Choose the question you need answered
A broad request asking whether something is possible may produce only broad guidance. Identify the uncertain issue: building scale, site access, a sensitive setting or the acceptability of a proposed use. Explain the current situation and the change being considered, including any earlier decisions relevant to it.
Different councils offer different levels of engagement. Read the local planning authority's current service description before preparing the request. The scope of its advice, information requirements and any separate terms should be understood at the outset, rather than assuming that every enquiry produces the same assessment.
Use drawings that reveal the issue
A location reference and a clear existing arrangement help place the proposal. Preliminary plans, elevations or simple sections may then demonstrate the question being asked. They need enough accuracy to avoid misleading the officer, but a fully developed construction package is not necessarily useful for an early discussion about principle.
Where several approaches remain open, show the differences clearly. A comparison can focus the response on the actual choice, such as a lower roof or a different position within the plot. Avoid burying the main uncertainty under sheets of detail that do not influence it.
Understand what the reply can tell you
An officer may identify policy considerations, likely concerns and information needed for a later application. The response can inform the next design stage, but it is based on the material available and the service offered. It may not involve the full consultation or assessment undertaken for a formal submission.
Advice is not a consent. Later information, consultation responses or a changed design can affect the final decision. Keep the written response and its qualifications with the project records so that recommendations are not reduced to an unsupported statement that the council has approved the idea.
Turn feedback into design decisions
Separate points about the principle of development from points about detail. An objection to a proposed use may call for a different route, whereas concerns about windows or roof shape can suggest specific design revisions. Record what is being changed and why before preparing the formal package.
Our planning applications page explains the submission stage. The design and planning process guide places preliminary work within the wider sequence. Early engagement should serve the project's next decision, not become a substitute for resolving the brief.
Agree the enquiry scope
Ask whether a council response will address all your concerns or whether specialist input is required separately. Highways, heritage, drainage or environmental questions can involve other disciplines. A design drawing alone cannot provide every assessment that a proposal might need.
When contacting Lee, share the address, the proposal and the particular uncertainty you want clarified. Include existing correspondence and explain whether you have already approached the council. Availability and scope of drawing or submission support can then be confirmed. Check official local requirements directly before committing to an advice request.
We work across Hampshire, roughly 40 miles around our Whiteley office, with occasional projects in London. See the areas we cover.
Frequently asked questions
Is pre-application feedback binding on the final decision?
No. It is advice based on the request and the service provided. A formal application may raise further information or consultation issues, so the response should not be presented as approval.
Do I need a finished design before asking the council?
Not always. Preliminary information can be sufficient for a focused question, but it must describe the proposal clearly. Follow the council requirements for the advice category you choose.
Can I ask about more than one layout option?
You can investigate whether the local service accommodates alternatives. Clearly identify the difference and the question for each, rather than expecting an officer to choose a complete design on your behalf.
What should be done with a cautious council response?
Read the conditions and concerns in full, identify any missing evidence and decide whether to revise the proposal or obtain specialist advice. Do not treat qualified feedback as either a guaranteed refusal or a permission.