The Council’s Planning Service is currently reviewing its approach to providing pre-application advice. In the past we have provided informal pre-application advice free of charge, in response to proposals submitted with an adequate level of detail; normally the minimum being a plan of the site, its address and a description of the proposal.
Due to budgetary and resource constraints, the provision of a free pre-application advice service at the level previously provided is no longer sustainable. How and when we will provide pre-application advice in the future is therefore currently being reviewed, as well as the types of applications we will provide such advice for and whether there will be a charge for this service.
In the meantime, we will consider the scope to provide pre-application advice on a case by case basis, and will generally seek to prioritise larger or more complex proposals.
For all prospective planning proposals, the following advice is relevant:
The National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) was adopted by the Scottish Government on 13th February 2023 and is now part of the statutory Development Plan. Decisions on planning applications have to be made in accordance with the Development Plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise. The NPF4 and the adopted Clackmannanshire Local Development Plan 2015 and associated Supplementary Guidance comprise the Development Plan. A review of the Local Development Plan (LDP) is underway and will be informed by the policies in the NPF4. Planning applications will be assessed against the relevant Principles, Strategies and Policies in the NPF4 and LDP. As NPF4 provides the latest national planning policy context for the assessment of planning applications, where it is considered there is incompatibility between the provisions of the adopted Clackmannanshire Local Development Plan 2015 and NPF4, the provisions of NPF4 will prevail.
We would refer you to the two documents below as your first port of call in respect of any planning proposals before seeking pre-application advice. Thereafter, if you still wish to enquire about getting pre-application advice, please send an email to the the mailbox below with details of the site address and proposal and we will consider your request.
Clackmannanshire Local Development Plan
As always, any advice is provided without prejudice to the Council's determination of any subsequent application for planning permission.
Development Quality
Kilncraigs, Greenside Street, Alloa, FK10 1EB
Tel: 01259 450000
Email: planning@clacks.gov.uk