Highway pre-application advice

We can provide advice on planning applications that will have an affect on any part of the highway. This can be for a small single building proposal to a large major housing development. We charge a fee for this service.

Requests during coronavirus

Updated 2 October: we are now able to receive traffic and travel surveys to support planning applications. However, traffic counts should continue to be undertaken during neutral time periods, and should be accompanied with an evidence base to justify the results are a reasonable approximation of normal traffic conditions.

Where possible we will support this process by identifying available historic traffic data against which new data could potentially be benchmarked. This will be discussed and agreed with us on a case by case basis. Future year forecasts will need to be accompanied by clear assumptions and justification of the approach taken.

Request advice

Complete the request advice form (PDF, 139.8 KB) .

You will need to include:

• confirmation of the existing use of the site, including planning application history where appropriate
• sketch plans and description of the proposal
• scoping for Transport Statement or Transport Assessment, if required by the scale of the development
• any other information critical to the consideration of the proposal at this pre-application stage
• written confirmation that the charge will be paid within 14 days of an invoice.

As our teams are currently working remotely please email all completed forms and the required information to the below email addresses.

For sites in:

• Ashford, Canterbury, Dover, Folkestone and Hythe, Swale and Thanet email DevelopmentPlanningEast@kent.gov.uk
• Dartford, Gravesham, Maidstone, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge and Malling and Tunbridge Wells email Developmentplanningwest@kent.gov.uk.

Cost

The fee depends on the type and size of the proposal and covers:

• a single site visit
• an indication of the appropriate highway policies, standards and guidance against which the proposal will be assessed
• if requested, a single face to face meeting on site, at our offices or at district council offices
• a written response within 21 days of receipt of the fee, or within 21 days of the meeting
• a recheck of the scheme following any revisions.

Meetings will be arranged within 10 working days of our receipt of the payment.

For residential planning permission:

For commercial and retail planning permission:

For large mixed-use development proposals or other complex sites that will require our longer term involvement, a higher fee may be charged. In these situations, please contact us for further information.

With the exception of private schools no charge will be made for charitable and public sector non-profit making proposals.