Planning Pre-application advice service fees - from April 2026
There are 5 Pre-application scales
- Scale A - covers the duty planner, householder, and small business service
- Scale B - covers minor development
- Scale C - covers small scale major development
- Scale D - covers large scale major development
- Scale E - covers strategic development proposals
Important conditions
- Any follow up meeting must be made within 6 months from the date of the pre-application advice given. If the follow up request is not within this timescale, a new pre-application request must be made.
- All fees listed are inclusive of VAT unless otherwise stated
- There are no exemptions for charity organisations
- An in principle meeting (Scale D7 or E7) can only be used once for a proposed development. There are no follow up meetings to this service.
- Refunds to services are at the discretion of management
- If the proposals is actually larger the scale initially submitted we will charge the difference for the correct scale
- Fees need to be paid in full before validation
- For an in principle meeting (Scale D7 or E7), documentation must be sent to Planning at least 5 working days before the meeting otherwise the meeting will be cancelled. No meeting will be held without appropriate information submitted. As a minimum a covering letter/planning statement should be submitted for this pre-application scale.
Paying the correct fee
The fees are based on the scale of development as calculated by floor space or number of new homes for larger housing developments. Fees are inclusive of VAT.
Any alterations to existing floor space that would be affected by the proposals should be included with new floor space to get the correct fee.
If you have any questions contact our customer service team
Telephone: 020 7364 5009
Email: pre.applications@towerhamlets.gov.uk
Follow up fee discount
A discounted fee is charged for follow up meetings. To arrange a follow up meeting, please use the Pre-application form.
If you cannot use the form email pre.applications@towerhamlets.gov.uk, In the subject header quote the:
- pre-application advice reference number
- address
- “Follow-up meeting”
You will be contacted within two working days to make a payment.
Major development
For major development, you may wish to consider a Planning Performance Agreement (PPA) for an agreed programme of meetings.
Types of Scale A development
This service is suitable for the following types of development:
- Householder developments (i.e. affecting a single homes)
- Advice on permitted development rights
- Extensions or change of use to non- residential buildings, including small businesses involving up to 150sqm of floor space
- Changes to shop fronts including signs and adverts attached to shops or business premises
- Plant or machinery on commercial premises
- Improvements or alterations to community facilities
- Advice on whether planning permission will be required to replace external cladding materials
Scale A Service Standards
- Telephone conversation with a planning officer
- Optional written confirmation letter or e-mail. Please see our fees table - charges A1 and A2
- Optional site visit. This is subject to availability and falls under charge A3 on our fees table
- Optional full pre-application meeting - falls under charge A4
Table of Scale A service level fees
| Charge type | Service | Fee (including VAT) |
|---|
| A0 |
Duty Planner - General planning advice |
Free |
|---|
| A1 |
Confirmation of advice letter (Planning only)* |
£119 |
|---|
| A2 |
Confirmation of advice letter (Planning Only)* for properties within a conservation area or works affecting a listed building |
£130 |
|---|
| A3 |
Officer site visit (in addition to A1, A2 and A4a only) |
£240 |
|---|
| A4a |
Pre-application meeting *- Householder, small business or community facility |
£360 |
|---|
| A4b |
Advice on replacement or alterations to external cladding |
£360 |
|---|
- A1 and A2 services can be either a stand alone advice letter or used in addition to services A3, A4a or A4b.
- A4a Pre-application meeting will not have any written advice issued as part of this scale. If this is required please confirm A1 in addition to A4a. For example
- A1+A4a = Meeting with written advice issued following the meeting
- A1+A2+A4a = Site visit, with meeting and written advice issued following the meeting
Types of Scale B development
This service is suitable for the following types of development:
- Development involving creation of 1-9 new homes
- New buildings, extensions or changes of use over 150 and less than 1,000 sq. metres (any use class)
- Telecoms masts and equipment
- Free standing advertisements, signs and hoardings
Scale B Service Standards
- Meeting with a planning officer and other specialist officers
- Optional follow up design and technical meetings
- Site visit
- Formal advice letter
- Confirmation of likely CIL and planning obligations
- Confirmation of application submission requirements
Table of Scale B service level fees
| Charge type | Service | Fee (including VAT) |
|---|
| B1 |
Initial meeting and written advice |
£2,200 |
|---|
| B2 |
Additional follow-up meeting (s) with written advice |
£1,285 |
|---|
| B3 |
Advice on discharge of conditions or amendments to a permission |
£1,285 |
|---|
| B4 |
Advice EIA Screening/Scoping |
£1,285 |
|---|
| B5 |
Miscellaneous developments e.g. Replacement of windows to multiple blocks of flats in conservation area |
TBA |
|---|
Types of Scale C development
This service is suitable for the following types of development:
- Proposals involving the creation of 10-34 homes
- New buildings, extensions or changes of use 1000-4,999 sq. metres (any use)
Scale C Service Standards
- Meeting with a planning officer and other specialist officers.
- Optional follow up design and technical meetings.
- Site visits
- Formal advice letter(s)
- Confirmation of likely CIL and planning obligations
- Confirmation of application submission requirements
- Advice on pre-application community engagement.
