Duty Planner Information

What is the Duty Planner service ?

The duty planning service provides general planning advice via an either a 30 minute face to face or telephone appointment. There is a £30 charge for this service.

Appointments are available between 9am and 1pm.

There are appointments available on Thursday mornings for Listed Building and other specific Heritage queries.

The Duty Planner service does not provide pre application advice for specific projects.

Find out if you need planning permission before seeing us by visiting Planning Portal - Do I Require Planing Permission.

Is there a fee for the duty planner service?

Yes - £30 per appointment which must be paid in advance when booking the appointment.

How do I book an appointment with a duty planner?

To book an appointment with the duty planner, please call us on 01822 813600.

The service is available Monday to Friday, 9am to 1pm

Appointments are 30 minutes long and there is a charge of £30 for each appointment.

How to pay

When you phone to make your appointment, you will be asked to pay by debit or credit card using our automated payment system

What can the duty planner help with?

Informal advice:

• General information and advice on national and local planning policy and planning processes;
• Informal advice on the need to apply for planning permission;
• Technical advice to make sure you know which application type to submit and the required documents;

Please note that the verbal advice given by the duty planner is given on an informal basis and is intended to assist with general, basic planning enquiries.

The advice given by a duty planner should not be seen as representing the Council's formal position and is not a substitute for using our pre application service.

What can't the duty planner help with?

• Pre-application advice;
• Provide a planning application validation checking service;
• Give written advice;
• Advise whether or not a plan may receive officer support;
• Say that planning permission would or would not be granted;
• Discuss the detail of large or complex plans;
• Discuss the technical advantages of existing applications, refusals or appeals;
• Agree to any minor amendments to planning permissions;
• Discharge any planning conditions on a decision notice;
• Building Control queries - please visit Devon Building Control Partnership;

If you need planning permission or you need a formal response:

If a formal response is needed about whether planning permission is required please submit a Certificate of Lawful Proposed Use Application. The application form, information and details of the appropriate fee for an application for a Certificate of Lawful Proposed Use can be viewed on the following links:

Certificate of Lawfulness for Proposed Use - Application Form

Certificate of Lawfulness for Proposed Use - Guidance

If you want to find out whether you are likely to get planning permission before submitting your application, then you will need to use our Pre-application Service

The officer on duty is managed by a rota. If you need further appointments, you may not be able to speak to the same planning officer.