Get pre-application planning advice

Apply to our pre-application planning advice service for help and advice with your planning application, before you submit it.

We recommend you get pre-application advice to make sure your application has the best chance of succeeding. There is a fee for this advice, but it may save you time and improve your chance of a successful application. 

What we need

The more information you can tell us about your proposals, the more likely it is that we can give you accurate and useful advice. 

You will need to submit:

  • a cover letter or email describing your proposal in full
  • a plan of the location including the site outline and neighbouring buildings
  • a (1:200 scale) block plan displaying neighbouring buildings, boundaries and roads
  • proposal elevations, drawings or sketches (to scale)
  • the relevant fee
  • your contact details, including email address

Apply now

Send the requested information and plans of your proposed development to us:

Email: developmentmanagement@woking.gov.uk

Planning Services
Civic Offices
Gloucester Square
Woking
GU21 6YL

Pre-application fees – as of 1 April 2025

Pre-application advice fees for residential properties
Residential Written advice Fee per meeting
20 or more dwellings Does not apply, advice provided by meeting only £6,750
10 to 19 dwellings £3,375 £4,050
6 to 9 dwellings £1,875 £2,500
2 to 5 dwellings £1,250 Does not apply
Replacement dwelling or 1 dwelling £500 Does not apply
Householder £187.50 Does not apply
Pre-application advice fees for non-residential properties
Non-residential Written advice Fee per meeting
2,000 or more square metres Does not apply, advice provided by meeting only £6,750
1,000 to 1,999 square metres £3,375 £4,050
600 to 999 square metres £1,875 £2,500
50 to 599 square metres £1,250 Does not apply
Up to 50 square metres £187.50 Does not apply

All fees include VAT and are non-refundable.

Exemptions

Fee exemptions include advice:

  • regarding works to listed buildings which do not also require planning permission
  • on proposals to accommodate people with disabilities

Other exemptions are at our discretion.

Planning Performance Agreements (PPAs)

Schemes subject to a Planning Performance Agreement (PPA) are considered to be outside of this schedule. A bespoke fee arrangement will be agreed as part of the PPA.

Mixed developments

Mixed developments attract a composite fee for each element of the scheme. 

Contact us

Email: developmentmanagement@woking.gov.uk 

After you apply

We will begin the pre-application service when we get a request with the correct information and fees. If something is missing from your request we will contact you.

You will get an email response from us within:

  • 3 weeks for householder proposals
  • 4 weeks for most other proposals
  • more than 4 weeks for highly complex proposals

Pre-application advice for highways

Go to charging for transport development pre-application advice – Surrey County Council

The limits of our advice 

Any advice we give:

  • is made in good faith and represents the informal opinion of an officer and not necessarily that of the council
  • is as accurate as possible, based on current policies and the quality of information you submit
  • is not a formal decision
  • does not prejudice any future formal decisions we may make