Planning advice for highways, drainage and developer contribution matters

The Flood and Development Management Team responds to consultations on planning applications on behalf of Westmorland and Furness Council in its capacity as:

• Local Highway Authority
• Lead Local Flood Authority
• Local Education Authority

Benefits of pre-planning advice

Pre-planning application discussions can result in an improved application that is more likely to be approved. Developers have found the pre-application process can reduce overall costs by cutting down on further work and speeding-up the decision making process once an planning application has been submitted.

The advice can cover views and guidance on:

• suitability of highway access, layout and/or parking arrangements
• whether a drainage strategy or design is likely to be acceptable
• the level of detail needed in documentation required to be submitted in support of a planning application - such as whether a Transport Note, Transport Statement, Transport Assessment and/or Travel Plan is required and the scope of its content
• whether a contribution towards highways, drainage or education infrastructure is likely to be required
• relevant standards and policies that should be applied

Pre-application charges

The charges for this service currently stand at:

£676.80 (inclusive of VAT) for major developments (which are defined as proposals for residential development of 21 or more residential dwellings and all forms of commercial/industrial development).

£337.20 (inclusive of VAT) for minor developments (which are defined as proposals for residential development of 5 to 20 dwellings).  

Please note that charges are reviewed annually and any alterations to their basis or increases are applied from the 1 April.

Once a fully supported request for advice has been received, the council will arrange for an invoice to be issued.

How to apply

To get planning advice, complete a copy of the application form and attach the support documentations that are specified in the form.

Form for Pre-Planning Application Advice (.doc, 75KB)

The completed form and relevant supporting documents should be sent to us by email.

Email: PreApp@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk

Please note that this service is just for Highways, Drainage and Education advice.  If a full pre-app service is required, the scope, fees and how to apply are on our pre-planning webpage.The highways, drainage and education advice will be included in the full pre-app service if the more wide-ranging review is required.

Responding to planning applications

The Flood and Development Management Team responds on behalf of the council as a consultee to the local and county planning authorities planning applications as the:

• Local Highway Authority
• Lead Local Flood Authority
• Education Authority

If you would like any information in relation to our response to a planning application, please contact us.

Telephone: 0300 373 3306
Email: PreApp@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk