.31 | £152.75 |
| 5 to 9 dwellings | 0.6 to 0.99ha | 501 to 999 | £757.26 | £152.75 |
| 10 to 49 dwellings | 1 to 1.25ha | 1,000 to 2,499 | £1,497.56 | £754.63 |
| 50 to 199 dwellings | 1.26 to 2ha | 2,500 to 9,999 | £3,004.36 | £1,136.30 |
| 200 or more dwellings | More than 2ha | 10,000 or more | £4,507.08 | £1,509.06 |
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 | Fee (including VAT) | Fee for additional meetings, (per meeting and including VAT) |
|---|---|---|
| Advertisements | £79.37 | £42.85 |
| Change of use | £225.92 | £116.18 |
| Telecommunications | £225.92 | £116.18 |
|
Glasshouses or Poly Tunnels |
£334.40 | £152.75 |
| Householder development | £54.94 | Not applicable |
| All other development proposals not falling within any of the above categories such as variation of removal of conditions, car parks, roads, Heritage and Listed Building Formal Written Advice Service and certificates of lawfulness | £152.75 | £79.37 |
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.