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 June 2021: 

Overall traffic flows are increasing to near pre lockdown levels and as such KCC Highways will, subject to local circumstances, now consider traffic flow survey data obtained from our network where these are undertaken during ‘neutral’ time periods as before.

However, traffic flow distributions such as turning movements can be very different. Therefore all traffic flow surveys and future year forecasts based on these, must be accompanied by a commentary/adjustment factor, potentially based on pre-COVID surveys at the location in question, accounting for the continuing uncertainty in the short term as well as in relation to longer term travel patterns including increased working from home and reduced public transport journeys.

Speed surveys and parking surveys will generally be accepted also subject to local circumstances.

Request advice

Complete the request advice form (PDF, 105.6 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.