Camden to publish pre-application advice

Camden Council has become one of the first local authorities in the country to independently publish our advice on planning applications, as a first port of call for residents who have recently submitted an application.

Pre-application advice is based on the Council’s planning policies and guidance and provides an advance opinion from officers as to the likelihood of a scheme being granted planning permission or what would be required for a successful application. Previously such advice has been confidential, and only published if someone made a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 or Environmental Information Regulations once the related planning application is submitted.

From now onwards pre-application advice will be published on our website, once the planning application has been made.

Councillor Phil Jones, Cabinet Member for Planning, Regeneration and Transport said:

“Making this advice public is yet another way in which we are becoming more transparent as an organisation.

“It also helps us become a more efficient organisation, as we will no longer need to provide the resources we currently do to answer the 20-30 freedom of information requests we get each year for pre-application advice.

“Advice will include information from the planning officers or the independent design panel. We are confident this move will assist our residents who are considering making planning applications.”

Camden has also recently launched an e-alert service which provides email alerts about planning activity across the borough. Alerts can be personalised so you can receive information about planning activity in specific wards, or any planning activity closest to you.

You can sign up to the e-alert service here.