Discretionary Advice
Get professional advice from MEAS before submitting a planning application.
Contact MEAS with a site plan and brief description of your proposal and we'll help identify the correct charging category before providing a quotation.
Contact Us
Discretionary Advice Service
MEAS provides professional advice before a planning application is submitted. This service helps applicants understand environmental, heritage and planning considerations at an early stage of project development.
Areas Covered
- Archaeology
- Biodiversity and Ecology
- Contaminated Land
- Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
- Historic Environment
- Low Carbon Energy
- Minerals
- Nature Conservation
- Sustainable Waste Management
- Waste Planning Matters
What You'll Receive
- A single piece of integrated written advice from MEAS specialists.
- Advice tailored to your proposed development.
- Response within 15 working days of acceptance of the quotation.
Important Information
- Advice is provided without a site visit.
- Advice remains confidential between the requester and MEAS.
- LERC data products, Historic Environment Record data products and Waste Local Plan data products are charged separately.
Fixed Charges
| Development Category | Description | Fee (Excl. VAT) |
|---|---|---|
| Householder | Single dwelling extension or alteration within the existing curtilage. | £80.00 |
| Single New Dwelling | Demolition and rebuild, or construction of one dwelling. | £165.00 |
| Minor Development | 2 to 9 dwellings or up to 1,000m² commercial floorspace. | £335.00 |
| Major Development | 10 to 24 dwellings or 1,001m² to 3,000m² commercial floorspace. | £520.00 |
| Major Application | 25 to 50 dwellings or 3,001m² to 4,999m² commercial floorspace. | £775.00 |
| Large Major Development | More than 50 dwellings or 5,000m² to 10,000m² floorspace. | £1,035.00 |
| Strategic / EIA Development | 100+ dwellings, over 10,000m² floorspace or EIA development. | £1,300.00 |
Technical Report Reviews
| Service | Charge |
|---|---|
| Review of technical reports prior to submission | £140 minimum fee (includes first hour) |
| Additional review time | £60 per hour |
Complex Developments
For larger, more complex or linear development sites, or where multiple rounds of advice are required, MEAS may provide a bespoke quotation. Fees and timescales will be agreed directly with the applicant.
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
MEAS does not charge for EIA screening or formal EIA scoping opinions where these form part of the statutory duties of the Local Planning Authority.
Charges may apply for informal EIA scoping advice requested outside the formal planning process.
Before You Apply
Where discretionary advice has already been obtained from MEAS, applicants should provide a copy of that advice to the Local Planning Authority when commencing pre-application discussions.