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You are here: Home > Business and planning > Planning > Planning permission > Submitting an application > Before you make a planning application

Preparing a planning application

This section provides some factors to consider before you submit a planning application.

Planning applications can be complicated depending on what you want done. 

For major structural changes we suggest you employ an agent who knows the intricacies of the planning system and can draw up plans that meet our planning requirements as well as your needs. 

You are also welcome to advice from the Council. For advice please visit the Town Hall in Castlefield Road, Reigate and ask to speak to the planning duty officer weekdays between 9am and noon. No appointment is necessary.

Whether you choose to employ an agent, seek our advice or work alone, we expect you to take the following steps before drawing up your proposal:

1. Assess the character of the surrounding area and consider how your proposal could respect it. The character of an area is influenced by:

• the appearance of existing buildings, their mass, height, and architectural details;
• the materials used in the buildings
• spacing between buildings
• trees and hedges and their relationship with buildings and the street
• road layout and design
• the dominant land use, e.g. residential or commercial 

2. Identify natural and built features within and adjacent to the site that should be preserved (e.g. listed buildings and significant trees);

3. Consider the likely transport impacts of their proposal and how these may be mitigated;

4. Consider the likely neighbour amenity impacts of their proposal and how these may be mitigated;

5. Identify planning policies relevant to your proposal;

6. Select a design approach that addresses the above points;

7. Consult your neighbours, local businesses and community groups if appropriate.

The Council will provide pre-application advice to supplement the above. To maximise the effectiveness of any discussion please submit any plans and written material in advance. 

The requested material must be received at least two working days before the meeting, otherwise the Council may decline to discuss the proposal.

Our priority must be to process already submitted applications, so extensive research and inspection of the site is unlikely at the pre-application stage. 

We regret that site meetings cannot be held. Office-based advice is available through a duty planner at the Town Hall. 

The Council will tell your neighbours about any application you make and it is therefore wise, as well as courteous, to tell them what you plan to do now. 

It may be that you can overcome any objections they may have by making minor adjustments to your proposal.

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