Information Leaflet #14
Guidance on Pre-Application Discussions for Strategic Projects and Major Housing, Commercial, Industrial and Public Sector Proposals
January 2008

Benefits

The benefits of a PAD have been recognised by a number of developers in the processing of recent applications. Positive comments have included the following:

“During the PAD process we found Planning Service and consultees to be very helpful in terms of guidance and clarity, ensuring we the applicants were in a position to submit a high quality comprehensive planning application which was progressed quickly.”

More generally, there are a number of key benefits from transparent PADs between a potential applicant and Planning Service.

They help to:

• identify potential policy constraints and other material issues which need to be addressed by the developer at an early stage;
• facilitate discussion with key consultees at an early stage, especially where an environmental statement is likely to be required;
• identify related technical issues and allow for discussion;
• ensure that you as the applicant engage with the appropriate stakeholders at an early stage in the planning process;
• improve the content and quality of planning applications;
• enhance the quality of a development scheme;
• speed up the statutory decision-making process; and
• ensure active case management.

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