Pre-app planning advice
Confidentiality of planning pre-application advice
The pre-application advice service is an optional value-added service and any applications we receive are treated as confidential. They are not publicly available on the planning portal. However, we may be asked to provide information about pre-application advice inquiries, and copies of any correspondence or advice provided, under:
This information may only be withheld if its disclosure could:
- Prejudice commercial interests
- Inhibit the free and frank provision of advice or exchange of views during the planning process
- Prejudice the effective conduct of public affairs
If you would like it to stay confidential you should include written justification when requesting pre-application advice. This justification needs to include the reasons why, and for how long the information needs to be confidential. We will not respond at the time of your request but will take it into account when deciding whether to release information.
It is at our discretion whether information can be treated as exempt from disclosure and it should be recognised that the point of the legislation is to make information accessible unless there is a pressing reason not to. The passage of time may remove the need for exemption as information becomes less sensitive. Generally, notes and correspondence relating to pre-application discussion will not be treated as confidential once a planning application has been submitted and the case is in the public domain.