Planning consultants say one early step in the planning permission process - pre-application advice - could help homeowners avoid costly mistakes when applying for permission.
Planning application costs in England increased from 1 April 2026 following a 3.8% inflation-linked rise, adding pressure to get applications right first time.
But while widely recommended, some experts warn it can give homeowners a false sense of confidence rather than reduce risk.
Article continues belowRising costs increase pressure to get applications right first time
With planning application costs now higher, homeowners face greater pressure to avoid mistakes that can lead to delays, redesigns, or resubmissions.
Even small errors or missing details can trigger requests for additional information, adding both time and expense to a project.
Planning consultant Simon Rix of Planix says this makes early preparation increasingly important. “Fees have gone up and the financial penalty for errors is becoming significant,” he says. “Even small oversights in your application can end up costing hundreds once you factor in surveys, drawings, and resubmissions.”
Simon Rix is a professional planning consultant. He was a council officer and later an elected councillor before setting up Planix UK Planning Consultants Ltd.
Why some consultants recommend pre-application advice
One commonly suggested step is pre-application advice, where applicants speak to the local planning authority before submitting a full planning application.
Rix says this can help identify problems early and reduce the chance of costly changes later.
“Pre-application advice allows you to identify problems early, such as planning restrictions, site boundary issues, or local policy requirements,” he explains. “Spending a little upfront can prevent having to resubmit an application and pay the fee again, along with all the extra costs that come with it.”
He adds that early discussions can highlight potential constraints before a formal submission is made.
Why others say it is not a guarantee
However, some planning professionals warn that pre-application advice is often overstated and should not be treated as a reliable predictor of approval.
Planning consultant Scott Munro, a Chartered Town Planner, says homeowners can place too much weight on early feedback.
“The myth that a pre-app de-risks everything,” he says. “A pre-application discussion can be a very useful part of the planning process, but it is not a guarantee, and it is certainly not a substitute for proper early analysis.”
He adds that early advice is often limited in detail, meaning outcomes can still change once a full application is assessed.
“It is only as good as what you put in,” he says. “The greater the level of evidence, the better the response.”
Scott Munro is a Chartered Town Planner and Managing Director of Munro Planning & Development, with experience advising on residential schemes, planning strategy and development viability.
When pre-application advice is useful, and when it is not
Despite differing views, both experts agree that pre-application advice can be valuable when used properly.
It can help identify obvious planning constraints and flag potential issues before significant time and money is committed to a full application.
However, it does not guarantee approval and should not replace detailed preparation or technical assessment.
With planning costs now higher following the April 2026 increase, experts say homeowners are under greater pressure to ensure applications are properly prepared from the outset.
Rix also advises homeowners to deal with any extra approvals or conditions all at once rather than one by one.
These “conditions” are the extra requirements a council may ask for after approving a planning application, such as updated surveys, boundary adjustments, or environmental checks.
“If you submit these requests separately, it can quickly become more expensive and take longer to get final approval,” he says. “Handling everything together in a single submission saves both money and time and reduces the risk of delays.”
By combining pre-application advice with this approach, homeowners can significantly reduce the chance of rejected applications, minimise extra fees, and make the process of getting planning permission far smoother.