- Quality Review Panel - Fee not included
Table of Scale C service level fees
| Charge type | Service | Fee (including VAT) |
|---|
| C1 |
Initial meeting and written advice |
£8,600 |
|---|
| C2 |
Additional follow-up meeting (s) with written advice |
£5,130 |
|---|
| C3 |
Advice on discharge of conditions or amendments to a permission |
£5,130 |
|---|
| C4 |
Miscellaneous developments e.g. Replacement of windows to multiple blocks of flats in conservation area |
TBA |
|---|
Types of Scale D development
This service is suitable for the following types of development:
- Proposals involving 35-149 homes
- New buildings, extensions or changes of use 5,000-14,999 sq. metres (any use)
- Advice on reserved matters
Scale D Service Standards
- Establish a multi-disciplinary development advice team
- Scoping / general principles meeting with a senior planning manager and development team.
- Design principles meeting
- Optional follow up design and technical meetings
- Pre-application advice report or letter
- Confirmation of likely Planning Obligations, including financial contributions
- Confirmation of likely CIL liability
- Agree application timeframes and draft PPA
- Agree potential date for presentation to the QRP, if appropriate
- Presentation to Development or Strategic Development Committee, if appropriate
- Confirmation of application submission requirements
- Advice on pre-application community engagement
Table of Scale D service level fees
| Charge type | Service | Fee (including VAT) |
|---|
| D1 |
Initial meetings (up to two – e.g. design principles and pre-application programme, plus attendance at GLA pre-app. meeting) and written advice
|
£15,100 |
|---|
| D2 |
Additional follow-up meeting (s) with written advice
|
£8,460 |
|---|
| D2b |
Workshop for highways/environmental health/ design and conservation
|
£8,460 |
|---|
| D3 |
Advice on discharge of conditions or amendments to a planning permission
|
£8,460 |
|---|
| D4 |
Advice on Environmental Impact Assessment Screening or Scoping
|
£8,460 |
|---|
| D5 |
Pre-application viability review or other technical review
|
£Recover consultants’ costs + 10% administration fee
|
|---|
| D6 |
Community Forum set up and facilitation
|
£2,870 |
|---|
| D7.1 |
Introductory ”in principle” meeting
|
£6,160 |
|---|
| D7.2 |
Introductory “in principle” meeting with Directorof Planning and/or Head of Service
|
£7,695 |
|---|
| D8 |
Basic Townscape and visual impact review using 3D model and model supplied by client
|
£1,415 |
|---|
| D9 |
Attendance at QRP
|
£7,590 |
|---|
| D10 |
Follow up session
|
£4,610 |
|---|
| D11 |
Chairs Consultation
|
£3,545 |
|---|
Types of Scale E development
This service is suitable for the following types of development:
- Proposals involving 150 or more homes
- New buildings, extensions or changes of any use or more than 15,000 sqm
- Development that meets any of the other definitions for applications of Potential Strategic Importance (PSI) in the current Mayor of London Order
- Local Plan site allocations and site wide masterplans
Scale E Service Standards
- Establish a multi-disciplinary development advice team
- Scoping principles meeting with a senior planning manager /development team
- Design development meeting
- Attendance at joint GLA pre-app meeting (GLA may apply their own charges)
- Optional follow up design and technical meetings. Pre-application advice letter
- Confirmation of likely Planning Obligations, including financial contributions
- Confirmation of likely CIL liability
- Agree application timeframes and draft Planning Performance Agreement (PPA)
- Agree date for presentation to the QRP where appropriate
- Presentation to Development/Strategic Development Committee, if appropriate
- Confirmation of application submission requirements.
- Advice on pre-application community engagement
Table of Scale D service level fees
| Charge type | Service | Fee (including VAT) |
|---|
| E1 |
Initial meetings (up to two – e.g. design principles and pre-application programme, plus attendance at GLA pre-app. meeting) and written advice
|
£25,000 |
|---|
| E2 |
Additional follow-up meeting (s) with written advice
|
£9,765 |
|---|
| E2b |
Workshop for highways/environmental health/ design and conservation
|
£9,765 |
|---|
| E3 |
Advice on discharge of conditions or amendments to a planning permission
|
£9,765 |
|---|
| E4 |
Advice on Environmental Impact Assessment Screening or Scoping
|
£9,765 |
|---|
| E5 |
Pre-application viability review |
£Recover consultants’ costs + 10% administration fee |
|---|
| E6 |
Community Forum set up and facilitation
|
£3,235 |
|---|
| E7.1 |
Introductory ”in principle” meeting
|
£6,160 |
|---|
| E7.2 |
Introductory ”in principle” meeting with Director of Planning and/or Head of Service
|
£7,695 |
|---|
| E8 |
Full Townscape and visual impact review using 3D model and model supplied by client
|
£4,070 |
|---|
| E9 |
Attendance at QRP
|
£7,590 |
|---|
| E10 |
Follow up session |
£4,610 |
|---|
| E11 |
Chairs Consultation |
£3,545 |
|---|
More information
See our Planning pre-application advice page for more information