Terms & Conditions
PLANNING APPLICATION
After undertaking some initial local research, we estimate our fee right at the beginning of the project. VAT is not applicable. We provide a price range for each Application because there are many unknown factors that can potentially increase the time / complexity of the project. We always try to keep our fee to a minimum but this approach allows clients to budget for issues that are unforeseen before we start work.
It includes the preparation of a comprehensive set of plans and documents, as well as the submission and monitoring of the Application (responding to Case Officer questions and queries if necessary).
For clarification, our price includes the purchase of the Ordnance Survey .dwg file where necessary (for the Block and Site Layout Plans etc) and no expenses are added. We can do everything online so there is no need to carry out a site visit.
Our Invoices
Following payment of the £100 deposit, we will add your case to our project list.
We will then send you our first Invoice for the initial instalment (taken together with the deposit, this will be for a maximum of 50% and is to be paid prior to work commencing / it being entered into our diary).
We will send you our second invoice when the Application is ready to be submitted to the Local Planning Authority (LPA). Once this second payment has been received it will be sent electronically to the registration department via the Planning Portal.
Subsequent work
Amended or additional plans may be required at some stage of the process - especially at validation / registration or after the public consultation has finished.
In the event that significant issues arise which would affect our quote, we will always contact you first and obtain agreement before carrying out the extra Planning work.
Any additional work, which exceeds the top end of our quote, is charged at an hourly rate.
Other specialist input
We can address most issues but additional specialist input is sometimes required and, if this is the case, other firms would need to be instructed separately.
The most common additional requirement is for a BS5837 compliant Tree Report to be prepared by an Arboriculturist.
If your proposal is not within the curtilage of a house then please be aware that new regulations about Biodiversity Net Gain apply. If the development impacts (decreases the biodiversity value of) a priority habitat and / or:-
25sqm of on-site habitat, and / or
5 metres of on-site linear habitats such as hedgerows
then a specific Report will be required by an Ecologist.
Different Ecology Reports can be needed for other reasons.
If both Tree and Ecology Reports are required, they can often be carried out by the same firm.
If you are installing an external air-conditioning unit then an Acoustic Report is sometimes needed.
Your input
You must provide all requested information to ensure our work can progress in a timely manner. This includes clear and up-to-date photographs of your entire plot. If missing, incomplete or incorrect information results in extra work we reserve the right to charge an additional fee (based on our hourly rate). If significant delays result in our work ‘stalling’ we reserve the right to send over a final Invoice based on the work done to date.
We shall be entitled to rely upon and act on all information provided by you, and your representatives where applicable, without independent verification. Where necessary, we reserve the right to make reasonable assumptions for the purposes of progressing our service. We accept no liability for any consequences arising from inaccuracies, omissions, or from assumptions reasonably made on that basis.
The Application Submission Fee
The Application Submission fee is charged separately and needs to be paid directly by yourselves upon receipt of a 'payment request email' sent via the Planning Portal. Currently, the total for a Planning Application is £347 (a detached structure for an existing dwelling or flat) - this comprises the LPA's fee plus the Planning Portal's admin charge. A different fee will apply to other types of schemes.
The Decision
Please note that whilst our supporting statements make a strong case for the proposed development, there is no guarantee that Planning Permission will be issued by the Local Planning Authority.